b'TRAININGDaniel Finney rides in aboom lift during training.SICAS INDUSTRY BY JAMES PETERSSAFETY TRAINING PROGRAMA M O D E L F O R M E N T O R I N Gver the last several monthsthe trades. The programs weve designeddemographic, and a lot of skilled O (and years), the Industryfor the Southern Interior and localworkers are retiring [without] being Safety Training program hasbands, such as the recent curriculum inreplaced. In addition, theres a certain been just one of many offered throughPenticton, are just an extension of that.stigma that keeps students and women SICA and developed specifically for Firstfrom pursuing a career in the trades. So Nations communities. The recent three- The pandemic exacerbated the problemthese issues, along with childcare and week curriculum delivered in Penticton,of labour shortages, but the issue with in partnership with the Penticton Indianfinding skilled workers existed longhousing, are just some of the problems Band and the Okanagan Training &before, she adds. Canada has an agingwere constantly wrestling with.Development Council (OTDC), saw 11 students graduate with multiple certificatesall acknowledging their new skills in various aspects of construction workplace safety.PENTICTON INDIAN BANDMany of SICAs member companies SnPinktn (Penticton Indian Band) represents one of the Okanagan Nation and the industry as a wholeare havingAlliances seven communities located in the Southern Interior. The others include Upper and Lower Similkameen Indian Bands, Osoyoos Indian Band, Westbank issues with skilled labour shortages andFirst Nation, Okanagan Indian Band, Upper Nicola Indian Band and the a general lack of skilled tradespeople,Colville Confederated Tribes. The Penticton Indian Band reserve is located in the says SICA Director of Education Leannesouthwestern portion of the Okanagan Valley and occupies more than 46,000 Hendrickson. Because its one ofacres of land, making it the largest reserve in British Columbia.SICAs mandates, we proactively seek opportunities to engage young people in 32 SOUTHERN INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION'