After juggling school, work and family life, Bikash Thapa says he found better balance in his pursuit of becoming an electrician, thanks to Immigrant in Trades Training (ITT), an initiative of the Industry Training Authority (ITA).

ITT is helping skilled new Canadians who are unemployed or employed and low-skilled, overcome barriers to entering the trades. It is transforming minimum-wage earners into well-paid skilled workers. 

ITT has also improved the quality of life for these newcomers, their families, and the communities they live in. The program is funded through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement (LMA) and is overseen by ITA.

Thapa, who was born in Nepal, had worked as a handyman, but dreamed of becoming an electrician. Wiring and working with his hands appealed to him most, but to realize his goal he had to balance full-time studies at BCIT’s Electrical Foundation Program, while trying to support his family on a part-time, low-paying job.

“It was tough for me because I was only earning minimum wage,” says the Vancouver resident of his challenges in building a new life here for himself and his family.

Once the foundation program was completed, Thapa needed to quickly find entry-level work in his field. Due to the efforts of ITT’s service provider – the B.C. Construction Association and its initiative, the Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP) – Thapa was successfully placed as an electrical apprentice at Coquitlam’s Allwest Electric.

“ITT helped me get qualified and find a good job. I love what I do. I have a house and I can support my family,” he says.

Thapa is now focused on completing his apprenticeship through to Red Seal Certification. His long-term goal is to start his own electrical business.

Immigrants in Trades Training (ITT) has also recently assisted Abinder Sharma to re-establish his career in the trades.

Sharma was an experienced electrician and electrical engineer in India. In 2010, he moved to British Columbia with his wife and two daughters to pursue better opportunities for his family. However, Sharma was concerned that differences in his certification, his culture and his age would stop him from doing the type of skilled work here that he had done as an electrical engineer in India.

With the help of the ITT program, Sharma received personalized support, mentorship, and financial assistance to pay for the courses he needed in order to learn about the Canadian Electrical Code and to challenge the Red Seal.

“It was a tough decision to come to Canada and start over again. This program helped me get my previous work experience recognized. Now I’m working at a level similar to where I was in India,” he says.

In early 2011, Sharma challenged the Red Seal exam and passed. As a Red Seal certified electrician, the Surrey resident was able to secure a full-time position as a construction manager with BC Hydro at its Mica Generating Station, north of Revelstoke.

Bill Hanson, an engineering team lead with BC Hydro, says Sharma reinforces the value of both ITT and hiring a skilled new Canadian.

“When we met Abinder, it was obvious he was the most qualified person for the job,” says Hanson. “It makes sense to hire a skilled immigrant who already has work experience, and just needs Canadian certification. The ITT initiative ensures we have the work-ready tradespeople we need.”

According to the B.C. Trade Occupations Outlook, the province can expect to experience skilled labour shortage of at least 160,000 by 2015. ITT is helping skilled new Canadians who are unemployed, or employed and low-skilled, overcome barriers to entering the trades. The initiative is assisting skilled new Canadians who already have technical skills from their home countries, but need Canadian certification. It is funded through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement (LMA) and is overseen by ITA.