N2K - June 2016

NK 2

NEED TO KNOW

PRESERVING

Heritage

JUNE 2016 • VOL. 3, ISSUE 2

Ecofor soars to protect culture

Inside N 2 K Ducks In A Row

Port Plans

Coastal GasLink Pipeline secures final permits

Port of Prince Rupert with a community vision

Small Plans?

Training Success

AltaGas’ $500 million Ridley Island propane site

Out of the kitchen and into the plumbing industry

You

asked about

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

You’ve told us local business opportunities are important. We’re doing what we can now to support small business.

Congratulations to the winners and runners-up of the ThriveNorth Business Challenge!

Last month, 12 young entrepreneurs from the northwest pitched their business ideas.

Bobby Middleton —Winner — Best New Business Idea (Terrace)

Jill Whitfield — Runner-up — Best New Business Idea (Terrace)

Heather Bohn — Winner — Best New Social Enterprise (Kitsumkalum)

Andrea Pollock — Runner-up — Best New Social Enterprise (Prince Rupert)

Simone Crook & Kristine Ewald — Winners — Best Growth Opportunity (Terrace)

Johanne Chaine — Runner-up — Best Growth Opportunity (Terrace)

Winners and runners-up were selected from three categories. $40,000 in prize money was awarded.

Congratulations to everyone who participated. And thank you to the audience, judges, and all those who made this year’s Business Challenge a huge success.

We look forward to seeing what these impressive young entrepreneurs achieve for their businesses and communities!

ThriveNorth helps young entrepreneurs start or grow their own busines. It is a joint initiative between Futurpreneur Canada and Prince Rupert LNG, the proposed LNG project on Ridley Island. Sign up for our email updates at www.princerupertlng.ca to stay informed. We also encourage you to visit Rosa and Herb at our local Prince Rupert office located at 610 2nd Avenue West.

Rosa Miller

Herb Pond

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NEED TO KNOW

2

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Todd Hamilton Prince Rupert Ed Evans, Sales Kevin Campbell, Reporter Shannon Lough, Reporter Terrace Rod Link, Editor Ben Bengston, Reporter Bert Husband, Sales Erin Bowker, Sales Kitimat Louisa Genzale, Sales Smithers Grant Harris, Sales Nick Briere, Sales Chris Gareau, Editor Houston Mary-Anne Ruiter, Sales Burns Lake Laura Blackwell, Sales Flavio Nienow, Editor Fort St. James/ Vanderhoof Pam Berger, Sales Vivian Chui, Reporter Barbara Latkowski, Reporter Haida Gwaii Quinn Bender, Sales Andrew Hudson, Reporter N2K CONTACT INFO:

Vanderhoof Fort St. James Burns Lake Houston Smithers Terrace Kitimat Prince Rupert Haida Gwaii

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N2K is a Black Press publication mailed or delivered by carrier to more than 30,000 homes and businesses throughout Northwest B.C. Our Head Office is located at: 737 Fraser Street, Prince Rupert, B.C., V8J 1R1 250-624-8088 Fax: 250-624-8085

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NORTHWEST B.C.’S INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

ust in case you thought it was all hogwash and lip service.

A story by our Terrace reporter Ben Bengston really captured our attention this month.

While most of the big-city media doesn’t want to talk about it or report on it for that matter — it isn’t negative enough for them — N2K has proudly been telling Northwest B.C. about the litany of successful job skills programs that are now up and running in our neck of the woods.

For those living in tomorrowland, what has become apparent to us has been the success of these initiatives today — many of which have been led by proponents of the many major projects still on the books for the Northwest.

In this issue, Bengston reports on just one of a litany of success stories that are springing up from these training programs. Bengston talked with Stacey Payne, who made the successful trip from out of low-pay kitchen work to now on the line in the plumbing industry, see that story on Page 19.

In his research, Bengston also came across a report that quantitatively proves these programs are having not only a beneficial influence on those participating but our society as well.

The key bullet points that came from report on the Pathways to Success program — one featured in N2K in February 2015 — are: 1) Half of the $1.2 million project funded by LNG developers; 2) As of Fall 2015, 105 people, who completed the program, have found work — 184 people as of March.

3) Estimated savings of $740,000 to government assistance programs; 4) Combined E.I., CPP, provincial and federal income tax payments made by those workers equals $1.5 million; 5) Nine, yes, only nine have failed to complete the program.

And yet, this is only one of several programs running as we speak.

No, the only hogwash and lip service is coming from those that say these projects won’t bring local jobs or opportunities.

They already are. Just ask Stacey.

Todd Hamilton N2K Publisher publisher@thenorthernview.com

Out-of-area subscriptions now available e-mail: circulation@thenorthernview.com View our e-version for free at: www.thenorthernview.com/eeditions

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Volume 3 • Issue 2

2

June 2016

IN THIS ISSUE

PRESERVING HERITAGE Ecofor working to preserve natural and cultural heritage

COMMUNITY VISION Port of Prince Rupert moving ahead with revitalization of city waterfront

7

PERMITS READY Coastal GasLink Pipeline to Kitimat receives final permits

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SUCCESS STORY Terrace woman makes the move from kitchen worker to plumber

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PROPANE TERMINAL AltaGas taps Ridley Island for site of new propane export terminal 11

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HISTORY TRAINING Restoring historical site used as job skills training platform

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When I grow up ...

Planning for a future career “What do you want to do when you grow up?”

We all remember being asked this question as kids or young adults. It isn’t always an easy or straight-forward one to answer. Enter the Mount Elizabeth Secondary School grade 10 career planning class. The 10 week program helps students focus on this very question, not only deciding what could be interesting as a career choice but some of the important steps involved in pursuing a career.

In 2016 LNG Canada was invited to participate in the program for a second year running, helping to bring to the class a diverse group of individuals with different career backgrounds to share their experiences and knowledge with the students.

The company participated alongside the likes of the Kitimat Fire & Rescue Services Department and other companies and individuals who wanted to pass along what they’ve learned.

LNG Canada was pleased to have engineers, stakeholder engagement professionals, health and safety professionals and others into the classroom to talk about what students might need to do between grades 10 and 12 to prepare for their future careers. The interesting thing that many speakers seem to have in common, from LNG Canada and elsewhere, is that they started in one career and then branched off into something else. Very few have just stayed on one path, and that is an encouraging thought for a student who doesn’t yet have a sense of what they want to do one day. The speakers from LNG Canada talked about where they went to school, what got them to where they are and the pay scale that goes with their specific career. Seiichi Tsurimi, LNG Canada’s Stakeholder Engagement Manager, gave an introduction to LNG Canada in addition to chatting about his career path.

“There are many different jobs that become available when a big project like ours goes ahead,” Tsurimi told the students.

“And the opportunities are varied, whether you want to be an engineer, a cook, a doctor, an environmental planner, or something else entirely.” Tsurimi also advised the students that one of the best things they could do for themselves was to get out into the world and travel. Bev Shaw, who organizes the career planning class for MESS, looks for the most relevant speakers for the program by surveying the students to see what careers they’re interested in. Most students didn’t yet have a sense of they wanted to do for their careers yet, but you know what? That’s really ok.

Because sometimes, even adults 5, 15, even 25 years into their careers still don’t what they want to do “when they grow up”. The trick is to identify your unique skillset, enjoy the ride and always do your best.

This space is a collaborative promotional venture by LNG Canada and N2K

LNG Canada’s Seiichi Tsurimi addresses the grade 10 career planning class at Kitimat’s Mount Elizabeth Senior Middle Secondary School.

HERITAGE SAVING

Ecofor celebrates 20 years, now dedicated to preserving natural and cultural heritage

F

By Barbara Latkowski

or Ecofor it’s all about recognizing the necessity of the past and preserving natural and cultural heritage.

“It’s our 20th anniversary this year,” Kevin Wilson, Ecofor Consulting Limited general manager said.

“We’ve recently had to refocus and since the archeology program began in 2000, that’s when our company’s wings really took off.”

And yes, Ecofor’s wings certainly have spread, soaring the company to new heights since then.

Ecofor is a natural and cultural heritage resource management company with offices across Canada including Fort St. James, Prince George, Terrace, Whitehorse and Calgary.

The company provides multidisciplinary environmental consultation specializing in: fisheries, wildlife, cultural heritage, land-use planning and forestry.

Since Ecofor was founded in 1996, it has grown to meet the needs and demands of its clients that include: private industries, government agencies and various aboriginal organizations and communities.

With a dedicated staff working in the archaeological sector, Wilson is confident and appreciative of all the archaeological projects that continue to help respect

N2K

“Since the archeology program began in 2000, that’s when our company’s wings really took off.”

- Kevin Wilson culture and land.

“In Northern B.C, a lot of the sites we look at are along waterways so there is a great amount of history found in these areas. It’s important to preserve them,” Wilson said.

“For me, living in Fort St. James, a northern community in B.C., I feel it’s so important to recognise First Nations and their history.”

“And today, they do work with us,” Wilson said. “To build a business, we need to respect their culture and land.”

Continued on Page 8

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“We have to support First Nations and it feels good to have that opportunity.”

- James Mooney Ecofor’s archaeology team provides a full range of cultural heritage consulting services to government, industry, Aboriginal communities and others.

The company’s diverse workforce continues to bring a wealth of archaeological experience and knowledge including cultural resource management experience across British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon, Alaska and the Northwest Territories.

Ecofor’s Cultural Heritage Services include: archaeological overview assessments, archaeological impact assessments, (pre and post impact: all season conditions) archaeological site mitigation, (excavation) archaeological monitoring, traditional land use and traditional knowledge studies, cultural heritage research and inventories, Aboriginal consultation, training programs and laboratory analysis.

And for Wilson, it’s all about ensuring that this is done correctly.

“We are there to collect science and present it.

Development is going to happen but we need to make sure it is done correctly and efficiently. We have to ensure the interests of the communities we deal with,” Wilson said.

“In Fort St. James, we are signing a joint venture with Nak’azdli Band. We are in this for the long haul. It’s important that we continue good relations with First Nations.”

For James Mooney, Heritage Program Manager for Ecofor, it’s also about discovering where the projects are and learning from them.

“An example of the work we have been doing has to do with culturally modified trees especially along Highway 16 in B.C. The pine tree commonly had its

outer bark peeled. It was used as a food source. We do a lot of work on these trees. When you look at the big picture, you can then find trails and find out where people lived,” Moody said.

According to Wilson, he couldn’t be happier with the outcome Ecofor continues to bring to various communities.

“Ecofor helps protect these cultural sites. We want to do our part. We have to support First Nations and it feels good to have that opportunity.”

-N2K-

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Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project

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Coastal GasLink Pipeline ready to begin construction in 2017

T

By Chris Gareau

ransCanada announced in May that it has all the major permits it needs to start construction of its Coastal GasLink pipeline that would bring liquefied natural gas from northeast B.C. to Kitimat. It is now just waiting for a final investment decision from Shell-led LNG Canada.

TransCanada stated that if LNG Canada gives the greenlight to the project, construction on the pipeline would begin in 2017.

TransCanada received the last two of 10 pipeline and facilities permits needed from the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission. Eight permits are related to pipeline construction, with the other two for pipeline-related facilities: a natural gas compressor station and meter station in Groundbirch, and a natural gas metering station in Kitimat.

Some permits for site-specific activities will be needed after construction starts, said TransCanada spokesperson Shela Shapiro.

Shapiro added via email that 11 project agreements with First Nation groups have been announced, and that they are working with 21 groups on long-term benefit agreements. She added that more have been signed but not yet announced.

“The agreements we have finalized so far are

N2K

“The agreements we have finalized so far are a reflection of the balance that can be achieved.”

- Shela Shapiro a reflection of the balance that can be achieved.

Aboriginal communities do not have to choose between the benefits of our project and maintaining a healthy environment and a strong traditional way of life,” wrote Shapiro.

She added that of the over 350,000 hours of field work done on the project so far, over one-third comes from aboriginal participation.

“The input they provided allowed us to incorporate traditional knowledge and traditional land use information into project planning and plan a route that considered this input,” added Shapiro.

Continued on Page 10

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Coastal GasLink received an Environmental Assessment Certificate from the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office in October 2014.

“This is a significant regulatory milestone for our project, which is a key component of TransCanada’s growth plan that includes more than $13 billion in proposed natural gas pipeline projects which support the emerging liquefied natural gas industry on the British Columbia Coast,” said TransCanada president and CEO Russ Girling in a release.

The Coastal GasLink project was originally announced on June 5, 2012.

In January 2015, the Moricetown Band signed a provincial government benefits agreement on the Coastal Gaslink pipeline, which consists of a combination of employment and environmental funds and legacy payments.

Under that agreement, Moricetown will receive about $6 million in benefits, including 37,000 cubic metres

of forested land, from a deal called a Reconciliation Agreement. It will also help fund social programs.

The province will distribute the payments as project milestones are reached. The band received $998,000 when the agreement came into effect, $2.49 million when construction begins and $2.49 million once the pipeline is operating.

The deal also includes the establishment of an environmental and cultural accord aimed at ensuring the pipeline meets the 43 Environmental Assessment Certificate conditions relating to Wet’suwet’en territory.

Moricetown also received an immediate payment of $1.1 million as the sixteenth and final First Nation to enter into the First Nations Limited Partnership (FNLP) with Chevron Apache for the similarily-routed Pacific Trails Pipeline in January 2015.”

-N2K-

AltaGas NOT SO

SMALL

W

By Kevin Campbell

ith numerous LNG projects in the mix representing tens of billions of dollars, AltaGas’ proposed propane terminal near Prince Rupert registers slightly more than the bat of an eyelash financially, but it’s one project many are looking toward to provide economic certainty for Ridley Terminals.

“It’s still quite a significant project ... It’s not a small undertaking, but people throw on these billions of dollars so they think it’s small,” Dan Woznow, vice president energy exports for AltaGas told N2K. Ridley Terminals is looking to divest its product offerings away from coal due to a decline in market demand, and representatives from AltaGas looking to build a West Coast terminal with as minimal environmental impact as possible and already at a place with infrastructure and land designated for industry, had a sense of palpable excitement during recent open houses in Prince Rupert and Port Edward.

Continued on Page 12

The $400-500 million

“small” project

Ship docking at AltaGas’ Ferndale, Washington facility

Ridley Island, ideal location for propane export terminal Woznow described finding Ridley Island as the ideal location.

“We have a nice, small site that’s been developed already, so we don’t have to look at clearing trees and all that. It’s got excellent infrastructure. It’s fully serviced by CN, it’s set up for moving large volumes of commodities, so that’s wonderful,” Woznow said. The location would use the island’s existing marine jetty in its operations.

The AltaGas proposed Ridley Island propane export terminal is a $400-$500 million investment by the Canadian company and would handle 1.2 million tonnes of propane per annum and would offload 50-60 rail cars

12

per day. Twenty to 30 cargoes of propane would then be shipped on water to markets such as Asia via Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs).

The process involves shipping the propane by rail, then transferring the substance to pressurized bullets, chilling it to approximately -42 Celsius. The propane is transferred to refrigerated storage and that cooled propane is then placed on VLGCs to be shipped out of Ridley Island. AltaGas is currently operating an environmental assessment process for the proposition.

