After discussions with the boatbuilding industry, it was clear that there was a real need for additional workers, due to the high demands for fibreglass boats as of late, said Minister Heath MacDonald, Economic Development and Tourism.
“I’m pleased to announce a partnership between Economic Development and Tourism, Workforce and Advanced Learning, Central Development Corporation, Island boatbuilding businesses, and the Nova Scotia Boat Builders Association, which will assist the regional boatbuilding industry,” said MacDonald.
Through the partnership, a 13-week training program—Fundamentals of Fibreglass Lamination—will be offered to unemployed, underemployed, and young people on Prince Edward Island. Training participants will receive two weeks of employability training including communication, problem solving, time management, and teamwork skills; four weeks of technical training including personal safety, resins, fabric usage, core materials, mould preparation, and tool use; followed by seven weeks of on-the-job training with Island boat builders.
“Boat building in PEI has been an active industry and has undergone a number of changes over the years, including the demand from wooden boats to fibreglass boats,” said Minister Richard Brown, Workforce and Advanced Learning. “The training program will allow participants to develop skills required to make a successful transition into the boat building industry and the Island workforce.”
“This program creates an opportunity for Islanders to receive hands-on technical training, while providing PEI’s boat builders with a more skilled workforce to meet their long term needs,” said Nicole Warren, Executive Director of Central Development Corporation. “There is space for 15 participants, and we encourage all those interested to apply before the end of the month.”
Working in partnership with key industry stakeholders, the training program will address the current labour market needs and bridge the skills gap facing the boat building industry in Prince Edward Island, an industry which exceeded $33 million dollars last year.
This program is funded through the Canada-PEI Labour Market Development Agreement. For more information on the training program or to apply, please contact Nicole Warren, Central Development Corporation, (902) 887-3400 info@centraldevelopmentcorp.com; or SkillsPEI at 1-877-491-4766. Program deadline is April 24, 2016.