- Links
- www.rtobc.com
- www.tradesrock.com
- www.itabc.ca
Watch our movies
Find us on Facebook
Find us on Twitter
Subscribe to our RSS feeds
Note from the CEO:
Over the last few years, RTO has worked closely with industry partners, organized labour, training providers and the Industry Training Authority to expand our capacity and achieve our collective goals. We believe that the ongoing improvement and expansion of training is necessary for the resource industry and remains fundamental to BC's long term prosperity and competitiveness.
We could not have accomplished our work to date without your support and I would like to thank you for that.
- Doug MacLaren, CEO
Seasons Greetings!
Welcome to the first issue of the RTO (Resource Training Organization) newsletter.
The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information to our broad range of stakeholders about RTO's initiatives including program development, upcoming events, industry news and useful tools and links.
Our role is to drive BC's resource industry apprenticeship programs by offering and promoting programs that meet the projected demand for skilled tradespersons in the resource industries.
For more information check out the RTO website at www.rtobc.com or the RTO career site at www.tradesrock.com. This site offers resource industry and trades information, testimonial videos, trades salaries, useful career links and more.
Doug MacLaren – CEO
Larry Richardson – Program Standards Manager
Karen McLean – Office Administrator
Michelle Skelly – Communications Manager
Jude Fawcett – Board Administrator
Mike Agg, Senior VP, Zinc - Teck
Richard Boyce, President - United Steel Workers Local 7619
James Greenwell, Senior Assistant Business Manager -
Local 258 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Bob Hughf, National Representative - Communications, Energy & Paperworkers
Jim Jones, Independent Director
George MacPherson, President - Marine Workers & Boilermakers Industrial Union, Local No. 1
Rick Maksymetz, Operations Manager - Kraft Pulp & Paper West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
Alex Rueben, RTO Board Chair,
Chief of Staff
Captain(N) - National Defence
Pat Sawatsky, Senior General Manager - BC Hydro
Greg Wishart, General Manager - Interior Forest Labour Relations Association
Don Wright, President - BCIT
The 2nd Annual Pumpkin Fun Run/Walk
The Pumpkin Run took place at Aldor Acres in Langley, BC on October 17, 2010. Approximately 100 runners attended helping to raise $2812 for bursaries for students pursuing trades training.
Trades in Action Day
Join the RTO at various Education & Career Fairs which will be taking place over the next few months. Learn more about the opportunities in the resource trades.
Schedule:
January 10, 2010 - Vancouver, BC
January 12, 2010 - Kamloops, BC
January 14, 2010 - Kelowna, BC
Click here for more details and venue locations.
Check out further upcoming events RTO will be involved with Click here.
The first quarter of our fiscal for 2010-11 has been busy laying the groundwork for the year’s activities and reviewing the efficiencies of several important trades.
- Welding Trade - This review is nearing its completion with the final report being reviewed by the PRC (Project Review Committee).
- Industrial Electrician Program - Coordinating consultation meetings with employers regarding their satisfaction with the key elements of the Industrial Electrician program. Meetings with stakeholders will be held throughout several regions of the province. Anyone wishing to participate in these meetings can contact Larry Richardson, Manager Program Standards at lrichardson@rtobc.com.
- Saw Trades – being reviewed this fall with meetings planned for the Prince George region. The Planermill Technician will not be reviewed this year as the participation rate needs to be analyzed.
- Development of a computer based activity management system.
- Pilot Project - A joint project between the ITA and RTO, focusing on the implementation of program changes has been completed. The purpose was to ascertain the value of conducting Implementation Information sessions with training providers. These meetings were used to disseminate the information necessary to efficiently incorporate the changes to a trade program that industry had defined through their trade review. The pilot was successful, with positive feedback from all participants.
IT PAYS TO HIRE AN APPRENTICE:
According to the Executive Summary, June 2009 provided by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum: It Pays to Hire an Apprentice. The report calculates the Return on Training Investment for Skilled Trades Employers in Canada and confirms that the benefits of apprenticeship training out-weigh the costs and confirms once again there is a strong business case for apprenticeship.
Data from almost 1,000 employers across Canada was obtained and it was determined that for every $1 spent on apprenticeship training, an employer receives a net benefit on overage of $1.47 or a net return of $0.47. In addition, the net benefit of apprenticeship training increases in each year over the course of the apprenticeship period. Employers also noted their journeypersons benefit from having an apprentice and the hiring of apprentices include having employees which are a better fit with the organization and reduced risk of skills shortages.
For further research highlights and further details of the report visit www.CAF-FCA.ORG
Click Here to link to the RTO career site which offers valuable information and websites from the resource industries including mining and smelting, oil and gas, pulp and paper, shipbuilding and repair, solid wood and utilities.
MINING & SMELTING:
Mining Speakers Bureau:
The Speakers Bureau is an online system that allows educators to book mining industry speakers for in-class presentations. The Speakers Bureau was created by the Canadian mining industry, in partnership with the Mining Industry Human Resources Council, to provide educators with access to free presentations on a variety of exciting mining related topics, and can be tailored to link to curriculum learning objectives.
More information on the Speakers Bureau can be found here.
Check out the Mining Industry Human Resources Council website found here.
SHIPBUILDING & REPAIR:
RTO has recently awarded North Pacific Training & Performance Inc. the contract to develop program standards for Shipwright & Marine Fitter. These programs will be endorsements to a number of existing trades.
