November 30, 2012 – BC Hydro says it will provide $100,000 in funding over two years to the North East Native Advancing Society (NENAS) to support trades training under its North East Aboriginal Trades Training (NEATT) program.

The NEATT program emphasizes pre-college preparation, trade careers exploration and personal development, as well as workplace essential literacy and numeracy skill-building. The goal of the program is to prepare Aboriginal people for their transition into existing trades foundation courses and apprenticeship programs offered at Northern Lights College and at other training centres in the province.

“There is a high demand for a skilled workforce today and in the future in the Peace region,” said Susan Yurkovich, executive VP, Site C Clean Energy Project, BC Hydro. “By increasing access to trades training for Aboriginal people today, our intent is to benefit Aboriginal students and provide a foundation for the future.”

Funding for the society is designed to complement the $1-million in BC Hydro funding for trades and skills training at Northern Lights College (NLC). With this funding, NENAS will support the tuition and associated costs for Aboriginal people pursuing trades training programs that are not otherwise offered through NLC. For example, NENAS could sponsor people to attend programs such as the Heavy Equipment Operator program in Kamloops, which is not offered by NLC.