CHILLIWACK – New Democrat MLA Dan Coulter and Kelli Paddon says people whose jobs were affected by COVID-19, and those in vulnerable or underrepresented groups, will be able to access new training and job opportunities to find their place as our economy recovers from COVID-19.
“Proud we’re supporting accessible training programs that prioritize groups like recent immigrants, people with disabilities, or survivors of domestic violence, who often face barriers to employment,” said Dan Coulter, MLA for Chilliwack. “These investments mean that more people will be equipped with the skills they need to pursue careers they love.”
“During my time as a vocational counsellor, I became very familiar with the great work done at both Buxton Consulting and Triangle Community Services,” said Kelli Paddon, MLA for Chilliwack-Kent. “Our government knows that investing in programs coming out of great organizations like these is going to make such a difference in people’s lives across the Fraser Valley and the province.”
MLA Paddon says a total of $95 million has been allocated to organizations around the province that provide skills training and employment services to over 9,000 people. This investment includes both provincial and federal funding through the Canada-B.C. Workforce Development Agreement.
Many programs are already underway and additional training opportunities will start in the next few months. Programs being offered in Chilliwack include:
| Service Provider | Total Funding | Number of Participants | Program Name | Training Communities |
| Archway Community Services | $ 385,598 | 48 | Immigrant Job Shop | Chilliwack, Mission, Abbotsford, Langley |
| Buxton Consulting Ltd | $ 516,000 | 60 | Inclusive Valuable Employment Skills Training (InVEST) | Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope |
| Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) BC | $1,017,165 | 72 | Bridging the Gap Program | Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack |
| Mission Community Skills Centre Society | $ 546,750 | 50 | Empowering Youth Entrepreneur Program | Greater Vancouver, Campbell River, Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack |
| Mission Community Skills Centre Society | $ 669,331 | 40 | Wild Craft Food Program | Langley, Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack |
| Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) | $ 399,688 | 36 | Intercultural Ability to Disability Program | Vancouver, Surrey, Delta, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, White Rock, Langley, New Westminister, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Burnaby, North Vancouver, Port Moody, Richmond, Agassiz, Boston Bar, Squamish, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Osoyoos, Oliver, Summerland, West Bank |
| Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society | $ 396,216 | 36 | SAFE Program | Vancouver, Surrey, Delta, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, White Rock, Langley, New Westminster, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Burnaby, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Port Moody, Richmond, Agassiz, Boston Bar, Squamish, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission |
| Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS) | $ 367,440 | 40 | PICS E-Agriculture Training Program | Vancouver, Surrey, Delta, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, White Rock, Langley, New Westminster, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Burnaby, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Port Moody, Richmond, Agassiz, Boston Bar, Squamish, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission |
| Triangle Community Resources Inc | $ 510,000 | 50 | Reaching Independence Through Employment | Chilliwack, Mission, Abbotsford |
| Triangle Community Resources Inc. | $ 542,500 | 50 | RITE Program | Abbotsford, Mission and Maple Ridge and Chilliwack |
| Western Community College | $ 270,288 | 32 | Medical Office Assistant Program | Vancouver, Surrey, White Rock, New Westminster, Burnaby, Richmond, Abbotsford, Delta, Langley, Chilliwack |
| YMCA Greater Vancouver | $ 404,056 | 55 | Early Childhood Education Assistant Training program | Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Delta, Gibsons, Langley, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Sechelt, Surrey, Vancouver, White Rock, North Vancouver, West Vancouver |
| YMCA of Greater Vancouver | $ 338,626 | 45 | Youth Mean Business Program | Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Delta, Gibsons, Langley, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Sechelt, Surrey, Vancouver, White Rock, North Vancouver, West Vancouver |
| Young Women’s Christian Association YWCA | $ 420,957 | 62 | Axis Program | Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, Delta, Langley, North Vancouver, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Mission |
This is part of the New Democrat government’s Economic Recovery Plan to help thousands of people upskill or reskill and find good, sustainable jobs. These programs complement a provincial investment of $20 million earlier this year for short-term training projects to help people enter or rejoin the workforce.
Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/25086
If you are an employer seeking funding to train new or existing staff, see B.C. Employer Training Grant: https://www.workbc.ca/Employer-Resources/BC-Employer-Training-Grant.aspx
If you are unemployed and looking for a program that can help you get back on your feet and into the labour market, see STE Economic Recovery Programs:
https://www.workbc.ca/Training-Education/STE-Economic-Recovery-Programs.aspx