LARICINA MAKING A DIFFERENCE, CREATING OPPORTUNITY
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aricina Energy Ltd. (Laricina) is creating value by developing Canada’s oil sands using innovative in situ technologies. The Company has two core producing projects at Saleski and Germain with additional development areas in early-stage exploration and technical evaluation. One of the ways Laricina is developing exerienced workers in the field is by way of their heavy equip ment training program. Designed to enhance the Bigstone Cree Nation (BCN) membership by providing long-term benefits such as team building, economic development, project management skills, land-use planning, and an increased development of skilled labor while building a sustainable community. The community investment partnership was formed with the BCN, Alberta Works Human Services, Laricina Energy Ltd. (Laricina), and two industry developers to deliver a three-month training program for 12 local residents in machine operations of the following: rock trucks, excavators, dozers, skidsteers and graders; all equipment essential to industry operations. The program involved training in landscaping, ditching, grading, and finishing to engineered standards of the newly constructed, 11-home housing subdivision, within the BCN reserve. The subdivision was expanded to include an additional 22-home subdivision. Upgrades completed two
Energy Ltd.
kilometers of public roads, a new emergency access road was built, and the quality of living was tremendously enhanced for 33 BCN families. BCN Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS) approached Laricina for financial sponsorship towards their Heavy Equipment Training Program. ASETS in partnership with Alberta Works Human Services presented the proposal that focused on the local labour market needs to develop skills at a local level. The proposal provided 12 Wabasca locals (3 females and 9 males) with training on four machines to take place onsite of the BCN’s next phase of the residential subdivision. The training was conducted by High Velocity Equipment Training Ltd. Laricina was aware the proposed subdivision needed improved drainage, ditching, landscaping, construction of approaches and road upgrades. Laricina suggested adding a fifth piece of equipment, a skidsteer, and incorporating the completion of the 11-lot housing subdivision as part of the training program. The training initiative was designed to address some of the BCN’s housing issues, infrastructure problems, public works challenges, and to develop a workforce that could potentially lead to economic and entrepreneurship opportunities for the First Nation by increasing the number of trained personnel in OilfieldPULSE | NOVEMBER 2014
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