B.C. Premier Christy Clark announces $1.6 millon in funding towards equipment operator programs at TRU.

The logging industry in British Columbia has begun to recover from the effects of the pine beetle infestation and the housing market crash of the past year, but now faces another challenge: a shortage of skilled heavy equipment operators and logging truck drivers. A skills shortage in the Thompson-Nicola and Cariboo regions could mean its communities miss out on the benefits of the lumber industry’s recovery.

Thompson Rivers University has developed three new programs that hope to address the skills shortages in forestry and other industries, and support communities in the university’s region. The provincial government announced on May 4, 2012 it will commit $1.6 million to these programs through the Canada-British Columbia Labor Market Agreement.

“Our government is proud to support Thompson Rivers University students by investing in skills training for jobs in high demand,” said Premier Christy Clark. “Access to training programs like the ones offered at TRU is the first step in helping meet the continued demand for skilled workers in priority industries like mining and forestry.”

The funding will cover seat costs for training unemployed non-EI eligible and underemployed individuals to become heavy equipment operators and logging truck drivers in the forest sector as well as heavy equipment operators in the civil and mining sector.

“TRU is an educational keystone of the Cariboo region. This funding will help expand forestry and build on existing trade advances,” said Cariboo MLA Donna Barnett. “I’m thrilled the Province is able to support the university in such a fashion.”

TRU’s School of Trades and Technology in Kamloops and the Williams Lake campus are taking applications now for the new Heavy Equipment Operator – Forest Harvesting program (HEOF) and the Logging Truck Driver Training program (LTDTP), developed in partnership with the Interior Logging Association specifically for the forest-harvesting sector. The HEOF program is designed to give students experience through operating at an actual logging production site. Developed in collaboration with contractors and licensees in both regions, the LTDTP includes Class 1 driver training, logging truck driver training, and mentorship.

“This training could not occur at a better time,” said Dean of Trades Lindsay Langill, who is in China working with TRU’s international partners. “Seeing the economic boom in China and tens of thousands of tower cranes in the air, our forestry program will help supply the international markets with a needed product. This is an area where TRU thrives: listening and moving quickly in response to the needs of industry”.

Addressing skills shortages in mining, road building, and construction, TRU partnered with the BC Aboriginal Mine Training Association two years ago to develop the Heavy Equipment Operator – Civil and Mining program, which includes operating experience at a civil/mining work site. Both the heavy equipment operator programs are recognized by the Industry Training Authority (ITA).

“Anyone wondering what career path to follow should consider that the number of apprentices in these programs has doubled in just eight years,” noted Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger. “This is where the jobs are, and this is where the jobs of the foreseeable future will be.”

PROGRAM START DATES
The LTDTP program begins in May and will be offered at both the Kamloops and Williams Lake campuses with several intakes.
The HEOF starts in Kamloops in August, and in 100 Mile in January. The Heavy Equipment Operator – Civil and Mining program will be offered at the New Gold New Afton mine site outside of Kamloops starting in June, and in Clearwater starting in March of 2013.
These employment-ready programs will provide students with a solid foundation in safety and equipment maintenance, and enable those who live in these regions to obtain well-paying jobs without having to move away from their communities.

Terry Lake, Minister of Environment and MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson, said “TRU is positioning itself to prepare British Columbians for the coming job market. The forest and mining sector will face a serious need for skilled labour, and people looking for a good, well-paying career would be well advised to consider these programs at TRU.”

MORE INFORMATION

Lindsay Langill
Dean of Trades
School of Trades and Technology
Thompson Rivers University
E-mail: lblangill@tru.ca
Tel: 250-828-5110

Gillian Watt
Forestry Training Program Manager
School of Trades and Technology
Thompson Rivers University
E-mail: gwatt@tru.ca
Tel: 250-828-5106

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Learn more about heavy equipment operator programs at TRU
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Logging Truck Driver program stakeholders gather for a photo. Pictured is (back row), Dan Weks (Driver), Rick Welke (West Fraser) Larry Price (Tolko), and Tom Hoffman (Tolko). In the front row: Trudy Temple (Tolko), and Shirley-Pat Gale (TRU North).