A program that sees specialists work one-on-one with elementary and secondary school students to help guide them into a career is getting a $4.9-million boost.
Over the next five years, Northern Development Initiative Trust is contributing $3.6 million and the provincial government $1.3 million to to expand Shoulder Tappers from three to 15 school districts throughout northern B.C.
The program is based on the Northern Opportunities partnership in northeast B.C., which started with a focus on skilled trades careers.
It has now grown to include technical, academic, and vocational courses such as aircraft engineering, heavy-duty mechanics, information technology and early childhood education.
"Building a stronger north means training and retaining our youth workforce," NDIT board chair Evan Saugstad said in a press release issued Monday.
"The personalized approach of the Shoulder Tappers program aligns students, schools, parents and industry to generate success for our youth and has been hugely successful in northeast B.C."
Shoulder Tappers work with school districts, the Industry Training Authority, the Career Education Society, industry and other organizations to help students benefit from exposure to trades and technical training.
They also help connect students with on-the-job experience, allowing them to graduate with dual credit toward advanced trades training.
