Prince Rupert's Tribal Resources Investment Corporation (Tricorp) is once again offering six weeks of skills-building followed by a six-week work training program starting in September for youth who are not working and not returning to school. 

The Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program (YESS) can be accessed by people from 23 urban communities and 15 rural communities between Haida Gwaii to ÑÇÖÞÌìÌà Lake and from the Yukon border to Hartley Bay (Gitga'at).

"I am happy we are able to provide them with the online skills training, ongoing job support from a job coach and quality employment opportunities," said Lesley Ridley, YESS program coordinator for Tricorp.

"Training that they otherwise might not have been able to participate in due to their remote locations. YESS started four years ago and after the four years, the percentage of youth employed, back to school or training was 80 per cent successful, which I find very impressive."

She said this program consists of a majority of 15- to 16-year-old youth, who did not graduate from high school. Through the skills development and training, they decide whether they want to return to education or enter the workforce. 

She helps strengthen their employment skills, understand the labour market, and provides access to various certificate training, individual job coaching and local work placements. Together, they also work on stress management and money management.

Olivia Robinson completed the program in Prince Rupert. 

"I have learned a lot about office work, stability, time management, managing information confidently and also clear communication skills," Robinson said. She now works at Kxeen Community Services Society in Prince Rupert.

Tricorp runs the program three times a year. The next cohort starts on Sept. 2. Candidates applying are required to have a valid SIN. 

Ridley has helped Prince Rupert-based candidates get placed at local businesses such as The Crest Hotel, Pacific Inn, Shoppers Drug Mart, Prince Rupert Aboriginal Community Services Society and the Pacific Coast Veterinary Hospital.

She highlighted that most people are not aware that this particular program is not restricted to Indigenous people, but is open to everyone, which is where she notices a lack of enrolment. 

Tricorp is a non-profit lending institution based in Prince Rupert. It is owned by five First Nations and aims to build economic self-reliance.