We offer skills training, employment programs, workplace learning and wellness programs for youth, mature workers and equity-deserving groups to build a caring community of skilled, productive and engaged people. Did you access our services or visit our office recently? We want to hear from you! We’re looking for feedback on accessibility, and your comments can help. Please take this short survey to help us serve you better.

How We Help

Older workers like you are returning to the workforce for various reasons, including longer life expectancy, increasing need for financial security, and changing views on traditional retirement. If you&#8217;re over 50, our RISE 50+ program can help you get the job you want. We work with you individually or you can join a small group of other like-minded learners and work with us to get or refresh the skills and certifications you need to be competitive in the labour market. Our goal is to get you working.

You’re not alone. We’re here to help you.

Mature Workers: RISE 50+

Karina Allis changed career tracks as a mature worker to become an employment counsellor. Her experience making a career and employment transition is key to successfully supporting job seekers. She knows her stuff, and she knows how to help people find the confidence and comfort level to learn new skills and find a new job at any stage of their life.

Meet your facilitator

<ul>
<li>Food Safe</li>
<li>WHMIS</li>
<li>Super Host</li>
<li>First Aid training</li>
<li>Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training</li>
<li>Naloxone</li>
<li>Mental Health First Aid</li>
<li>Basic Security Training Certification</li>
</ul>

We offer job specific certificates such as:

<ul>
<li>Workshops on job searching today, updating your resume, and interview skills</li>
<li>Workshops on soft skills including communication, confidence, team work, interpersonal skills, age in the workplace, coping skills (such as stress or shift work), health and wellness, mental health &amp; self-care</li>
<li>Job placement support including wage subsidies and connecting you with employers</li>
<li>Funding for transportation, required work clothing or gear, criminal record check, and more.</li>
</ul>

We offer workshops such as:

Come explore tech careers with us! Are you between 17 &amp; 29 years old? We’ll work with you to identify jobs you’re interested in, training you need, and help you get the certifications that will get you on the right track. You can access up to $3,000 for training in emerging tech and up to $1,500 towards other costs, such as a laptop, transportation, childcare or other expenses.
We&#8217;ll stick with you while you look for work &amp; help you with your resume, interview skills &amp; your job search.

Get $500 when you complete the steps to getting &amp; holding a job.

Emerging Tech for Youth

Did you know our logo represents diverse people connecting and supporting each other? We&#8217;re here to help you.
Our program facilitators have your best interests in mind. They are caring, capable &amp; trained to help you succeed. We know you have questions. Tina is your facilitator for the Emerging Tech program. Contact our office today to find out how we can help you.

Meet your facilitators

What skills will you need for the future? Bring us your ideas for jobs using the latest technology, including:
<ul>
<li>Web development</li>
<li>Coding</li>
<li>Drones</li>
<li>Software or hardware</li>
<li>Design</li>
<li>Solar panels</li>
<li>Smart devices</li>
<li>Programming</li>
<li>Data</li>
<li>Green jobs</li>
<li>&amp; more</li>
</ul>

How do you define emerging technology?

We&#8217;ll build a training plan with you around any job in emerging tech &#8211; bring us your ideas!
You can take this training to add a micro credential or additional training to your existing skillset so you’re better prepared for the greening economy.
<blockquote>For example, if you are an electrician, you could take a course in solar panels or if you build houses, a course in passive homes.</blockquote>
You can also access workshops on soft skills including communication, interpersonal skills, meeting employer expectations, customer service, problem solving, coping skills (such as stress, shift work), health and wellness, mental health &amp; self-care, and safety on the job.
<blockquote>We&#8217;re looking at all angles of creativity &amp; innovation. We&#8217;ll talk about equity, diversity and inclusion, teamwork, collaboration, culturally specific conflict resolution strategies, and you can access up to 3 sessions of Medicine Wheel Coaching.</blockquote>

How it works

Do you live with low income? Are you confused about what financial support you can get for your family? You’re not alone. We can help. If you live with low income and want help figuring out what support is available, contact us about our Financial Navigation Training.
We will help you understand what financial services are available to you and your family.

We&#8217;re organizing workshops at CBAL offices in communities throughout the Columbia basin. Castlegar, March 26 &amp; 28, from 9:30 am &#8211; 12:00 noon. Elk Valley, April 11 &amp; 12. Revelstoke, May 25 &amp; 26. Childcare, transportation costs &amp; food will be provided at each meeting.

Financial Navigation Training

The Skills Centre is partnering with the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) to deliver the new program throughout the Kootenay and Boundary regions.
This new program is now available and will run for two years in 16 communities across the Columbia Basin and Boundary regions.
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A 2 year partnership

Navigating the financial supports available to people living with low income means filling out forms, answering personal questions, reading and signing documents—actions that can be over-complicated to the client trying to get the service.
Financial Navigation will help empower adults and families living with low income to improve their financial wellbeing. We will help you increase in your knowledge of the benefits to which you are entitled and help you improve your ability to access them.

Helping people living with low income

<ul>
<li>Do you know all of the financial empowerment services for people living with low income in your community?</li>
<li>Are you giving clients all the information on financial supports they may be eligible to receive?</li>
<li>Join us in sharing best practices for offering financial empowerment to people in living with low income. Build stronger partnerships in your community and offer the best service to your clients living with low income.</li>
<li>This program will share information, tools, resources and best practices so that you can be the best source of help for people living with low income and struggling with understanding all of the financial services out there.</li>
</ul>

Helping service providers, too

For those looking to jump-start or further their careers, the Skills Centre is an authorized Pearson Vue Testing Centre.

Having a local proctored testing centre allows you to take exams to become qualified in your field without having to obtain certification.

Pearson Vue Test Facility

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Certification exams for companies like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco, HP, and CompTIA are available at the Skills Centre.
From the <a href="https://home.pearsonvue.com/test-taker.aspx">Pearson Vue Test Takers web page</a>, you can search for designated exams and register online to come in and write the required exams.
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The Pearson Vue Testing Facility offers:

Pearson Vue offers proctored, online testing and certification for hundreds of credentialed organizations in a variety of sectors, including:
<ul>
<li>Academic entrance and admissions to various institutions</li>
<li>Information Technology</li>
<li>Financial and related services</li>
<li>Government</li>
<li>Health Care</li>
</ul>

Online testing and certification

Are you a recent immigrant, a refugee, or an international student? Are you a member of a visible minority? Or do you have an open work permit? Are you facing barriers to finding work or the training you need? Our RISE: Newcomers program can help you.

We can help you get training &amp; find a job. And we can serve you in a variety of languages.

RISE: Newcomers

<ul>
<li>RISE: Newcomers offers personalized employment assistance services, skills training, and financial support. We take a holistic approach to assist you.
<ul>
<li>We will provide you with individualized support for occupational skills training, employment readiness workshops, community supports, and personal supports for your physical, emotional and mental well-being.</li>
<li>We will help you create and build your own networks, supports and friendships within our community.</li>
<li>We’ll also help you make connections with employers and offer wage subsidies to get you started in a job.</li>
<li>RISE: Newcomers can provide up to $2,000 for skills training, certificates, fees and books.</li>
<li>Our personal supports will be flexible depending on your needs. You will be able to access childcare, transportation, work clothing, work gear, technology equipment, mental health supports such as counseling and equine assisted learning, physical health supports such as a gym pass or yoga class.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

RISE: Newcomers will meet your unique needs

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To be eligible for this program, you must be one of the following:
<ul>
<li>Recent immigrant</li>
<li>Refugee</li>
<li>International student</li>
<li>Have an open work permit</li>
<li>Visible minority</li>
</ul>
Talk to us today &amp; let&#8217;s get you started.
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Are you eligible?

Sparking Opportunities is a new program to help people with a physical or mental barrier or disability find remote work or self-employment opportunities to work from home.

Do you have a physical, mental, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment, or limitation that hinders your ability to work? Are you interesting in being self employed or working remotely?

Sparking Opportunities

Karina Allis is your Sparking Opportunities facilitator.

If you have a permanent or recurring physical, mental, neurodevelopmental, or any other barrier or disability that restricts your ability to perform daily activities and require assistance to prepare for, obtain and keep employment or self-employment, or advance your career, you may be eligible.
We offer service in English, Spanish &amp; Filipino.

Sparking Opportunities is available in the West Kootenay & Boundary region

<ul>
<li>Essential skills workshops</li>
<li>Psychological first aid</li>
<li>Entrepreneurial assessment</li>
<li>Start-up training</li>
<li>Communications &amp; marketing training Financial training</li>
<li>Counselling sessions</li>
<li>Holistic supports such as yoga, art therapy, equine-assisted learning &amp; mindfulness</li>
<li>Get financial support to purchase a laptop</li>
</ul>

Access short term training specific for your needs:

Let’s get ready for work! Boost your social, mental, physical and emotional well-being while we help you develop the skills to get ready for a job. Grow your resiliency and soft skills, access counselling and financial support, and break down barriers to employment, all with the help of healing and learning through equine-assisted training.
If you are a newcomer, a refugee, a member of a racialized group, a person with a disability, or an Indigenous person, you may be eligible for this pre-employment program.

