Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation
BARRIERE – Local recreational trails in the Kamloops-North Thompson area are being cleared and cattle range fencing will be repaired by two local Aboriginal people who are getting work experience in forestry and agriculture.
This is thanks to nearly $171,000 in a government-funded partnership with the Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society.
“The LNTCFS is pleased to have the Government of B.C. funding this project,” said Mike Francis, the manager of Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society (LNTCFS). “Participants develop skills and gain valuable work experience transferable to forestry, range, and other natural resource-related industries. The trail networks created provide opportunities for enhanced tourism and outdoor recreation, while the silviculture and range work promote healthy forest and range areas in the Lower North Thompson Valley.”
The workers are gaining forestry skills and will be clearing 56 km of recreation trails on Skull Mountain, the Hoover Nature Trail and Orchard Lake. They are also learning about silviculture and have already planted 5,000 seedlings in the Lower North Thompson Community Forest.
“Thanks to this project, I am gaining training and work experience operating chain saws and brush saws,” 
said Brody Lampreau, project participant. “I enjoy working outdoors and this project is helping me further my career goals.”
In the Skull Mountain area, the workers have already cleared three km of cattle access routes and have repaired three km of fencing on Dixon Mountain. They are also learning about invasive species and have treated Dixon and Skull Mountains for noxious weeds. The one-year project wraps up at the end of March 2016.
This project is funded through the Community and Employer Partnerships program, which was introduced in April 2012 as part of the Employment Program of BC.
“Both the agriculture and forestry sectors in the Barriere area are going to benefit from this Community and Employer Partnership. It will provide not only more recreation opportunities for trail users but ranchers will benefit as well,” commented Terry Lake, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson.
Government is taking action to address the rapidly changing labour market. Government created the B.C. Skills for Jobs Blueprint to ensure more British Columbians have the skills they need to be first in line for in-demand jobs in B.C.’s diverse, strong and growing economy.
The Community and Employer Partnerships program is featured in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and provides more support to people who are struggling to gain a foothold in the job market. It helps build stronger partnerships with industry and labour to connect British Columbians with classroom and on-the-job training, while making it easier for employers to hire the skilled workers they need – when and where they need them.
To date, the program has helped more than 800 job seekers benefit from work experience and funded nearly 180 projects throughout the province.
In 2015-16, the ministry has committed to investing $331 million in employment and labour market programs under the Employment Program of BC.
The Employment Program of BC is funded by the Province of British Columbia as well as the Government of Canada through the Labour Market Development Agreement.
Funding supports 84 WorkBC Employment Services Centres throughout the province and the four components of the Community and Employer Partnerships fund:
• Job Creation Partnerships
• Labour Market Partnerships
• Project-Based Labour Market Training
• Research and Innovation
Who is eligible?
• Businesses
• Non-profit organizations
• Crown corporations
• Municipalities, agencies or territorial governments
• Bands/tribal councils
• Public health and educational institutions
