New Terasen Gas Training Program Teaches At-Risk Participants Critical Job Skills, Helps REnEW Self-confidence

Terasen Gas recently announced a new program designed to provide at-risk participants in British Columbia with training and teach them essential trade skills in the growing area of energy efficiency retrofits.

The REnEW (Residential Energy and Efficiency Works) program--funded by Terasen Gas, FortisBC, and BC Hydro, and developed with the John Howard Society and Vancouver ACCESS BladeRunners--targets individuals who are overcoming employment barriers because of life challenges such as mental health issues, a history of substance abuse, poverty or homelessness.

“The goal of the REnEW program is simple: support individuals striving to overcome extreme life challenges, while creating a much-needed pool of skilled workers in an exciting and emerging field,” said Doug Stout, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Terasen Gas. “We’ve worked with industry experts to design an intensive program to help these individuals master the fundamentals of energy efficiency technologies and installation to help them unlock their career potential.”

The first of two four-week intensive training programs began in February in Kelowna, and will be followed by a Vancouver program in March. In the future, Terasen Gas plans to expand REnEW in communities across the province where there are already existing energy efficiency programs.

“We recognized the need for people skilled in the growing area of energy efficiency retrofits and were pleased to be able to bring our utility partners and the John Howard Society together in the Okanagan,” said Michael Mulcahy, FortisBC’s Vice President of Customer and Corporate Services.

Terasen Gas created the training modules with input from BC Hydro, the Southern Interior Construction Association and the Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society (ACCESS). Graduates from the program will be able to educate customers on energy conservation techniques and be qualified to work with contractors that are employed through existing utility retrofitting programs such as BC Hydro’s Energy Conservation Assistance Program.

“Conservation will continue to play a key role in meeting our province’s future electricity needs and we are offering our customers numerous programs to advance conservation and energy efficiency,” said Lisa Coltart, Executive Director of Power Smart and Customer Care, BC Hydro. “We are pleased to support this program to invest in the training and capacity required to support the conservation efforts of our British Columbians.”

Terasen Gas is working with social services providers the John Howard Society in the Okanagan and Vancouver ACCESS BladeRunners in the Lower Mainland to reach out to potential REnEW candidates. Both social services organizations are committed to helping youth-at-risk, aboriginal communities and those who face barriers to long-term employment.

“The John Howard Society is extremely pleased to be involved in such an innovative and collaborative training program that will, quite literally, change the lives of those who participate as well as have significant economic and environmental benefits for the broader community,” said Shelley Cook, Executive Director of the John Howard Society of the Central and South Okanagan. “This is an emerging field that we are confident our participants will want to explore.”

Return to March 2010 Western Energy News

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