Photo caption: Students from Seabird Island First Nation’s electrical utility training program attended specialized classes at the union’s training facility in Surrey, the Electrical Industry Training Institute. When Brian Jones of Seabird Island First Nation began looking for ways to stimulate worthwhile, family supporting jobs and careers for members of his community, he knew the challenge he was up against. With unemployment high among aboriginal people and with limited opportunities, he knew he had to think outside the box. As Economic Development Officer for the band, he engaged in talks with local leaders and together they came up with a comprehensive training plan to meet the needs of their community and hopefully launch a few worthwhile careers as a result. This fall, the Seabird Island First Nations launched a federally funded pilot project in partnership with the Electrical Industry Training Institute, Local 258’s electrical utility training facility, to train entry level workers with the basic core skills they will need for a career in electrical utilities. 16 students registered in the six-week course that featured training in traffic flagging, first aid, safety training, boom truck use, forklift training, rigging, working with pesticides and WHMIS. The students attended classes at Seabird Island, went on a tour of the Stave Lake Dam and received customized training at EITI’s facility in Surrey EITI Director Phil Davis said, “This pilot project was initiated by Seabird Island First Nations – they selected the course participants and customized the program. The response was phenomenal from the community and we were very pleased to work collaboratively with the band on meeting their needs.” The enthusiastic students were described by Davis as being “very dedicated, conscientious and eager to learn.” Upon graduation, the students will be qualified for further entry level trades training. The Electrical Industry Training Institute is owned by Local 258 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. EITI creates and delivers training that develops safe, skilled and competent workers in the electrical industry with a vision to enhance the industry’s workforce by leading the way with innovative, responsive training solutions. EITI’s mission is to be recognized as the leading provider of quality customized training that develops safe, skilled and highly respected workers for our industry with a competitive advantage of quality customized training from our industry for our industry. | 