Our final HEART session is over &amp; we hope to be able to offer it again. You can include elements of equine-assisted learning, medicine wheel coaching, and art therapy in some of our other programs. Ask one of our project specialists for more info.
Learn more about Kim Robertson &amp; holistic life coaching <a href="https://skillscentre.ca/resources/news/view/heart-gets-you-in-shape-with-yoga-life-coaching" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Find out more about equine-assisted learning with Rebecca <a href="https://skillscentre.ca/resources/news/view/no-horsing-around-heart-heals-people" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> and Leah <a href="https://skillscentre.ca/resources/news/view/what-horses-teach-us-about-ourselves" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Learn more about art therapy <a href="https://skillscentre.ca/resources/news/view/art-for-hearts-sake" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

HEART: Healing through Equine Assistance & Resiliency Training

Zoe Dowdall is our facilitator for HEART. She&#8217;s always ready to listen and offer guidance and will make sure you&#8217;re getting the most out of your experience with the Skills Centre.

Equine-assisted learning uses horses to promote physical, occupational and emotional growth in people. It can help you build confidence, trust, and self-efficiency, improve communication and social skills, learn boundary setting and control triggers.

HEART is a skills development program in the Kootenay/Boundary region that includes foundational and transferable skills, social and emotional skills, and equine assisted learning. It is a pre-employment program to improve your overall well-being and employment readiness.

Participants will also receive individual counselling supports and a training grant. Other financial supports include childcare, nourishment, transportation, pre-employment counselling appointments, training and wrap-around services.

HEART offers workshops on topics such as:

Access
<ul>
<li>counselling sessions</li>
<li>art therapy</li>
<li>psychological first aid course</li>
<li>mental health first aid course</li>
<li>Indigenous Canada course</li>
</ul>

Group workshops & individual work

Do you face barriers to finding or keeping a job? Have you survived trauma, violence or abuse, or does your mental health affect your ability to work? If you feel that you would benefit from a supportive training environment to find employment, RISE is for you. Our holistic approach to training will prepare you for the job that you want. Together we will work to create a plan that addresses mental, physical and emotional supports to help you move forward in your employment journey.
From the moment you open the front door, we will make sure you feel safe and comfortable. All of our staff have participated in trauma informed workplace training and mental health first aid.

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Contact us to see if our RISE program is the right fit for you.
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RISE: Facing Adversity

Karina Allis has delivered trauma informed employment supports in group and individual settings for the past eight years here at the Skills Centre. She knows her stuff, and she knows how to help people find the confidence and comfort level to learn new skills and find a new job at any stage of their life.

<ul>
<li>Workshops on setting boundaries, healthy communication, self-care, impacts of abuse and shame, stress and anger management, self-esteem, self-awareness, yoga and mindfulness</li>
<li>Access to free short and long term certificates and upgrades</li>
<li>Workshops on job searches, resume writing, and interview skills</li>
<li>Job placement support including wage subsidies and matching you with an employer</li>
<li>Funding for transportation and childcare, refreshments on workshop days, required work clothing or gear, and a small weekly stipend</li>
</ul>

We offer:

We will work with you individually or you can join a small group of other participants and work with us to get or refresh the skills and certifications you need to be competitive in the labour market.

Your mental health is important. Good mental health helps you function better, learn more easily &amp; accomplish more. Good mental health in the workplace is finally a priority for many people, and we have gathered some of the free resources you can use to help you maintain good mental health.

Contact us if you have questions.

Mental Health Resources

Free mental health resources
Check out these free mental health resources. (These are external sources and not the responsibility of the Skills Centre.)
<a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/virtual-mental-health-supports">Virtual mental health resources</a> (Government of BC)
<a href="https://workmentalhealthbc.ca/">Workplace Mental Health BC</a>
<a href="https://bouncebackbc.ca/">BounceBack BC</a> &#8211; Free mental health program
Canadian Mental Health Association
<ul>
<li><a href="https://cmha.bc.ca/mental-health/mental-health-information/">General information</a></li>
<li><a href="https://cmha.bc.ca/programs-and-services/">Programs &amp; Services</a></li>
</ul>

