British Columbia Government is Expanding Mass Timber Skills Training

On Tuesday (7-25-23), the British Columbia Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation announced $3.3 million (CAD) in funding for a new mass timber training hub located at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). The new funding is part of the StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan, which will devote $480 million over the next three years to building education, training, and support for jobs in BC.

The courses will be housed at the trades and technology complex at BCIT’s Burnaby campus once construction is completed. According to the Ministry, the new funding will be in support of two new courses at BCIT that will complement existing mass timber training programs. These courses are anticipated to be piloted in the fall.

By 2035, the mass timber sector could produce 1,880 more jobs in technology, forestry, engineering, and design, as well as an estimated 2,350 jobs in mass timber manufacturing, according to the government. The Ministry says the programs will help increase accessibility for professionals to be job ready, fill the current knowledge gaps in the industry, and combat the skilled worker challenge in the sector.