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KAMLOOPS – Senior citizens and laid-off forest workers will
benefit from $287,500 in funding from the Community Development Trust’s Job
Opportunities Program for the Kamloops Cares Home and Yard Care Assistance
Program, announced Kevin Krueger, Minister of Community Development, and Pat
Bell, Minister of Forests and Range.
“This pilot project will provide funding for training and employment for
up to eight laid-off forest workers while assisting seniors who want to
continue living independently, but may not be able to handle the physical
rigours of home and yard maintenance,” said Krueger. “Not only will this
project instil community pride and promote age-friendly living in the Thompson
Valleys, it will provide personal satisfaction for workers as they assist
someone in need as well as their own families.”
Through the Kamloops Cares pilot project,
workers will assist low income seniors with painting, fence installation and
yard care such as removing trees infested with spruce bud worm and Douglas-fir
tussock moth. Workers will also assist with managing water run-off around
homes, repairing walkways, stairs, handrails and ramps. The work will take place
in Kamloops, Logan Lake, Chase and Barriere.
“This
project uses the skills of forest workers to reduce the risk that the moth and
budworm pose to the communities’ trees,” said Bell. “The pilot project will
result in incomes for families, and improved safety and living conditions for
Kamloops seniors.”
“This program is extremely successful in
other communities and we are pleased to see this program come to fruition in
Kamloops,” said Brenda Prevost, executive director of the Seniors Information,
Referral and Resource Society. “Seniors will be able to stay in their own homes
for a longer period of time, it will reduce the demand for alternative housing
and it will build community spirit and a sense of pride for people living in an
age-friendly community.”
The $26.25-million Job Opportunities Program is reducing the impact of current layoffs on workers employed in the forest industry, retaining skilled forest workers for the anticipated future upturn, and preserving the characteristics of the labour force in forest-dependent communities.
Forest-dependent communities or organizations, licensees and contractors working in cooperation with a forest-dependent community are eligible to submit a project proposal to the Job Opportunities Program. To date, the program has approved over $16 million to support 93 projects which will employ more than 750 forest workers in communities across the province.
The Job Opportunities Program is one component of the Community Development Trust, which was announced last spring. B.C.’s share of the federal trust is $129 million over three years, with funds also directed to a Tuition Assistance Program and Transition Assistance for Older Workers Program.
In the 2009/2010 budget, the Province committed an additional $30 million for further programs similar to those offered under the Community Development Trust.
For more information about the Community Development Trust and Job Opportunities Program, go to: www.cd.gov.bc.ca/cdt/
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Media Contacts: |
Jennifer McLarty Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-4592 Brenda Prevost, Executive Director Seniors Information, Referral and Resource
Society 250 554-4145 |
Leanne Ritchie Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Community Development 250 387-4089 |
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