If you’ve ever dreamed of working on the water or carving out a shoreside career in British Columbia’s thriving marine industry, here’s your chance.
A free short course – one that also pays you to attend – is now accepting applications.
If that doesn’t float your boat, how about hands-on training in real boatyards, job shadowing with marine employers, and industry certifications that can launch your career?
Quadrant Marine Institute’s We Float Boats! pre-employment program is back this spring, offering a six-week, government-funded introduction to the marine trades. Open to youth aged 16 to 29 who are unemployed or underemployed, the program includes site tours, technical training, and a paid work placement – plus, it all starts May 20 in Sidney.
Participants gain hands-on skills in onboard systems, vessel detailing, engines and outboards, and power and hand tools. They also earn industry-recognized certifications including Forklift Operation, Fire Extinguisher Training, Respirator Fit Testing, and Level 1 Occupational First Aid (OFA).
If it sounds too good to be true, rest assured – it’s real. But you’d better hurry. The deadline to apply for the provincially and federally funded program is May 3.
“One of our former students actually said, ‘My parents and I thought this must be a scam – it sounded way too good to be true,’” says Shelley McIvor, Managing Director of Quadrant Marine Institute. “By the end of the program, he had multiple job offers and told us it changed his life.”
B.C.’s marine service industry is critical to work and play on our vast coastlines, yet many people don’t realize how many skilled professionals are needed to keep boats running safely and smoothly.
McIvor and her team work with a wide range of maritime employers, from small, specialized shops to larger companies with full-service operations. These industry partners offer job shadows, hands-on training, and often hire directly from the program’s graduates.
Participants get a real-world introduction to the many roles within the marine trades – everything from mechanical and electrical work to composites and welding. Some discover a passion for boat building or structural repair; others find their fit in marine electronics, joinery, paint or operations. And still others land in supporting roles elsewhere in the marine world.
“We’re deeply connected to both sides of the equation,” McIvor says. “We know the students and we know the employers. That’s what allows us to help young people find meaningful work – and help industry find the right talent.”
The next session runs May 20 to June 27 in Sidney, with a Vancouver intake to follow in July. Participants are paid minimum wage while attending.
For more information or to register, visit quadrantmarine.com and click on “PEP – Pre-Employment Programs.”
