June 2, 2009

BC coalition launches push for more apprenticeship training

VANCOUVER

A broad coalition of organizations with a stake in the British Columbia’s industry training system has come together to deliver the message that, with the downturn in the economy, now’s the time for an intensified focus on the training of apprentices.

“B.C. lost nearly two-thirds of its trades apprentices to the recession of the early 1980s,” says Kevin Evans, CEO of B.C.’s Industry Training Authority (ITA).

The ITA and its partners have launched an information campaign called “Now’s the Time” to reinforce with employers the business case for taking advantage of the current recession to retain and hire apprentices, and to encourage apprentices to catch up on their technical in-class training.

Close to 5,000 of B.C.’s second-year apprentices have yet to take any in-class components of their training required for trades certification, according to those behind the awareness campaign.

DCN News Services

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