Westbank First Nation Service Area

Annual Report 2005/2006

Coordinator: Audrey Wilson
Phone: (250) 768-0227
Fax: (250) 768-0528
awilson@wfn.ca
WFN: #301, 515 Hwy 97S
Kelowna, BC  V1Z 3J2

Download PDF: Annual Report 2005/06

Westbank First Nation Employment continues to support and promote programs of all different levels in education, training, certificates, diplomas, and so on.

Dorilda

Westbank First Nation has been working with the Education Department, Social Development, Recreation, Heartland Forestry and Economic Development with courses and training. Programs such as First Aid levels 1 through 3, Food Safe, Whims and Basic Fire Suppression & Safety Retraining course are also offered. As well, we have programs such as Youth Works and Kids Camps that run each summer from June to August. OTDC cost shares these programs with the Social Development and Recreation Departments.

Lance

Iron Worker’s Training Three members of the Westbank First Nation applied through OTDC for training with the Iron Worker’s Union held in Vancouver B.C. This three week training provided them with skills in structural, reinforcing, post-tensioning and ornamental iron work, rigging and machinery moving. It opened up employment opportunities for them on the new William R. Bennett Bridge construction as well as future employment with the Iron Worker’s Union.


Casey

Aboriginal Gateway to the Building Trades The most recent program with the Okanagan College in Kelowna was the Aboriginal Gateway to the Building Trades for which 12 students registered. This program ran for three months and consisted of carpentry, roofing, plumbing, electrical, dry walling and painting. It was one of 36 proposals out of 48 which were submitted under the Aboriginal Special Project Funding through OC. The Aboriginal Gateway Program gave the students opportunities to decide which trade they would like to pursue as their career choice.

Goldsmith Program

Marion Radawetz, a WFN member, completed the Goldsmith program which she started in September 2005. The trainer was a Master Goldsmith from Kelowna who taught courses in all necessary basic and/or advanced goldsmith techniques such as jewelry setting, movement, sculptural jewelry, casting techniques along with design and business.

Forestry

Bob Swite, another WFN member, started his education in 2002 when he was accepted into the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology where he enrolled in the Natural Resource Science Program. Bob graduated in the spring of 2005 with a Natural Resource Technician diploma. He then transferred to the Thompson River University to continue his studies in the Bachelor of Natural Resource Science program. The course load consists of Land Tenure Systems, Silviculture I & II, Forest Ecology I & II, and Wildlife Ecology. Bob has been WFN’s summer student in the Forestry Department for the last three years.

Bob standing by a fir tree