Big celebration
Rotarians celebrate a century of service Page A3
NEWS: Film festival goes into fundraising mode /A5 COMMUNITY: Singing the praises of our parks /A13 SPORTS: Football sides ramp up for showdown /A19
VICTORIANEWS Wednesday, October 23, 2013
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BU I LDI NG
A FUTURE
Unique partnership program focuses on training young First Nations’ workers
Kyle Wells/News staff
Bridgeman piledriver Jerome Thomas, left, and crane operator Kevin Wheiten stand on the crane onboard the Salish Sea Industrial Services spud barge. The company, owned jointly by the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation, has taken on $9 million Annual Adult Passes are less than a dollar worth of work in its first 17 months of operation.
fishing industry before to lean on, but now there’s no more wood, no more fish, so we’re trying to find the next economy for the next 100 years,” said Esquimalt Nation Chief Andy Thomas. “We’ve been invisible for too long, and we need to have these chances.” As a water-based business, Thomas Kyle Wells said it’s also the perfect fit for the News staff First Nations communities, which have traditionally been tied to the Jerome Thomas bounced around water. The two communities also between a number of different have traditional ties to each other, as industrial companies before finding both are Lkungen people and were his future with Salish Sea Industrial once a single community. Services. Songhees and Esquimalt nations Soon into his new job, Thomas and, more importantly, his employers have a 51 per cent controlling interest in the company, while realized he had “We’ve been a board of directors a natural ability made up of members for pile driving. invisible for too long, of the communities, Thomas is now in the and we need to have along with Ralmax second year of his Contracting Ltd., apprenticeship and these chances.” owns the other 49 per is working towards – Andy Thomas, cent. becoming fully Esquimalt Nation chief The company ticketed. provides “I have an eye for opportunities for training in a variety the piles being straight,” Thomas of trades and positions. Every time a said. “I see it as a career now, not as job opens up it is posted first in the a job.” First Nations communities, before Salish Sea Industrial, a joint being opened up to the general company between the Esquimalt public. and Songhees nations, is celebrating Out of about 24 employees, 15 are 17 months of operation and First Nations. Of those, eight work in approximately $9 million worth of the marine construction department, work so far. which installs pilings and does Its focus on training First Nations marine construction, such as building youth entering the workforce is docks and bridges. being touted as a model to help communities move forward and young people. PLEASE SEE: aengage day. Visit us at 527 Fraser Street or esquimalt.ca. “We had the wood industry and the Esquimalt, Songhees, Page A6
The Esquimalt Recreation Centre is open 17 hours a day.
Don’t let the rain ruin your workout. The Esquimalt Recreation Centre offers drop in fitness and swimming 17 hours a day. 40 fitness classes each week. All included with your Adult Annual Pass for less than a dollar a day.
Visit us at 527 Fraser Street or esquimalt.ca.