Victoria, BC – Educators and students across BC will soon have greater access to supports as they prepare for their Regional Skills Canada Competitions. Starting today, the Construction Foundation of BC (CFBC) is raising funds to provide the materials, equipment and additional supports they need to prepare for competition.
Each year approximately 2000 youth compete in Olympic style skills events at the Regional Skills Canada BC Competitions – potentially securing their space in the Provincials, Nationals, and World Skills Competition.
“Skills Canada BC greatly appreciates the Construction Foundation of BC’s support of its 13 Olympic-style regional competitions. Working together, our organizations can provide life-changing opportunities for BC’s youth who are interested in entering the skilled trade and technology sectors,” said Elaine Allan, Skills Canada BC’s Executive Director.
“Applied learning, whether through shop classes, workplace experience, or competition, is a critical pathway to successful employment,” states Alan Fletcher, president of AFC Construction and chair of the CFBC Board. “Our intent with this campaign is to provide a bridge for more young people to connect with the skilled trades and technology, hopefully realizing that you can enter on the tools and continue to build your career in a number of different of ways. By supporting the young people who have the ambition to participate in these competitions, we will open the doors to a new generation of skilled workers, estimators, project managers and future leaders.”
The BC Construction Association’s latest Stat Pack indicates that 14,200 construction jobs will be unfilled due to labour shortages by 2026. Through connection and support with youth now, we can begin to close the gap on those shortages and start to build solid bench strength for the industry and BC’s economy.
“Skills Canada Competitions play a significant role in promoting and celebrating the abilities of young people,” says Abigail Fulton, executive director of the CFBC. “Informing youth, attracting their interest and enabling opportunities for them to discover careers in the skilled trades and technology are the first steps to building the next generation.”
The Get Skills Ready campaign will focus on providing support to youth in the K – 12 system, educators, and industry as they work together to prepare the next generation of leaders for life after secondary school. To donate to the fund, visit www.getskillsready.ca
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For more information, please contact:
Construction Foundation of BC
Colleen McConnell
communications@constructionfoundation.ca
250 220 5861
BACKGROUNDER
About the Construction Foundation of BC
The Construction Foundation builds community through engagement in charitable initiatives and a commitment to industry focused education and research initiatives that benefit all British Columbians. Our latest campaign, Get Skills Ready, was designed to provide support and funding for youth in the K – 12 system. For information of how to support Get Skills Ready, visit: www.getskillsready.ca
About Skills Canada BC
Since 1994 Skills Canada British Columbia (SkillsBC) has operated as a provincial not for profit/charitable organization, working with industry, educators, government and labour to promote rewarding and in-demand skilled trade & technology careers to BC’s youth. www.skillscanada.bc.ca
