The College and partner organizations have been able to work with the provincial government to secure $802,000 in funding from the Community Workforce Response Grant.
This funding is provided through the Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Development Agreement. The Community Workforce Response Grant supports programming aimed at meeting communities' labour market needs.
For several years now, NIC has worked with First Nations and community partners to provide courses that help people gain necessary skills which are needed around the North Island region.
“First of all, we identify the need in the community,” said Bob Haugen, NIC Director, Continuing Education and Contract Training. “The community has input into what the training is.”
These programs are short-term, aimed at assisting industries in need of workers and offered at no cost to students.
“Students get lots of hands-on experience,” Haugen said. “They don’t pay anything as the tuition and supports are covered by the training grant.”
So far, there have been grants in communities throughout the region, such as several programs in Port Alberni. This has included training in meat processing, the construction industry and heavy equipment operation, with others planned.
“The City of Port Alberni has partnered with North Island College on several Community Workforce programs, and we look forward to continuing this partnership in the future,” said Mayor of Port Alberni Sharie Minions.
In Campbell River, an industrial sewing program teaches important basics for sectors, such as the automotive and marine industries. So far, of the 12 students that attended the NIC industrial sewing course, more than half have already found work or opened their own business.
“The partnerships between learning institutes and community businesses are extremely under-rated and under-utilized. By allowing community partners to provide learning opportunities to people who may not have the financial ability to attend a post-secondary education facility, it opens the doors to those working lesser-paying jobs with limited growth potential,” said Rob MacNeill, a community business operator who taught the course. “Good workers who may not be able to afford a trade skill or who thought the trade in question was not for them, until they were exposed to it, can now flourish under this type of program.”
In the Comox Valley, there has been a program in conjunction with LUSH Valley Food Action Society and the North Vancouver Island Chefs Association, which provides training through a Food Prep and Mobile Kitchen Training program. With LUSH Chefs Taylore Darnel and James McKerricher providing the instruction, students get 180 hours of training in cooking basics, especially around the growing food truck business, at the new kitchen and in the Farmer's Kitchen food truck, all onsite at LUSH Valley headquarters.
“This program has taught students to utilize the abundance of locally grown produce to create a delicious variety of meals, menus, and value-added products. The group catered and cooked at a number of functions, including a volunteer appreciation event where a special menu was designed and service executed out of the food truck. With their freshly honed skills, these students are now prepared to work in restaurants, food trucks, catering businesses or other forms of food service,” said Maurita Prato, LUSH Valley Executive Director.
Other recent programs at locations in the North Island College region include a regenerative farming program in conjunction with Young Agrarians and Vancouver Island University, wildfire training and a Marine Essentials program.
"North Island College and its community partners demonstrate remarkable collaboration addressing local workforce needs,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “Through innovative short-term programs, they connect potential employees with employers, equipping people with essential skills needed in the North Island region. Aligned with our StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan, NIC's forward-thinking approach shows the power of local collaboration and commitment to skills training."
Earlier this year, the Province of BC announced funding for this type of future skills programming as part of its StrongerBC Future Ready Action Plan. So far, NIC has collaborated with partners on a craft brewing program, more wildfire training, building service worker, office and clerical skills, Digital Marketing, and another marine training program. These have brought in almost $465,000.
“I continue to be blown away by how the folks at NIC and their key community partners are working together to address Courtenay-Comox's workforce needs,” said Ronna-Rae Leonard, MLA for Courtenay-Comox. “They continue to break new ground, building short term programs that reflect their commitment to skills training that is effective in preparing people for today's jobs right here."
While North Island College helps by providing the courses, Haugen stresses these projects are really a product of partnerships with different groups in the communities, whether they are municipal governments, regional districts, First Nations, chambers of commerce or non-profit organizations.
