A group of aboriginal students from across British Columbia have recently completed the successful pilot testing of a streamlined program designed to bring them into the electrical trades.
The Alternate Pathways to Electrical Careers program, endorsed by industry and government, represents a new approach to skilled trades entry.
Top Student Award winner John Kerrigan and fellow students celebrate graduating from a new B.C. pilot program called Alternative Pathways to Electrical Careers.
"There have been a lot of First Nations youth who haven't been able to meet entry requirements to get into our entry level trades training program," said Andy Cleven, training director for B.C.'s Electrical Joint Training Committee (EJTC).
The EJTC wanted to engage more youth in their trade but was finding some students coming out of school did not have the high levels of math and science skills required to even begin training.