Links
Career Facts
According the Conference Board of Canada there will be 1 million job openings in BC by 2020; over 40% of those will be in the skilled trades and technologies. Skilled Trades & Technology careers are already in high demand across the province, with many industries short hundreds of skilled employees. There are over 200 different career opportunities in the skilled trades and technologies. To find out more about skilled trades and technology careers please click the link to Exploring Skilled Trades & Apprenticeships; There are many negative myths about careers in the skilled trades, to find out the truth please click Skilled Trades Myths.
Career Links
Below are links to informative websites about skilled trade & technology careers. Please click on the links below to access these websties.
The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum- Forum canadien sur l’apprentissage (CAF – FCA) has developed apprenticetrades.ca as a comprehensive inventory of information on apprenticeship training across Canada. The inventory provides an accessible, user-friendly and “one stop” location where current information can be obtained on apprenticeship programs and topics. This site is intended to direct inquiries about apprenticeship to the most authoritative source – without duplicating the efforts of other groups. Links provided here will direct you to the key stakeholders in apprenticeship programs including Provincial/Territorial governments, training institutions, unions, employers and others.
http://www.apprenticetrades.ca/en/stakeholders/default.asp?selStakeholder=5
ITA: itabc.ca is a comprehensive resource about industry training programs in British Columbia. This site is a useful source of information for current apprentices and their employers, as well as for those considering apprenticeship for their career or workforce development needs. It also contains information for parents, post-secondary and K-12 educators, the media and others.
ITA: Career Planning:
http://www.itabc.ca/Page35.aspx
ITA: Apprenticeship Programs:
http://www.itabc.ca/Page17.aspx
ITA: Women in Trades:
http://www.itabc.ca/Page955.aspx
ITA: First Nations Opportunities:
http://www.itabc.ca/Page1027.aspx
Vancouver Regional Construction Association: The VRCA and its members are committed to lifelong learning and to providing training opportunities for career development, skill enhancement, safety, and entry level into the construction industry. The VRCA works with the membership to identify regional training needs and utilizes the resources of construction organizations, and both public and private trainers to provide workshops and seminars to the construction industry in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.
VRCA: Provides links to informative and educational sites dedicated to the construction trades and opportunities:
http://www.vrca.bc.ca/page/education%20links.aspx
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism & Innovation: WorkBC
Comprehensive website for parents, educators and students that provides engaging activities and information about career planning, training, accessing educational financial support and job postings.
http://www.workbc.ca/Pages/Home.aspx
Automotive Training Standards Organization:
This website is dedicated to those with an interest in automotive trades training:
- Apprentices and those interested in becoming an apprentice
- Employers who employ apprentices or are interested in doing so
- Secondary school students, teachers, career counsellors
- Post-secondary institutions
http://www.autoapprentice.com/
LinkBC: Working towards the world’s best tourism and hospitality education network by connecting faculty and students to industry, and to each other.
LinkBC:
go2: is responsible for the management of the Cook, Baker, Meatcutter, and Tidal Angling Guide trades training, in partnership with the Industry Training Authority (ITA). ITA is the government agency that manages all industry apprenticeship programs in BC.
go2: Careers in Tourism
go2: Apprenticeship Training
go2: Tourism Training
Education Links
Below are links to informative websites about apprenticeships training. Please click on the links below to access these websites.
The Arts Institute: Vancouver, BC
www.artinstitutes.edu/
BCIT: Burnaby, BC
www.bcit.ca/path/trades/
Blanche MacDonald: Vancouver, BC
www.blanchemacdonald.com/
Camosun College: Victoria, BC
www.camosun.ca/learn/programs/trades.html
College of New Caledonia: Prince George, BC
http://cnc.bc.ca/CNC_Programs.htm
College of the Rockies: Cranbrook, BC Kimberley, BC
http://www.cotr.bc.ca/programs-courses/
Emily Carr: Vancouver, BC
https://www.ecuad.ca/
Electrical Joint Training Centre: Port Coquitlam, BC
http://www.ejtc.org/
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115: Heavy Equipment Operator Training
http://iuoe115.com/training/
Northwest Community College: Terrace, BC Smithers, BC
www.nwcc.bc.ca/Programs/Trades/
North Island College: Port Alberni, BC
http://www.nic.bc.ca/programs/trades_and_technology/
Northern Lights College: Ft. St. John, BC Dawson Creek, BC
http://www.nlc.bc.ca/Programs/TradesApprenticeships.aspx
Okanagan College: Kelowna, BC
www.okanagan.bc.ca/Page287.aspx
Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts: Vancouver, BC
www.picachef.com
Selkirk College: Castlegar, BC Nelson, BC
www.selkirk.ca/programs/trades/
Thompson Rivers University: Kamloops, BC
www.tru.ca/trades/
UA Piping Industry College of BC: Delta, BC
www.uapicbc.ca
University of the Fraser Valley : Abbotsford, BC
http://www.ufv.ca/Trades.htm
Vancouver Community College: Vancouver, BC
www.vcc.ca
Vancouver Island University: Nanaimo, BC
http://www.nlc.bc.ca/Programs/TradesApprenticeships.aspx
Student Links
Skills BC provides many opportunities for students in all grade levels, including those currently in apprenticeship training in post secondary schools to participate in our programming. All students from K-12, and those attending post secondary schools, are invited to any of the Regional and/or Provincial Competitions free of charge. Students also have the opportunity to compete in the competitions – please click on the Competitions link to find out more information about competing.
If you have a question please Contact Us.
Parents
Parents are often hesitant to direct children towards pursuing a career in the skilled trades or technologies. Unfortunately, there are still many negative stereotypes about careers in the skilled trades and technologies that were or are no longer true. Careers in the skilled trades and technologies offer many opportunities for those who pursue them including:
- Paid apprenticeship position – Earn while you Learn
- Job Flexibility
- Job Mobility
- Transferable skills
- Above average pay
- Job satisfaction
Teachers
Teachers play a very influential role in guiding students towards their future education and career goals. So, it is crucial that educators have as much information about the career opportunities available for their students. There are hundreds of exciting and fulfilling career opportunities for students in the skilled trades. Skills BC provides a platform for teachers to introduce students to the skilled trades and technologies in a hands-on and engaging manner. All of our 13 Regional Competitions located around the province and our Provincial Competition located in Abbotsford, BC are open to all students and spectators, free of charge. We offer teachers the opportunity to apply for Transportation Subsidies to help bring students to the events.
Teachers are also encouraged to register eligible students in the competitions. Please click on the Competitions Link to find out more.