Energy Efficiency Mentorship Program

Do you have an interest in training on energy-efficient housing? Check out the 2023 Energy Efficiency Mentorship Program! It’s a good fit for both Indigenous building specialists ready to extend their skills and those newer to the housing field. Take a look!

• Program Overview
• About Richard Hall
• Ready to Build Your Skills? Join us!
• Financial Support
• Program Commitments
• For More Information and to Apply
• Program Funders

Program Overview

The Fraser Basin Council and housing consultant Richard Hall of Nuxalk Nation are delivering the Energy Efficiency Mentorship Program: Building Indigenous Capacity for Energy-Efficient Housing. This program is in partnership with the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) and the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

The Energy Efficiency Mentorship Program aims to build skills and knowledge in energy-efficient homes and buildings within Indigenous communities through a peer group of eight Indigenous trainees who are interested in building their capacity, skills and knowledge in energy efficiency.

The training series includes six online training sessions and a three-day in-person course in Vancouver, instructed by BCIT, AHMA and Richard Hall.

After completing the training program, the cohort of eight trainees will go on to deliver introductory workshops about energy efficiency solutions and practices, for both new construction and existing homes, to First Nations communities in their regions. Each trainee will be paired up with an Indigenous building professional to co-deliver two in-person community workshops on energy efficiency, tailored to the climate and other needs of their region.

The Energy Efficiency Mentorship Program aims to:

• Build capacity and knowledge on energy-efficient buildings within a group of Indigenous building specialists
• Raise awareness about energy-efficient construction, best practices in retrofitting and standards among industry professionals and
• Facilitate Indigenous-led education for First Nations communities on energy-efficient buildings

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About Richard Hall

Richard Hall of Nuxalk Nation has 35 years of experience in Indigenous housing as a Red Seal carpenter / builder, a capital project and housing manager, a housing consultant and building inspector.

Richard is now designing affordable, sustainable and energy-efficient homes that complement the climates of British Columbia’s west coast and that suit the cultural lifestyles of First Peoples.

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Ready to Build Your Building Skills? Join Us!

Already in the building, housing or construction field?

If you already have some knowledge and/or experience in building science, housing or construction, the Energy Efficiency Mentorship Program is an ideal way to round out and deepen your understanding and skills in the area of energy efficiency. There are eight spots for experienced trainees in the program.

Just breaking into the field — or want to soon?

If you are just starting in the field of building, construction or housing, you can apply to participate in the program as an entry-level trainee. There are six spots for entry-level trainees to participate in the six online training sessions to get a grounding in home energy efficiency.

Come Join Us!

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Financial Support

The Energy Efficiency Mentorship Program is available to approved applicants at no cost.

Experienced Trainees

An experienced trainee participating in the full program is eligible to receive the following:

• A training allowance of $850, paid to the trainee on completion of the online and three-day in-person training program
  
  
• A fee of $750 to shadow and assist an Indigenous Building Professional at one to two introductory workshops
  
  
• A fee of $1,250 to deliver each of the two introductory workshops to First Nations communities in their regions (total of $2,500)
  
  
• Reimbursement of travel expenses, including transportation, accommodation and meals required for the in-person training course in Vancouver, and for travel expenses related to the introductory community workshops

Entry-Level Trainees

An entry-level trainee is eligible to receive:

• a $500 learning stipend on completion of the online training program

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Program Commitments

• Experienced and entry level trainees will attend six virtual Zoom training sessions (June to September 2023)
  
  
• Experienced trainees will also:
  
  
  • assist an Indigenous Building Professional from the previous cohort with delivering one to two in-community workshops within your region (June to September 2023)
    
    
  • attend a three-day in-person workshop at BCIT (October 2023)
    
    
  • deliver two in-community workshops within your region, paired up with a newly trained Indigenous Building Professional (December 2023 to August 2024)

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For More Information and to Apply

If this program is of interest, please fill out the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM.

If you have questions, don't hesitate to contact us:

Darell Gaddie, MBA, Program Lead

T: 236 888–1298 I E:

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Program Funders

Thanks to program funders Vancity, BC Hydro, FortisBC and the Real Estate Foundation of BC. Thanks also to CleanBC, the Aboriginal Housing Management Association and the BC Institute of Technology for their in-kind support.