WesternOne Equity Income Fund this week said that its Modular Manufacturing Division, WEQ Britco LP, has signed a Jobs Training and Skills Development Partnership with Chief Clement Seymour of the Seabird Island Band on the band’s traditional territory. Britco will assist individuals enrolled in Seabird College, Seabird Island Adult Programs and clients of Seabird Island Employment Centre to complete job-trained internships at Britco’s Agassiz, B.C., manufacturing facility.
The newly formed partnership will enable individuals enrolled in the programs to develop skills that will help them find and keep good jobs. Seabird will work with Britco to identify suitable applicants from the Seabird programs for work experience opportunities.
“Britco is committed to strong community partnerships and to helping people of all ages interested in the construction trades turn ambition into achievement,” said Mark Ridley, division president. “Our job training and skill development partnership with Seabird Island formalizes the close relationship we have enjoyed with Seabird since we first opened our facility in 1988. We are very proud that approximately 10 percent of our employees at our production facilities in both Agassiz and Penticton (B.C.) are First Nations.”
Earlier this year, in partnership with Indspire — formerly known as National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation — Britco developed and funded three scholarships to support First Nations youth in British Columbia. Student applicants from Seabird Island will be given preference for one of these scholarships as part of the development partnership.
Britco is the second-largest manufacturer of modular buildings in North America with three manufacturing plants in Canada and one in the United States.
WesternOne Equity Income Fund also owns WesternOne Rentals & Sales, No. 50 on the RER 100.
