A purpose-built charitable organization dedicated to market transformation and enabling zero-carbon communities has launched a project to help bolster Canada’s cleantech workforce.
Across an array of networks and programs, Vancouver’s Zero Emissions Innovation Centre regularly engages with business owners, managers, and practitioners by the count of thousands.
And consistently top-of-mind for many in Canada’s clean economy is concern around a lack of talent to fill important roles.
ZEIC’s Sustainable Workforce Coalition, which consists of dozens of industry partners, is designed to address the problem.
Taken over by ZEIC from the now-shuttered Vancouver Economic Commission, the SWC is currently undertaking a special project entitled “Creating Real, Tangible Pathways into BC’s Clean Economy.”
The project aims to identify five high-impact clean economy jobs and then develop accessible guides that help workers understand how to enter such roles.
The project is being supported by Toronto Metropolitan University’s Future Skills Centre, a national hub for research and collaboration to drive innovation in skills development.
Building “a just and sustainable future depends on equipping people with the knowledge, tools, and support to take meaningful climate action through their work,” says Tamara McConnell.
McConnell is chief executive officer of the Academy for Sustainable Innovation, a coalition member that actively involved in the new project.
“We’re proud to participate in this important initiative by the Sustainable Workforce Coalition to make clean economy careers more visible, accessible, and inclusive,” stated the CEO.
“These pathways will empower young, new, and transitioning workers with clear, actionable information and help employers meet the urgent demand for talent within transition to a clean economy in BC,” said McConnell.
Fuelled by a $22M endowment from the Government of Canada, ZEIC comprises part of the Low Carbon Cities Canada Network. The organization, through its Carbon Leadership Forum BC program, recently hosted the third annual Embodied Carbon Awards.