RTO is also currently involved in the strategy to develop an Industrial Marine Training & Applied Research Centre (IMTARC) at the Esquimalt Graving Dock on Vancouver Island. The Centre is envisioned as an industry managed facility exclusively dedicated to developing the skills and knowledge of the shipbuilding and repair workforce in BC.
Industrial Marine Training & Applied Research Centre (IMTARC) – Investment Prospectus.
You can check out more shipbuilding and repair information at www.bcshipbuildingandrepaircareers.com
OIL & GAS:
News from the CAODC (Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors):
The Rig Technician trade is scheduled for its third year of technical training classes at Kelowna's Okanagan College.
Drilling rig companies recently asked RTO/ ITA to modify the structure of the trade. Rig Technician was first launched as three 1-year programs, but over the last few months, has been restructured to be a single certificate program of 3 years.
More information about the CAODC can be found at www.caodc.ca.
TRU - THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY UPDATE
The Thompson Rivers University School of Trades and Technology in Kamloops is offering “new” this year a Foundation program combining Industrial Electrician and Instrumentation Mechanic. As a result the student will leave school with both a Level One credential in Industrial Electrician and Instrumentation Mechanic. These two programs are a natural fit as many of the learning outcomes and competencies are shared in Level 1.
TRU has recently set up a new training facility onsite to train Power Line Technicians at the request of Industry and most recently, at the request of BC AMTA (BC Aboriginal Mine Training Association), will open its first Heavy Equipment Operator Apprenticeship program this fall.
TRU is also proud to offer its Bachelor’s Degree in Trades and Technology Leadership. Those who are holders of a Red Seal Certificate of Qualification can be credited for up to two years worth of academic credit and proceed on towards their degree on flexible terms completing the courses through TRU- Open Learning on line. Check out TRU's website at www.tru.ca.
SOUTH ISLAND PARTNERSHIP – Report to Industry
Camosun College in collaboration with 5 local school districts have teamed up to train secondary students through ITA youth programs. During the 2009/10 school year they provided ACE IT training to secondary students as follows: 20 electricians, 20 Level C Welders, 3 plumbing and pipefitters, and 1 metal fabricator. In April 2010, in collaboration with the RTO, Camosun hosted a grade 8 YES 2 IT trades exploration program exposing students to welding and electrical hands-on activities. That day Camosun also hosted Skills Canada competitions in 16 trades and technology areas, over 2,500 students had an opportunity to check out industrial equipment, tools, and facilities of all types.
For more information check out the www.camosun.ca/lync website on our programs. The South Island Partnership is seeking industry volunteers and partnership arrangements to support youth transition to training and employment. If you would like to get involved contact the South Island Partnership Coordinator Knister@camosun.bc.ca. The South Island Partnership (SIP) between Camosun College, the five School Districts of Southern Vancouver Island and local industry leaders aims to provide opportunities for students to jump-start their post-secondary education and workplace careers by participating in LYNC programming.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS PIPING: THE ESP PROJECT
HRSDC defines Essential Skills as the fundamental skills that make it possible to learn all others. They are enabling skills that help people participate fully in the workplace and community.
The mandate for the Essential Skills for Piping project is to support success in the foundational essential skills - reading, writing, numeracy and document use - by enhancing the learn-to-learn and life skills of apprentices and journeypersons.
For more information check out the the Piping Industry Apprenticeship Board at www.piab.ca
Workplace Training for Innovation Pilot Program
The Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development has established a new program initiative, Workplace Training for Innovation Program, through the Strategic Training and Transition Fund. The program is designed to provide eligible employers with funding for employee training in order to:
• Improve productivity
• Support the introduction of new technology, machinery/equipment or work processes
• Enhance international competitiveness
• Introduce innovative training and workplace strategies to increase the long term competiveness of the organization and its workforce.
For more information click here.
Resource Training Organization (RTO) was established in 2007 to oversee the management and development of apprenticeship training for the resource sector in BC. RTO represents a cross sectoral group of employers in the mining and smelting, oil and gas, pulp and paper, solid wood, shipbuilding and repair and utilities sectors.
RTO is responsible for over 15 trades programs within the Resource sector.
Mandate
The RTO mandate is to create and maintain an effective, efficient and responsive industry training system by:
• Defining and promoting workforce development and training needs;
• Developing and implementing an integrated training plan that matches the demand for skilled workers;
• Setting training and occupational standards, following Red Seal qualifications where applicable;
• Promoting career and training opportunities in the resource industry; and Measuring and responding to industry training results and outcomes.
Vision
RTO has a vision: a skilled, adaptive workforce that supports the resource industry and economic growth in British Columbia.
Mission
To support the BC industry, represented within the RTO, with the current and progressive training and credentialing that effectively matches the supply of appropriately skilled workers with the needs of the industry.
The Industry Training Authority (ITA) is a provincial crown agency, established in 2004 and responsible for managing BC’s industry training system to develop the skilled workforce needed to ensure the competitiveness and economic prosperity of our businesses and our province.
ITA works collaboratively with industry, training providers, labour unions, government and other stakeholders to meet industry’s training needs while at the same time providing career development opportunities for individual British Columbians.
Click here for ITA's latest edition of ITA eNews. This corporate newsletter provides the latest on industry training news in BC.
Click here for ITA's website.
If you no longer with to receive these emails, please reply to this message with “unsubscribe” in the subject line
or simply click on the following link: Unsubscribe. View our Privacy Policy | Contact Us