BladeRunners Program
BladeRunners is an award winning provincially funded program providing free life skills and job readiness training to youth ages 15 to 30, in order to succeed in the local job market.
Programs run one to two times per year and may have either a construction, landscape/grounds maintenance labourer or hospitality focus. A variety of customized certifications are included such as first aid, WHMIS, flagging, forklift and Construction Safety Training Systems, FoodSafe, Serving it Right, barista, cashier and customer service training. In the construction based program, the curriculum will include a tools and safety orientation.
Once participants complete the program, employers who hire our graduates may receive a wage subsidy for up to four weeks from the Central Vancouver Island Job Opportunities Building Society (CVIJOBS). The ultimate goal is long term employment for our participants.
What are the requirements in order to be considered for the program?
Those who meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply:
- youth between the ages of 15 through 30
- unemployed or under-employed
- non-EI recipient
- out of school
- living in British Columbia
- legally entitled to work in Canada
- barriers to employment (i.e. lack of experience or certification, financial hardship, lack of tools and equipment, lack of social supports: family, friends, community) but are ready and willing participate!
Our staff are happy to share more information and can be reached at 250.248.3205.
As limited space is available, interested youth must attend a free information session and follow up with an interview to determine suitability for the program.
Stay tuned for our next offering of BladeRunners in Fall of 2021 or Spring 2022!!
Want to hear what some of our BladeRunner graduates have said about the program?
“At BladeRunners I learned how to improve my resume. I’ve made friends and re-learned the basics of having a routine. I also learned many basic life skills. Getting into this course was a big change for me, but for the better. BladeRunners brought me back into gear! I am looking forward to getting out there and start the first steps to my career. ” SVP
“I learned how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and the benefits of eating healthy, exercising and remaining positive.” KR
“I learned so much and earned certificates I didn’t even know existed! I learned about laws to protect workers, what a cover letter is, how to prepare a resume and how hiring works.” RA
“I learned how to write a resume and cover letter. I learned Food Safety, First Aid, Infection Control and a little about nutrition and fitness.” TC
“I enjoyed learning about hospitality, getting much needed help with writing my cover letter and resume, and barista training. I hope to get a job for more financial stability, while I save for further education.” SH
“I received training and certification in Food Safety, Serving it Right, SuperHost, Level 1 First Aid, WHMIS, and Respect in the Workplace. I made some new friends and I hope all of us can stay in touch.” JW
“I learned how to properly write a cover letter and received many certifications like Serving it Right and WHMIS. I personally really enjoyed this program and I am recommending it to a bunch of my friends! To be honest, at first I was really scared but then I remembered what I came here to do.” AS