“This project falls under the Section 67 process under CEAA (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)

and because of its size, it doesn’t trigger a formal CEAA process. But we still do an environmental assessment and so we produced a project description and we sent that out for the community to review and we’re having these public meetings now,” said Woznow, adding that the public has a 30-day review period to send questions or concerns. The regulators are Transport Canada, the Prince Rupert Port Authority and Ridley Terminals.

AltaGas operates a similar facility in Ferndale, WA and has already solicited requests from members of area councils to be given tours of the terminal in the U.S.

“We have a nice, small site that’s been developed already...”

- Dan Woznow

Continued on Page 14

N2K

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The facility has been in operation for 40 years without a safety incident and has been operated by AltaGas staff since 2014. The facility on Ridley Island would be built with stat-of-the-art technology, said Woznow.

And the demand is there for it after a glut of supply has saturated the North American market.

“We’ve got a bunch of excess propane. We used to move it down [to the States] but now we’re competing with them ... I was just over [in Asia] talking to the folks and in Japan, for example, 24 million households use propane for heating and cooking. It’s also being utilized in Indonesia. They’re moving off of kerosene and they’re using propane because there’s no spill issues. You can have it in cylinders and move it around easier,” he added.

In terms of rail car safety, propane moves in specially designed cars, with thicker walls to carry the pressurized propane and the design is to ensure that the transport is safer, which is regulated by Transport Canada, said the VP. CN’s Dangerous Goods and Emergency Response division includes 12 Dangerous Goods officers located across Canada and the U.S., 12 employees trained as Dangerous Goods responders across various departments, have specialized emergency response contractors, use shippers’ emergency response teams and Dangerous Goods specialists from the Railway Association of Canada.

AltaGas is preparing for a Final Investment Decision by the end of 2016. The project would involve local and First Nations contractors in the construction of the facility in the bidding process (200-250 construction jobs) and would hire 40 permanent full-time workers to operate the facility.

“We’re really happy to be in the community up here and I think it’s a nice smaller project that we can hopefully get done,” Woznow said.

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TAKLA LAKE & McLEOD LAKE AGREEMENTS BRING TOTAL TO 11

T

By Kevin Campbell

wo more First Nations have signed project agreements with TransCanada’s Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project.

The Takla Lake First Nation (north of Vanderhoof) and McLeod Lake Indian Band (north of Prince George) both signed agreements, which brings the tally of total First Nations having signed on to the pipeline to 11, with Doig River, Halfway River and Yekooche First Nations signing on, with the Gitanyow First Nation, Kitselas First Nation, Lake Babine Nation, Metlakatla First Nation, Blueberry River First Nation and Nisga’a Lisims Government additionally signed on.

The McLeod Lake band will receive a one-time payment of $295,000. Should the project go ahead, the band would receive an additional $1.475 million when construction starts and another $1.475 million when the pipeline goes into service. They’d also receive a share of $10 million annually when service starts.

The agreements provide benefits, commitments, job opportunities and financial benefits to the various communities for as long as the project is in service.

The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project would be a 900 kilometre natural gas pipeline delivered from a point near Hudson’s Hope to the proposed LNG export facility on Lelu Island off Port Edward by Pacific NorthWest LNG. “Pipelines remain a very difficult issue among McLeod Lake’s people and we proceeded with this agreement only after conducting a referendum to allow our people to decide whether to proceed,” said McLeod Lake Indian Band Chief Derek Orr. Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation John Rustad added that it’s a step in the right direction for responsible industry in the north.

“Our agreements with McLeod Lake and other First Nations throughout northern B.C. are important milestones in realizing the tremendous advantages LNG is bringing to our province. Together, we are working to build the world’s cleanest LNG industry and one that will provide significant benefits for all British Columbians,” he said.

-N2K-

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PORT PLANS Port of Prince Rupert revitalizing city’s waterfront access, tourism future

C

By Kevin Campbell

oming right on the heels of the opening of the Cow Bay Marina and public breakwater in Cow Bay, providing the Prince Rupert public with waterfront access, the Prince Rupert Port Authority have set plans in motion to build even more of an ocean-front presence.

Speaking before mayor and council, port authority vice-president of trade and development and public affairs Shaun Stevenson and vice-president of commercial and regulatory affairs Andrew Mayer made a presentation on the development of Cow Bay lands adjacent to Atlin Terminal.

The purpose of the development, which has been in the planning stages for a couple years, is to provide the public with more waterfront access and create a hub of activity within the area that can draw residents to the ocean, while enjoying Cow Bay. “[Due to a] scarcity of access opportunities, we really looked at this as an opportunity to explore, from the Kwinitsa Station north or east, the opportunity to develop a community-centric waterfront development vision,” said Stevenson.

“We can build out the waterfront both for our community, but also for tourism objectives and steer the course for the future as we saw opportunities to

16

“We can build out the waterfront both for our community, but also for tourism objectives ...”

- Shaun Stevenson increasingly expand both retail commercial space and public access on the waterfront.”

Included in the plan by the port, which ramps up after acquisitions of land from the city will be completed this month, are mixed-use buildings, such as a waterfront community plaza, potential office space for the port or other tenants, a tighter and more pedestrian-friendly street environment to “permit both vehicles and pedestrians to safely coexist”, a market square, waterfront canopy, centrepiece plaza and buildout of the current parking lot across the street from Atlin Terminal.

Continued on Page 17

N2K

“We’re really excited about this being a town square ...”

- Shaun Stevenson The three main areas of development to see new structures includes the parking lot, the existing and recently demolished Odin Seafood dock (between Atlin Terminal and the Northland Cruise Ship Terminal) and the triangular property across the street from the dock.

The port engaged the services of Vancouver’s Office of Mcfarlane Biggar Architects + Designers (OMB) to develop the plan.

“The process really started in earnest in early 2012 – it involved a consultative process with community groups, local businesses, property owners, community service providers and other agencies, heritage groups, First Nations stakeholders, environmental groups, recreation and tourism interests and other cultural arts stakeholders in the community to determine what their values were in creating a waterfront development vision,” said Stevenson.

“What came out of that was a high amount of interest in creating public spaces and calming the traffic down in the current area of the Northland Cruise Ship Dock and also ... creating an area where it was both invigorated by daytime and nighttime use and celebrating Prince Rupert’s history.”

The development by the port would follow the implemented Cow Bay Design Guidelines, which encourages structures with maritime character, durable building materials and bright colours.

Street design characteristics, such as curb-less streets, paved surfaces, appropriate street widths, parallel parking, trees and mixed use buildings are conducive to a “vibrant streetscape” and OMB’s experience in public space planning seemed well-suited to the Prince

N2K

Rupert’s process the port executives mentioned.

“Instead of large parking lots in front of buildings, we focused on hiding the parking in behind buildings, so it kept a very intimate and tight streetscape, which is more conducive to a livable community,” Stevenson explained, adding that the plaza’s capacity in three different areas would be 600-900 people, 250 and 1,500-plus and would be a further asset in creating a large gathering area for cruise ship passengers.

The development will be completed in phases should the port board of directors pass the plan and construction contracts in the coming weeks. Phase One is recommended to entail the Odin Dock area and implementation of the canopy.

“That area has served a dual purpose. It is being considered for the potential for a new office development, whether it be the port authority, or a new party, and a large-scale covered public space centred on the waterfront adjacent to the Northland Cruise Ship Terminal. We’re really excited about this being a town square or an access point working in compliment to the city’s marina to create a public space,” said Stevenson.

Phase One would also include a Third Avenue extension, new parking lot and woodland restoration for the land adjacent to George Hills Way and cost (with the Odin development) approximately $25.5 million combined. Phases Two through Six then focuses on the centrepiece plaza, a Cow Bay building where the current parking area is, and even a new marina with further costs.

