LATEST NEWS
November 17, 2008
Terasen Gas develops Canada’s first utility construction training program for First Nations youth
Terasen Gas is leading a joint utility construction ‘boot camp’ to First Nations youth for potential employment in the utility construction industry.
“Participants will learn from hands-on experience alongside long-time Terasen Gas employees and other industry experts,” said Jan Marston, Terasen Gas Vice President, Human Resources and Operations Governance. “The knowledge and skills they develop will make them strong candidates for employment in the industry, and will also lay a foundation for further education in the skilled trades.”
Members of the Seabird Island Indian Band and Sto:lo Tribal Council are participating in the current session, taking place November 3 through December 12 in Agassiz, just outside of Hope.
“The Aboriginal labour marketplace is a fast-growing sector of the B.C. economy,” said Chief Clem Seymour of Seabird Island Band. “Many First Nations communities are located in northern, rural or remote regions of the province, which means they have a unique advantage as companies recognize the benefits of hiring locally.”
“By working in partnership with Terasen Gas and other industry partners, we're ensuring that our community's unique values and perspectives are incorporated into the program — maximizing our youth’s opportunity for success in B.C.’s 21st century economy.”
Band members from the Chemainus First Nation participated in a pilot program this past June, with all participants passing a provincially-recognized Construction Safety exam.
“The program gave us the opportunity to learn in a flexible and supportive environment, and that worked for me,” said David Harris, Member of the Chemainus First Nation and ‘boot camp’ program graduate.
“I found that I was able to build on my knowledge by asking a lot of questions and practicing my skills out in the field, and the certifications I achieved through the program have proved useful.”
Terasen Gas developed the Utility Construct ‘Boot Camp’ training program, with support from the Province of British Columbia. It is a partnership between several B.C. utilities and Aboriginal community representatives, with Sto:lo Nation Human Resources Development providing partial funding for the current session with the Seabird Island Indian Band.
Additional sessions are planned for communities throughout the province over the next 12 months.
– RCD Digital Media
| MOST POPULAR STORIES |
- Construction moving forward on Ho Chi Minh City tunnel
- Deaths of five immigrant workers changed jobsites forever
- Pride, sadness as Hogg's Hollow memorial unveiled
- St. Marys Cement plant workers go on strike in Bowmanville, Ontario
- ‘Sandhogs’ who perished had diverse personal stories
- 20 Most Popular Stories
| TODAY’S TOP CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS |
These projects have been selected from 371 projects with a total value of $1,380,346,147 that Reed Construction Data Building Reports reported on yesterday.
MINE, PROCESSING PLANT, TREATMENT BLDGS
$50,000,000 Cochrane Dist ON Prebid
CONDO APARTMENT BLDG, COMMERCIAL OFFICE, RETAIL
$50,000,000 Toronto ON Prebid
EDUCATION BUILDINGS, ADDN ALTS
$40,000,000 Toronto ON Prebid
| CURRENT STORIES |
- Canadian Construction Association awards highlight excellence
- Pride, sadness as Hogg's Hollow memorial unveiled
- Commemorative quilt gets permanent home
- ‘Sandhogs’ who perished had diverse personal stories
- Coverage of Hogg’s Hollow tragedy anniversary should be required reading
- Pursuit of LEED could result in professional negligence, insurance executive warns
- New Brunswick to cover debts of troubled Atcon Group
- Ex-Quebec minister says Liberals got ‘generous’ donations from construction sector
- Regulatory delays hinder start of Mackenzie Gas Project
- Las Vegas CityCenter general contractor Perini Building suing MGM Mirage
- Venues decommissioned in Olympic afterglow
- Canadian Construction Association chair bids farewell
- Wood being considered as preferred building material for federal projects
- Grizzly Oil Sands seeks approval for project near Fort McMurray
- Search continues for sustainable architecture
- Seven British Columbia communities sign Wood First agreements
- U.S. construction employment declines in January
- Ottawa unveils plan to cut red tape
| ALEX’S ECONOMICS BLOG |

Reed Construction Data Chief Economist Alex Carrick discusses current developments in the North American economic environment with emphasis on the construction industry.
- Sub-sector investment spending intentions from Statistics Canada’s latest survey (March 17, 2010)
- A dozen incredible measurement sets on Canada’s changing ethnic mix (March 9, 2010)
- How fragile is recovery around the world? (March 3, 2010)
- More







