ABBOTSFORD – New Democrat MLAs Pam Alexis and Bob D’Eith 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.
“Our government is all about leveling the playing field as we recover from the pandemic,” said Pam Alexis, MLA for Abbotsford-Mission. “These programs will support people with disabilities, newcomers to our province, and survivors of domestic violence to get the skills they need to prepare for meaningful work in a changing economy.”
“The job market has changed a lot this past year as people have shifted and adapted to the challenges brought on by COVID-19,” said Bob D’Eith, MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission. “Access to specialized and shorter skills training programs that help people start their own businesses, or prepare them for the digital workforce is a game changer as our communities recovery from the pandemic.”
MLA Alexis 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 Abbotsford and Mission 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 |
| Archway Community Services | $ 322,824 | 22 | Federal Employment Diverse-Abilities Skills Training Program | Abbotsford, Langley |
| 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 |
| Buxton Consulting Ltd | $ 516,000 | 60 | Inclusive Valuable Employment Skills Training (InVEST) | Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope |
| Community Futures BC | $ 1,776,900 | 150 | Innovation through Diversity, Entrepreneurial Abilities Program | Across the province – headquartered in Mission |
| Douglas College | $ 573,156 | 36 | Career Generator Program | Maple Ridge, Mission, Langley |
| 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 |
| Stillwater Consulting Ltd. | $ 3,856,633 | 156 | Wildland Firefighting And Silviculture Program | Nanaimo, Mission, Prince George, Kamloops, Cranbrook |
| Triangle Community Resources Inc | $ 510,000 | 50 | Reaching Independence Through Employment | |
| Triangle Community Resources Inc. | $ 542,500 | 50 | RITE Program | Abbotsford, Mission and Maple Ridge and Chilliwack |
| Western Community College | $ 366,704 | 36 | Youth Digital Entrepreneurship Program | Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley |
| 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 Womens Christian Association (YWCA) Metro Van | $ 333,850 | 44 | MindSet Program | Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, Delta, Langley, North Vancouver, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Mission |
| YWCA of Metro Vancouver | $ 348,636 | 48 | Launch2Success 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