From the ground up: building a career while rebuilding a community

Nine students from Thompson Rivers University (TRU) graduated this week after completing all four levels of carpentry apprenticeship training entirely within Lytton First Nation, British Columbia. The program, a collaboration between TRU, Lytton First Nation, and Skilled Trades BC, enabled students to train on-site while rebuilding their community after the devastating 2021 Lytton Creek wildfire, which destroyed homes and displaced hundreds. The fire left Lytton First Nation struggling to find skilled labor for reconstruction, as residents lacked training and could not afford to travel for education. Andrew Ford, education manager at Lytton First Nation, explained that many community members were already working on recovery but could not leave their jobs or homes to attend school elsewhere. The in-community program resolved this by delivering technical training at the First Nation’s K-12 school while apprentices gained hands-on experience rebuilding homes. Apprentice Mike Brown, a Lytton First Nation member, had previously completed carpentry training but was unable to continue due to financial constraints. The local program allowed him to stay in Lytton while advancing his skills. Similarly, Justin Machelle, another apprentice, praised the initiative for bringing training back to the community, addressing the urgent need for skilled tradespeople during recovery. Michael Ford, owner of MF Contracting and Andrew’s brother, relocated his business to Lytton to help with the rebuild. He employed many of the apprentices, many of whom were neighbors or family members. The program’s success stemmed from its adaptability, supporting both economic recovery and community cohesion by keeping training and work local. The partnership ensured students maintained family and support networks while gaining certifications. Glenn Smith, TRU’s carpentry instructor, delivered in-school training at the First Nation’s school, which survived the wildfire, while apprentices applied their skills directly to rebuilding efforts. This model has since become a blueprint for post-disaster education and workforce development in Indigenous communities.