-N2K-

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GETTING out of the

KITCHEN Terrace’s Stacey Payne, a Northwest B.C. trades training success story

By Ben Bengston After working as a cook for years, Stacey Payne decided she wanted to get out of the kitchen.

She considered a career in trades, eventually settling on plumbing, and last year took introductory courses at the UA Piping Industry College of British Columbia located at the Coast Mountains School District’s trades training facility in Thornhill with the hope of getting a apprenticeship. After 18 weeks of training, she was ready to look for work in her new field.

But finding a plumbing job didn’t come as quickly as she’d hoped. Being a single mother of three kids, and with bills piling up, Payne, in her early 40s, was eager to find work.

“I had September, October and November basically where I was making calls, sending emails, dropping off resumes – but I didn’t get anything. No callbacks, nothing,” she said of her search late last year. “It was kind of stressful.”

However, Payne’s persistence paid off and she landed a fulltime job with Technicon Industries, a Terrace-based company of general contractors that provide many services, including plumbing.

“I like it. A lot of stuff going on. I’m working with the plumbing and heating crew, learning a bunch of new things,” she said about her new job.

While Payne said she was enjoying the work, her difficulty in finding and acquiring a job was a situation all too familiar for many people. However, in Payne’s case she benefited by seeking out the services of job placement specialists in the area.

Payne, a member of the Kitsumkalum First Nation, spoke with Kitsumkalum officials who put her in touch with David Hansen.

N2K

“When we place somebody into a job we follow up with them and ladder them into better and better jobs.”

- David Hansen

Hansen is a job placement specialist with Coast Educational Development and Research, or Cedar. One of Cedar’s current projects is Pathways to Success, a program involving six of the Tsimshian First Nations with financing from LNG proponents such as BG Canada and the provincial government.

“Dave was a lot of help,” Payne said. “Bought tools, helped me with the job.”

Hansen also helped Payne prepare for interviews, send out resumes and negotiate a living wage once she was hired at Technicon.

“They offered her 15 bucks an hour and I said, ‘Listen, that’s not a living wage,’ so we got it bumped up to 17. So she started at 17 bucks an hour,” Hansen said. “Now she’s working steady all the time, 40 hours a week.”

Part of Cedar’s strategy with Pathways to Success is using subsidy programs that are already in place but tend to be overlooked by job seekers or potential employers.

Continued on Page 20

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In Payne’s case, Hansen contacted TRICORP, an organization dedicated to First Nations’ economic development, who agreed to partially subsidize Payne’s wage for the first three months if Technicon agreed to hire her.

The BG Canada and the government also provided money for Payne to purchase the numerous and expensive tools she needed for the job, as well offer assistance for further schooling in the trade.

Payne said her goal right now is to become a journeyman plumber.

According to Hansen, Payne’s story is significant because it shows how a hands-on approach to employment initiatives can lead to success.

“What I think is significant about Stacey’s story is that there is limited resources in the region to help people to get on a pathway to good employment opportunities,” Hansen said.

“When we place somebody into a job we follow up with them and ladder them into better and better jobs.”

-N2K-

Training programs paying huge dividends in Northwest B.C. At a cost of $1.2 million, a program which places people in jobs is good value for the money, indicates a recent report by a program previously featured in N2K — Pathways to Success.

Pathways to Success is financed with $600,000 from the provincial government and $600,000 from several prospective LNG developers and aimed primarily at members of the Tsimshian Nation From late 2014 to the fall of 2015, 105 people who completed the program found work.

Participants either went through training prior to a job search or, depending upon their education and skill level, found employment sooner through a concerted effort on the part of counsellors assigned to the duty.

Based on a wide variety of assumptions to determine

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wages earned, the report estimates a combined annual income for the participants at $3.6 million.

It further estimated a savings of $740,000 from taking people off of various government assistance programs and placing them in the workforce.