Mental health in the workplace
Mental health in the workplace is the responsibility of the employer &amp; the employee. Check out these helpful resources to learn more.
<a href="https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/resources/mental-health-at-work">Workplace Strategies for Mental Health</a>
<a href="https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/topic/Resources-for-employees">Resources for employees &amp; their families</a>
<a href="https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/resources/mental-health-awareness-videos">Mental health awareness videos</a>
<a href="https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/resources/mental-health-apps">Mental health apps</a>
<a href="https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/resources/atw-assessments">Assessment tools</a>

Mental Health Training
Short courses that provide mental health training. Talk to us about taking these courses as part of your training plan.
<a href="https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/training/mhfa/">Mental Health First Aid</a>
<a href="https://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certification/course-descriptions/psychological-first-aid">Psychological First Aid</a>

Free mental health resources

And here&#8217;s <a href="https://partners.blackbeanmarketing.com/skillscentre/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/CYMHSU-Referral-Mental-Health-web-2.pdf">a mental health resource list</a> that&#8217;s local for West Kootenay communities.
Want to learn more about mental health as an employer or an employee? <a href="https://skillscentre.ca/contact/">Contact us.</a>

We can help you find mental health resources

Your people drive your success. We support your business to succeed.

Inside Job Consulting

Inside Job Consulting (IJC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Skills Centre. Since 2010, IJC has provided services focusing on human resources knowledge and skills development, wellness programs and workforce development within the Lower Columbia Region.

About Inside Job Consulting

Our experienced consultants offer human resources services tailored to meet the needs and unique challenges of each person and business. Whether you need assistance with your job search or professional development, our consultants will provide the expertise, support and guidance customized to meet your needs. We offer individual services as well as group workshops to assist you with your career and your business’s success.

Health and wellness programs improve employee productivity and help create a positive work environment, help reduce employee absenteeism, attract desirable employees and enhance employee engagement.

Through the Skills Centre’s wholly owned subsidiary, Inside Job Consulting (IJC), we support the promotion of wellness and learning for employees and employers.

Teck Wellness & Learning Centre

Our best example of our success is the Teck Wellness &amp; Learning Centre. We work with Teck Metals Ltd. to organize short courses, sports and fitness activities, and health and wellness awareness campaigns.
Inside Job Consulting has over 10 years of experience facilitating workplace learning and wellness programs for employers in the Lower Columbia Region.

Our success

IJC can facilitate individual pay-per-use courses or comprehensive programs for employers focussed on enhancing employees’ overall health and wellness. We can also develop general interest programs that can help your workplace become a first choice for job seekers.
IJC’s wellness and learning programs can be held at the employer’s facility as a ‘Lunch and Learn’ format or after hours in a classroom-based format for more in-depth programs

Mining and Refining for Women is one of the Skills Centre’s great success stories. 
Mining and Refining for Women has enhanced the retention, advancement and career development opportunities of women in positions ranging from front-line production and maintenance to professional roles in the mining and metallurgic industries.
Together with Teck Metals Ltd. and Bock and Associates, with funding provided by Status of Women Canada, this was a 30 month mentorship project to support women employed in non-traditional roles at Teck Metals in Trail.

The project involved two cohorts with a total of 34 women along with their mentors and a robust sponsorship team. In addition to working with mentors and participating in workshops, each participant completed an Affinity Project addressing an issue related to women and non-traditional employment.

Mining & Refining for Women

With completion of this pilot project, Teck Trail Operations moved ahead with a secondary strategy to utilize internal people to develop and drive a diversity plan, including establishing Diversity Committee. They announced a 30 x 30 target of 30% of their workforce would be women by 2030.

The result

<ul>
<li>Maternity/paternity leave policy development</li>
<li>Networking events across business areas</li>
<li>Increased awareness of gender diversity within Teck’s Trail Operations</li>
<li>Posting and succession planning processes</li>
<li>Development of a Quick Guide (easy access information for employees)</li>
<li>Bridging the gap in community perception and promotion of career opportunities for women</li>
<li>Industrial lifting devices that mitigate physically demanding tasks</li>
<li>Family friendly workplace practices, including research of childcare and family sick days</li>
</ul>

The Affinity Projects addressed topics including:

As a result of the mentorship relationships, the Affinity Projects and the conversations within the project’s sponsorship team, other project successes include:
<ul>
<li>greater transparency in career advancement opportunities, including more job postings</li>
<li>new kinds of conversations, including career mentorship and sponsorship, awareness of gender differences and the accommodation of family needs; and</li>
<li>people at all levels taking on leadership to make a difference</li>
</ul>

Thriving for All is the official poverty reduction plan adopted by the City of Trail, City of Rossland, Village of Warfield, Village of Montrose, and Village of Fruitvale. It is a project of the Skills Centre. Learn how your community can be involved.

What is Thriving for All?

A living wage sets a higher standard than the minimum wage: it is what a family needs to earn to provide the basic needs based on the actual costs of living in a community. Living Wage Canada notes that it gets families out of severe financial stress, lifts them out of poverty and provides a basic level of economic security.

We're a Living Wage Employer

According to the B.C. government, there are approximately 557,000 people in BC living below the poverty line &#8211; 99,000 are children. We are leading the way in bringing awareness to poverty issues in the area and finding solutions for the most vulnerable people in our communities.

Thriving for All

Community Kitchens invites people living with low income to participate in meal preparation once a week, creating an increased sense of community as well as improved food security. Participants prepare enough food that day for their household and learn budgeting skills along with food preparation ideas.
Community Kitchens offers a weekly get together where our coordinator helps participants select inexpensive food, focused on what is readily available at the foodbank and on sale at local grocers. It is an opportunity to prepare and enjoy food as a group, allowing participants social as well as nutritional benefits.
Community Kitchens is running its last session of the spring right now. We are always looking for funding and ways to make it a year-round offering. Contact us if you&#8217;d like to get on the list to attend or if you have questions about supporting Community Kitchens.
A big thank you to our current Community Kitchens supporters, Coldest Night of the Year, Trail Safeway, Hamber Foundation, and First Presbyterian Church, Trail.

Community Kitchens

We’ve partnered with Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy <a href="https://cbal.org/">(CBAL)</a> to offer Financial Navigators: helping people living with low income figure out what support is available for them in the community, and building stronger partnerships among community service providers to offer the best service to their clients.
It offers workshops, information and resources to navigate government benefits, financial institutions and financial literacy resources to increase the financial well-being of participants.
We’re offering this Financial Navigation program in 16 communities throughout the region: Arrow and Slocan Lakes, Grand Forks, Castlegar, Cranbook, Creston, Elk Valley, Golden, Kaslo and Balfour, Kimberley, Nelson, Revelstoke, Salmo, Slocan Valley, Trail and Area, Valemount, and Windermere Valley.

Financial Navigation Program

<ul>
<li>Housing</li>
<li>Social, health &amp; community services</li>
<li>Food security</li>
<li>Learning &amp; development</li>
<li>Creating a vibrant &amp; inclusive community</li>
</ul>

We're working with community partners to improve:

Everyone should have equal access to recreational and cultural amenities in our communities. Another of our poverty reduction initiatives is the Common Access Card. It is a simple, streamlined way to offer low-barrier access to recreation, leisure, and cultural activities in our communities to people living with low income.
The Common Access Card allows people to enjoy these services with dignity and a single vetting process: show the card and you get the discount rather than having to apply at each place. Getting the card means the person or family has been vetted and qualifies for the discounts. No extra questions, no fuss.
We have launched the Common Access Cards with the recreation services of Trail, Rossland, Warfield and Beaver Valley (run by RDKB) participating. We’re planning to add other recreational and cultural organizations as we go.

Common Access Card

Working poverty is a complex issue. It describes people who work full time yet still do not have enough financial resources to support their basic needs of adequate shelter and food. We’re aiming to change that in Trail.
Building Community Resilience by Ending Working Poverty is a new collaboration between five communities across Canada, and Trail is the BC participant. The others are Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and Drumheller, Alberta.
Together, we will reduce the number of individuals and families working yet still living in poverty by 5% in our community.
By looking at working poverty and aiming to reduce it in Trail, we will create a place where more of our residents can thrive and prosper.
Heather is our poverty reduction specialist working on this initiative. Contact Heather to learn more.

Ending Working Poverty

The Skills Centre provides free and low-cost skills training and employment programs. We will help you get the certifications you need, help with your resume and interview skills, and offer financial support while you learn.

Skills Training

Wellness, mental health &amp; healing are more than trends—they are vital to our well-being. We offer gentle &amp; effective programs for survivors of trauma, violence or abuse. Join us in a safe space and learn the tools to help you heal the past and look to the future.

Healing & Wellness

We’re developing the capacity of people, businesses and organizations. From human resources expertise to succession planning, from wage subsidies to staff training, the Skills Centre can help your business succeed.

Support for Business

We are leading the way in bringing awareness to poverty issues in the area and finding solutions for the most vulnerable people in our communities.

How We Help

Skills Training

Healing and Wellness

Support for Businesses

Poverty Reduction