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