And because the 105 people were working, the report calculated that EI and CPP contributions along with federal and provincial income tax payments made amounted to just under $1.5 million.

The Pathways to Success program was first conceived to prepare aboriginal people for employment connected to the prospects of a regional liquefied natural gas industry.

Continued on Page 21

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“The skills gap between many area residents and the needs of the LNG-related employers is exacerbated for many First Nations workers by multiple factors, including low levels of education, racism and their physical distance from employment opportunities,” reads last year’s report.

Using data supplied by the program, the report determined that the average wage of those who did find work was $18.95 an hour with those who were able to be fast-tracked to work earning more than the average and those needing more intensive training first earning less than the average.

The average age of the clients who did find work was slightly less than 40 years old.

Females were found to be earning less, an average of $18.11 an hour, compared to men at $19.60 an hour.

Those in the program and whose information came from last year’s report came from the Tsimshian communities of Kitsumkalum and Kitselas near Terrace and Gitga’at, Gitxaala, Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams on the coast. A small number of participants came from other First Nations communities.

Figures provided by the provincial government up until March 31 indicate 184 people were reported to have been trained and placed in employment.

And government officials estimate that 251 people will have taken part in the program by the time it concludes.

Pathways to Success graduation ceremony featured in the February 2015 issue of N2K

Only nine people were reported to have left the program early.

-N2K-

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TRAINING IN HISTORY

North Pacific Cannery serving as skills training site

V

By Shannon Lough

isitors who travel to Port Edward to explore coast’s history at The North Pacific Cannery may also witness the efforts it takes to preserve a heritage site.

The cannery offers more than a blast from the past and mountains-meet-ocean scenery, it has also become a site where job seekers can get hands-on training.

The province announced more than $233,900 in new funding to support 16 apprentices in a 38-week work experience program known as the Job Creation Partnership.

The apprentices are training to be construction craft workers, bridgemen pile drivers, or carpenters under the mentorship of four journeymen carpenters.

The cannery has had 48 participants go through the Job Creation Partnership over the past three years with $335,668 in funding from the province.

Conservation manager Steve Milum said the province’s funding covers the cost of the journeymen trainers and the cost of personal protective equipment and transportation for the workers — the cannery is a 22 kilometre drive from Prince Rupert.

Through Milum’s efforts he’s found more partner funders to provide materials and to cover additional costs for the work program.

“I see subtle changes on a weekly basis — to the buildings, and to the workers — that accumulate into large changes to the site and to the individuals over several months,” Milum said.

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Two of the funding partners are from the Prince Rupert area and have donated materials for the restoration.

Broadwater Industries has given 60 piles for fixing the dock.

Aluma Systems donated scaffolding gear. Participants being trained at the cannery will be a shoe-in for the company after getting hands-on work with their gear.

Another layer to the project is that some project participants have their own history intertwined with the cannery.

Kirkland Gladstone is one of them. He’s preserving the cannery where his father once worked. When he was born, his parents lived in a place called Sunnyside, in between the North Pacific Cannery and Cassiar Cannery.

A couple weeks ago, he brought his father to the cannery to show him the work he’s been doing.

“We’re making scaffolding to take off these old beams and put up new beams. I’m doing stuff I haven’t really done before. I’ve been a fisherman most of my life. I’ve worked for construction companies but I’ve never done this. This is amazing,” he said.

The Job Creation Partnership program started in March and will be completed by mid-November. Milum aims to have the crew finish part of the working dock by the time Port Edward celebrates its 50th anniversary on the site in June.

-N2K-

N2K

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Trade is building stronger communities.

The Port of Prince Rupert is growing opportunities and prosperity by connecting the communities of northern BC. Last year, port activity was directly responsible for the equivalent of 3,060 permanent full-time jobs.

Watch and share our video tribute to the workers and families of BC’s gateway industry: youtube.com/rupertport.