Re: "$30-million boost for Camosun," Sept. 21.
I have been involved in B.C. shipbuilding and repair since 2004 and have been active in getting the industry together in addressing workforce renewal and skills training.
During the 4 1 /2 years that I led the navy's shipyard in Esquimalt, my biggest concern was eventually replacing my 900-plus skilled tradespersons who averaged almost 50 years of age and had retirement plans that were not far off in the future. That meant getting more kids into trades-apprenticeship programs and promoting a career in the trades to kids as young as those attending Grade 6.
I was not alone in this effort, as Malcolm Barker at Victoria Shipyards now employs more than 1,000 workers and has more than 100 apprentices working to become skilled tradespersons.
Vital to the trades apprenticeship programs are the post-secondary institutions that provide much of the trades training. Thus, it is great to see institutions such as Camosun College get funding to double their trades-training space and be able to provide high-quality training in trades that are absolutely essential to the sustainment and growth of the B.C. shipbuilding and repair industry.
Also evolving in Victoria is the new Industrial Marine Training and Applied Research Centre, which will interface with the industry in defining and aggregating training and education demand and work closely with post-secondary institutions such as Camosun College and Royal Roads University in providing the necessary training and education.
Full steam ahead.
Alex Rueben
Executive director, Industrial Marine Training and Applied Research Centre Victoria
