Federal Funding for Youth Work Experience in Construction Trade

Today, Colin Mayes, Member of Parliament for Okanagan-Shuswap, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced funding of $31,555 towards the Sounds of Light Multicultural Society to support a new youth work experience program and affordable housing initiative. Funding is provided under the Community Economic Diversification Initiative (CEDI), a component of the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program, through Western Economic Diversification Canada.

"Our Government realizes the importance of having our rural youth engaged in valuable work experience programs," said Mr. Mayes. "Not only will this experience provide important employment opportunities, but this project is diversifying the use of Mountain Pine Beetle affected wood in an innovative way."

Funding for the Sounds of Light Multicultural Society will help deliver a work experience program for youth and people with disabilities who have demonstrated an interest in construction trades. The youth participants will work toward constructing two log homes, made out of Mountain Pine Beetle affected wood, as a prototype of an affordable housing alternative with a low environmental impact.