British Columbia’s construction employers have provided $80,000 in grant funding to support skilled trades training in the Peace River North School District through the Project Shop Class initiative.
Currently, just 1 in 85 new high school graduates in British Columbia enter the construction trades within one year of graduation. For BC to address predicted skilled trades shortages of at least 26,000 workers by 2023, that number must be closer to 1 in 5.
Project Shop Class is an initiative of the Construction Foundation of BC, which aims to encourage young British Columbians to develop practical skills and pursue careers in the skilled trades.
The Construction Foundation of BC is the charitable arm of the construction associations of British Columbia: BC Construction Association (BCCA).
“These grants are made possible through the generous donations of industry employers and the Northern Development Initiative Trust. They are confirmation of our collective commitment to invest in the future of our youth,” remarked Rosalind Thorn, President of the BC Construction Association ‐ North. “This is the type of collaborative initiative we need in Northern BC in order to open up access to new opportunities for our local students”.
