Click here or above to see message from BCHA President & CEO, Ingrid Jarrett with an update surrounding workforce partnerships and good news on our OTA advocacy file.

To keep up with a constantly changing workforce, the B.C. Employer Training Grant is offering skills training support to employers within small, medium, and large businesses and allows for employers to receive up to 80% reimbursement of their training fees. The result? A financial benefit for employers and skills improvement for workers. Up to $10,000 is supplied per employee and $300,000 per employer, annually.

As of June 1^st, 2022, a new, streamlined process for the grant was introduced: now, employers can apply using one application for an entire cohort (i.e. bulk seats). Additionally, there’s no more need to wait: applications are open throughout the year, and employers are able to apply as often as needed.

Ukrainians immigrating to Canada are arriving under the Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET)—this is not a refugee immigration stream. Under the CUAET, newcomers can apply for a free visitor visa to stay in Canada for 3 years (as opposed to a standard 6 month visa) and they can apply for an open work permit, which allows them to work for any employer.

Quick Facts | As of the beginning of June:

Interested employers should post jobs at Jobs for Ukraine or reach out to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

With the summer months ahead, the Province of B.C. is launching the BC Heat Alert and Response System (BC HARS) to help ensure people, First Nations communities, and local governments have the tools they need to stay safe during heat events.

The Province has also released BC’s Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy. The strategy strengthens our collective capacity to anticipate, prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change. This includes sudden events like wildfires, floods and heatwaves as well as changes that happen more slowly like rising sea-levels, receding glaciers and shifting ecosystems.

Tickets sell out in a flash every year, so register here to get the latest information.

We are sending a BIG congratulations to Michael J Ballingall, Senior Vice President, Big White Ski Resort Ltd, on being the latest recipient of the Far West Ski Association’s Bill Mackey Award for Outstanding Ski Industry Employee. This award is given for outstanding service to the skiing public by a ski industry or ski area employee. It marks a hat trick for the resort as Big White employees Jim Loyd (2002) and Katie Balkwill (2016) previously won this award.

In Michael's own words: "I knew in 1979, when I started my ski career at Ski Marmot Basin, that this was the life for me. Having worked with the Schumann/Plimmer family, owners of Big White Ski Resort, since 1985, I feel extremely lucky to have served in such a great industry and adventure tourism environment."

Limited availability. Registration closes July 8, 2022 | Learn More

More details to come! Email [email protected] for sponsor / partnership opportunities