Integrating Essential Skills into Training - National Adult Literacy ...

WW Report & Resource Guide Integrating Essential Skills into Training Materials
Bridge River Employment Program Pilot
Courtney Fidler
Courtney Fidler of BC Hydro Generation described the employment program pilot project
on which she is working. BC Hydro started a program called Youth Trade for Hire as a
province wide initiative. For two years the Bridge River facility participated in the
program as it was initially designed and now, in consultation with the local community,
they have developed a unique approach that will incorporate a scholastic component
targeting First Nations youth, who make up most of the local community. In planning
the program, Hydro consulted with a number of organizations including Manitoba Hydro,
taking particular interest in the MB Hydro program in which a group of women was
mentored through trades training over a five year period.
Courtney outlined the program design and some of the factors taken into consideration
during development. The Hydro plant at Bridge River works on a compressed schedule
of four long days followed by three days off. The longer day allows for two groups of
students to work through the program as each group can attend a half day of school
and a half day of work, but it is a long day for those unaccustomed to this type of
schedule. The program has a 2 – 1 ratio of students to instructor so there is ample
opportunity for students to get the help they need. Students coming into the program
initially work to define both their scholastic and trades goals.
The entire cost of the program is covered through BC Hydro’s Strategic Workforce
Planning program and the focus is on triple bottom line accounting; that is, developing a
business case that takes into account environmental (waste management, energy
consumption etc.), social (workplace issues, human rights etc.) and economic (wages,
community development etc.) factors in both the short term and in the long term.
Following her presentation Courtney opened the floor to discussion. She was very
interested in an exchange of ideas and suggestions that might help in ensuring the
program is a success. Delegates expressed interest in receiving an update on the
success of the program at the end of the summer.