Douglas Weekly 2023

Douglas Weekly – October 9th

October 9, 2023

IN THE KNOW:

South Island Prosperity Partnership Wins Big

If you live in Greater Victoria, chances are you’ve heard of the South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP) — an alliance of employers, local governments, First Nations, post-secondary institutions, industry associations and non-profits that promotes the creation of high-quality, well-paying jobs.

SIPP isn’t only recognized here — they’ve made a name for themselves worldwide. At their annual conference in Dallas, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) — a non-profit membership organization that serves and represents over 4,300 economic developers — presented gold awards to SIPP for their annual report and multi-year economic development model.

“These awards are a testament to SIPP’s dedication to the residents of Greater Victoria and serve as a great example of how economic development can help transform a community for the better,” said IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle.

Over the past years, SIPP’s major accomplishments include launching the Indigenous Prosperity Centre and the Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies.Learn more about SIPP, and their many initiatives, here.

FROM THE CURRENT ISSUE OF DOUGLAS:

Power Tools: The construction industry needs more tradeswomen. These organizations are working to attract them, train them — and keep them.

Karen Dearlove would love it if the workers on a construction site were divided 50/50 between men and women. But for now, the executive director for the BC Centre for Women in the Trades would be happy with a 10/90 split, which would be double what it is today. After all, she points out, “The industry and companies won’t be competitive if they don’t address inclusivity.”

Think of the trades — electricians, carpenters, plumbers, welders, pipefitters and the like — and you likely think of men doing what has traditionally been seen as backbreaking work. But now, as British Columbia’s growing population needs more housing and commercial buildings, the province also needs more skilled trades, and that means more women. In fact, the BC Construction Association (BCCA) predicts that 6,000 construction jobs will be unfilled by 2032, due to labour shortages and retirements.

“We need everyone on deck,” says Rory Kulmala, CEO of the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA). “We need women to work in the industry. We need skilled trades.”

Read the full article here.