COLLABORATIVE EFFORT INCREASES EMPLOYMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING FOR ST'ÁT'IMC PEOPLE AMTA’s flexible delivery model supports community to fulfill direct awards LILLOOET, APRIL 17, 2014 – The St'át'imc and Aboriginal Mentoring & Training Association (AMTA) honour the success of twelve (12) St’át’imc community members who completed the St’át’imc Eco – Resources (SER) Environmental Technician Training Program. In partnership with St’át’imc Eco – Resources (SER), St'át'imc Government Services (SGS) and Vancouver Island University, AMTA delivered industry-driven training, as well as personal and professional development support services, to the St’át’imc graduates. "AMTA is proud to support First Nations communities to increase their workforce capacity in an efficient yet holistic manner. The economic opportunities for the St'át'imc people are huge and we will continue to work with their proactive leadership to realize growth in their communities." Leonard Jackson, Director, Operations, AMTA. The SER Environmental Technician training was held February – April 2014 with a goal to prepare community members for positions opening in the areas of environmental monitoring and/or fisheries technical work through hands-on training and job shadowing within each of the monitoring specialties. The candidates worked in the field using GPS units, clinometers, hip chains and were certified to meet BC Hydro’s high safety standards. The training included: WPP Work Protection Practices PSSP Power System Safety Protection Introduction to Technology Introduction to GIS/GPS Environmental Technician Helicopter Awareness Swift Water Rescue Level II Pleasure Craft Operators Resume/Cover letters Emergency First Aid with Transportation Endorsement Environmental Technician Fish Week The courses were presented and organized by a range companies and organizations including: BC Hydro, First Nations Technology, Vancouver Island University, CC Helicopters, Rescue Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), SGS, SER, and St John’s Ambulance. 900 – 808 West Hastings Street, Vancouver BC V6C 2X4 www.amta-bc.com The collaborative training, certified by Vancouver Island University, prepares graduates for employment within the direct award contracts between St’át’imc and BC Hydro; SER Environmental Monitoring, SER fisheries technicians, Xwisten fisheries technicians, DFO, Ministry of Environment and other companies operating in the St’át’imc territories. SGS is proud to announce several technicians are currently employed and expanding their training through several of the projects. Some candidates have been upgrading to become field supervisors and project managers by taking classes in bio-engineering and Microsoft Excel. SER is currently working on bringing Dr. Dave Levy into the community to train 5 of the technicians in analysis. Other future plans include implementing additional secondary training modules in order to progressively employ St’át’imc environmental technicians into higher-level positions. ABOUT AMTA AMTA provides a credible and proven Aboriginal workforce development solution to Canadian resource sector industries looking for workers. To learn more about AMTA, visit www.amta-bc.com. CONTACT Media: Michelle Nahanee Marketing and Communications Manager 604-681-4321 ext. 121 or 778-870-5411 mnahanee@amta-bc.com www.amta-bc.com I www.facebook.com/bcamta I https://twitter.com/amta-bc 900 – 808 West Hastings Street, Vancouver BC V6C 2X4 www.amta-bc.com