Official Project Launch Thursday Dec. 6, 2018

The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick hosted the official launch of the Essential Skills for Atlantic Fisheries (ESAF) project at the Fredericton Convention Center on Thursday, Dec 6, 2018.

The project, funded by the Government of Canada’s National Essential Skills Initiatives, is led by the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick in partnership with the PEI Literacy Alliance, Literacy Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador Laubach Literacy Council.

“This project, which has the opportunity to serve as a staple for training in other sectors is exactly the kind of endeavor we want to be involved in. It is an ambitious and exciting project, and the first that Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick will carry out in partnership with our Atlantic partners”, stated Brent Melanson, LCNB President.

Dianne Leger, Project Manager and Master of Ceremonies for the event, said that the program has three primary goals.

“It will help increase the pool of skilled labour for the fisheries sector which has been hard hit by an aging workforce and a younger workforce migrating out of rural areas. It will improve essential skills for unemployed individuals as well as supervisors and middle managers. And it will connect potential workers with available jobs in the fisheries sector and help increase efficiencies and productivity in the sector.”

During February and March of 2019, the program will provide participants with six weeks of classroom training, four weeks of on-the-job-training and six to 12 weeks of paid work placement at a fisheries employer.“

To learn more about ESAF or for updates, click here or visit our Facebook page.