Transmitted by CNW Group on : May 8, 2006 11:00

Transmitted by CNW Group on : May 8, 2006 11:00

Private sector and aboriginal community meet to resolve BC's skilled worker shortage

VANCOUVER, May 8 /CNW/ -

WHAT

Landmark British Columbia private sector/Aboriginal forum to be hosted in

Vancouver to address skilled worker shortage.

WHY

The forum, Workforce Connex, will help resolve barriers and open the

potential for the private sector to effectively train, recruit and retain

an Aboriginal workforce. Over 140 forum participants, representing the

private sector, Aboriginal Employment Centres and government, will review

BC workforce supply and demand issues and determine how the talent of

Aboriginal people can be utilized in a win-win to fill emerging job

opportunities that will support the 2010 Olympics and industry sectors

such as construction, oil and gas, forestry, mining and transportation.

WHERE

Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown

1128 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

WHEN

May 10 and 11, 2006

Forum program available online (workforceconnex.com).

WHO

Hosted by the British Columbia Aboriginal Workforce Strategy (Aboriginal

Employment Centres) in cooperation with the Aboriginal Human Resource

Development Council of Canada. The project is funded by the Sector

Council Program, Human Resources and Social Development Canada.

Telephone and onsite interviews will be made available.

The Aboriginal Human Resource Development Council of Canada is a national

not-for-profit organization funded by the private and public sectors to create

links between Canada's employers and the Aboriginal community. The Council

provides leadership on supply and demand issues that address the development

of effective training, recruitment and retention strategies for Aboriginal

people.

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/For further information: Peggy Berndt, Manager, Communications and

Marketing, Aboriginal Human Resource Development Council of Canada,

1-866-711-5091 (toll-free), (780) 720-1118 (cell), Email: