Lorraine Labrosse - BC AMTA’s 200th Candidate To Obtain Employment
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Kamloops, BC. A single mother from Chase has a career and new optimism for the future after becoming the 200th person to find employment through the BC Aboriginal Mine Training Association (BC AMTA).
Lorraine Labrosse began work on September 13th as a Temporary Surface Labourer at the New Afton mine. If all goes well and if the need is there she will move to a permanent, full-time position within four months.
“I was recruited and identified by BC AMTA about one year ago,” says Lorraine. “I drove 60 kms each way, each day (about 34,000 kms in 11 months) to get to Thompson Rivers University for my training, all the while looking after my three children--Ivory, Declan, and Bronzon. I can’t tell you what it means to me to have a career ahead of me in an important and thriving industry.
“I could not be happier.”
BC AMTA began in 2009 under funding from a federal government program--Aboriginal Skills and Employment Program (ASEP).
To date it has recruited and identified more than 700 candidates from aboriginal communities across BC.
“The pending shortage of skilled labour in the BC mining industry is well known,” says Laurie Sterritt, BC AMTA’s Executive Director. “An additional challenge for the mining industry is finding committed people willing to work in the remote areas where mines are located. Of course, many of these areas have long-standing First Nations communities.
“The fit between the industry’s need to find qualified and committed people, and the need of First Nations people to find meaningful and sustainable employment could not be stronger,” says Laurie.
“This is where BC AMTA fits in, and where people like Lorraine benefit,”adds Laurie.
Some of the programs BC AMTA students have been emersed in include Environmental Monitoring, Heavy Equipment Operation, Human Resources Management and Underground Mining, to name just a few. “The BC AMTA team has worked hard to establish connections to education that will prepare our candidates for sustainable jobs,” says Laurie.
“An additional benefit from creating such employment is increased stability for First Nations families and communities--and we are now seeing such changes take root where we have been able to place candidates.”
“BC AMTA has proven itself in a short time,” says Ann Wallin of New Afton. “We have BC AMTA candidates working for us in a variety of positions. They are committed, well qualified, and eager to work.
“Will we hire more?” asks Ann. “You bet we will.”
Unfortunately, just as BC AMTA’s approach is starting to take hold and produce results its future is in question.
“Our federal funding ends early in 2012,” says Laurie. “We have asked the industry to help fund our activities and our partners are also encouraging the provincial and federal governments to step up and recognize a program that delivers by funding our continuing operations.”
To learn more about BC AMTA, watch a short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsOg3LZ5k9o
Contact: Laurie Sterritt, 604-681-4321, ex. 112
Real Life Stories
Jim Morin, Ph.D., P. Geol.
Jim Morin fell in love one hot, prairie summer day, back when he was thirteen. With rocks. And ever since then, they've been his passion. "Every day I walked along the railway tracks," says Morin, "and then one day, I actually looked at what I was walking on, and realised that beneath my feet lay treasure. Each stone was unique, told a story, had a history and marked time in some way. I was hooked by the mystery of rocks!"