A trades program based in Surrey and Vancouver helps Indigenous youth achieve their career goals, and has inspired the launch of similar initiatives in other cities.
Operated by ACCESS (Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society), BladeRunners trains at-risk youth for entry-level work in the construction industry and then places them into full-time jobs.
Over the past 30 years, BladeRunners has supported more than 3,000 youth in Metro Vancouver and more than 10,000 across B.C.
Among them is Enrique Serna-Head, who was looking for a positive outlet and a stepping stone to secure a successful future when he connected with the program at ACCESS’s Surrey City Centre intake office (at 10708 136A St., call 604-251-7955 or visit accessfutures.com).
A BladeRunners grad in 2023, he has pursued a career in sheet metal work and is now working on Vancouver’s Senakw Lands development project.
The program involves two weeks of safety training, daily hot meals, trades training, work gear upon graduation and employment support.
"BladeRunners youth often face unique challenges, many of which stem from inter-generational trauma and systemic barriers like racism, lower graduation rates, and limited access to essential cultural support," said Jason Watt, program director.
"Our team goes the extra mile to stay connected with the youth, provide consistent support and show up as Indigenous leaders who can relate to their experiences.”
Across B.C., Indigenous youth are helping to fill a need in construction trades. According to the BC Construction Association, the province expects more than 85,000 skilled-trades jobs in the next decade. The association also says close to 6,600 construction jobs in B.C. will be unfilled over the next eight years.
Young people aged 15 to 24 make up a large proportion of the Indigenous population, outnumbering the growth of non-Indigenous Canadians. Statistics Canada says that by 2041, the Indigenous population in Canada could reach between 2.5 and 3.2 million.
In the meantime, Serna-Head hopes to earn his Journeyman’s certification, making him one of the top on-site experts in his trade. He works alongside his older brother, who also turned to the BladeRunners program for support.
