Our Programming
Initiated in 2010 the REnEW program’s main objective is to expose and educate people who may have experienced barriers to employment, to the energy efficient retrofit and construction industry.
The program typically consists of four main components. The first component is an in-class session that teaches participants about energy use and heat loss prevention within homes. Important technical skills for the construction industry like trade math and workplace readiness are also covered. Once the in-class session is completed, participants attend safety training and earn coveted industry-certified safety certifications. These certificates (including but not limited to: WHMIS, Fall Protection, First Aid, and Construction Safety Training Systems), in addition to providing participants with a foundation of safety knowledge, help to motivate employers to hire them.
Participants spend up to two weeks working on site, mentoring with construction professionals, and learning important energy-efficient fundamentals along with construction best practices. In the fourth and final phase, and after graduation, participants are mentored by the REnEW partner’s program coordinator, for up to three months, to help them find long-term or permanent work placement. This includes helping participants to source opportunities, refine their resume, prep for interviews, as well as map out success in their new role, including transportation options, planning lunches, ensuring work gear /clothing is adequate to keep them warm, dry, and safe.
FortisBC further supports employers in their hires by paying the salary of hired participants for two full weeks. This additional support is to offset any additional mentoring an employer may need to provide during the participant’s initial employment term.FortisBC in collaboration with the program partners have continued this program for more than a decade, helping more than 165 graduates take this next step in their career. It is through the support of these organizations that the REnEW program continues to succeed and provides an opportunity for local participants to expand their skills in the energy retrofit sector.
REnEW is supported by:
