NORTH ISLAND COLLEGE
Second round of graduates finish NIC meat processing program

The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) and their project partner North Island College (NIC) are pleased to announce that eight students graduated this year from the Meat Processing Training Program.

"The Province is working with local employers and community partners to respond to labour market needs and create more education and training opportunities across B.C.," said Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. "These students now have the skills needed to access meaningful employment in an in-demand local industry, and employers can access the talent they need to support their business and build a stronger B.C."

This is the second time the ACRD has worked with NIC to offer this new program at the Port Alberni campus. The ACRD received $150, 760.00 in funding through the Community Workforce Response Grant program, for tuition, participant financial support, and administration costs. This funding was provided by the Province of British Columbia.

Students participated in the six-week program in February and March learning the skills they need to work in the field upon graduation.

"We appreciate that NIC and the province see the importance of programs like this to the people of our community," explains John Jack, chair of the ACRD Board of Directors. "We are happy to partner with the College to offer a program that will increase local meat processing and support skills training that will fill an employment need in our community."

Graduates from this program are finding work in their communities and are filling a void that has made local food security much more challenging.

"This funding has a significant benefit for the Alberni Valley's agricultural community", said MLA Josie Osborne. "With more skilled workers in food processing, the industry's demand for workers will be better met, providing good paying jobs and helping the local economy grow."

"It's really a neat opportunity to instruct a course with so many good job prospects at the end of it," explains Dave Semmelink, owner of Lentelus Farms and the course instructors. "There is such a huge demand in the industry for these skills, so I'm really grateful to the provincial government for providing these opportunities. Strengthening food security in our communities and our province, with a focus on local foods and local food processing, will only benefit British Columbians."

The course supports programs in the Alberni Valley and West Coast. It is made possible because of support from Alberni Farmers' Institute, Alberni Valley Food Security Society, Pete's Mountain Meats, Ucluelet CO-OP, Coleman Meadows Farms, Eden Tree Farm, and Stonehaven Farms.

The ACRD continues to explore grant opportunities that allows partnerships with NIC that will meet the skills training needs of the region.