The University of Northern British Columbia is offering free courses for Aboriginal, unemployed, and low income residents in Quesnel, Williams Lake, and Vanderhoof. The Business Development Assistants certificate program is part of the federally financed Community Adjustment Fund.
The program has openings for 160 residents of these regions and is intended to provide students with employment skills, resources and practical business experience.

“People who complete this course will be able to start their own business, work to expand an existing business, or work with other businesses and economic developers,” says Continuing Studies Program Coordinator Titi Kunkel, who is also a PhD student at UNBC. “The courses will be taught by instructors who live in or near the communities so they will be available as community mentors after the program is completed.”

This program has received just over $1 million from the federally-financed Community Adjustment Fund unveiled by Minister Jay Hill, Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River.

“I’m really passionate about this program because it empowers people to start their own businesses. We need as many new economic ventures as we can get coming out of a recession,” says Kunkel. “We’re also creating 25 new jobs. These positions include liaising with Band Offices and Tribal Councils to increase capacity in those communities and help kick start First Nations community ventures.”

The courses and program orientation will be held at Pioneer Hall in Williams Lake, at the CNC campus in Vanderhoof, and at UNBC’s Quesnel campus.

Program Orientation:
November 13, 2009: Vanderhoof and Williams Lake
November 20, 2009: Quesnel

Classes Begin:
November 20, 2009: Vanderhoof and Williams Lake
November 27, 2009: Quesnel

Application Deadline: November 13 for all three communities (or until all seats are filled).

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