VanAsep Training Society has implemented an Aboriginal Training Advisor Construction Careers Program to support employers and employees on the construction jobsite.

The Aboriginal Training Advisor provides employees with assistance on the job, including access to apprenticeship training, tools and equipment, employers with job retention of employees and workplace skills development. Employers can access employees by contacting your local training advisor.

VanAsep has training advisors working with clients from the Lower Mainland to Northern Vancouver Island and from Whistler to the Fraser Valley. VanAsep's training advisors have extensive experience and knowledge of the inner-workings of the construction industry. Our training advisors have all been involved and employed in the construction industry and are highly willing and capable of assisting VanAsep clients.

Originally, the VanAsep Training Advisor was referred to as a "Job Coach". Above, is the official Review: Job Coach Project. (Due to technical difficulties, the document is broken up into 4 sections. We apologize for any inconvenience and we appreciate your patience while this is resolved)

Jay Mearns:
Jay Mearns is a member of the Musqueam First Nation located at the mouth of the Fraser River. Jay has been employed as a Job Coach/Aboriginal Training Advisor with VanASEP Training Society since the society's inception in 2005. With over 20 years experience as a shipwright, Jay knows firsthand what it takes to succeed within the industry. Working with a plethora of various tools and materials, Jay has built everything from commercial vessels to luxury yachts. Understanding and familiarity within the carpentry field has allowed Jay to travel to the United States to assist in the remodelling of houses, offices, and hotels. His knowledge and fluency has aided him as a construction site manager as well. As a site manager, Jay received plans, scheduled time frames, hired crews, and managed planning and budgets for a national chain. Now, with the majority of his construction employment behind him, Jay has helped over 500 clients (in the greater Vancouver area) succeed in the construction industry.

Bob Whitaker:
Bob Whitaker has been apart of the carpentry trade for over 37 years. Bob has been employed with VanASEP Training Society as an instructor and as a training advisor since 2006. He has been fully encompassed by the trade and continues his passion for carpentry today by recruiting, assisting, developing and instructing. Bob's journey through carpentry has taken him from apprentice to journeyperson, to supervisor, to carpentry instructor, right up to training coordinator. Bob has taught several facets in relationship to carpentry. He has educated students through E.L.T.T. (entry level trades training), in addition to 4 levels of apprenticeship training at Kwantlen College, BCIT, and VanASEP. Bob taught journeyperson upgrading/updating & specialized apprenticeship training programs for the Carpentry Apprenticeship & Training Committee.

Brandon Louie:
Brandon Louie is a member of the Sliammon First Nation located near Powell River on the Sunshine Coast. Brandon has achieved a red seal endorsement in the carpentry trade, graduating from BCIT. Brandon has been an Aboriginal Training Advisor with VanAsep for 1 year. With over 6 years experience within the carpentry trade, Brandon is extremely familiar with a job sites surroundings and environment. On the job site, Brandon started as a labourer. With determination and perseverance, Brandon progressed and climbed the ranks and quickly realized that this was industry that he wanted to be involved with. Today, Brandon has been working with the Heavy Equipment Operators component of VanAsep. He is also working toward a provincial instructor's diploma.

Joanne Allison:
Joanne Allison is of Metis decent. Joanne is a Canadian Interprovincial certified electrician. Joanne attended BCIT for the duration of her electrical schooling and training. She also has extensive schooling with Fire Alarm Systems Inspection and Testing. Joanne has over twenty years of construction and maintenance experience in various trades. She also possesses three years supervisory experience. Joanne is the most recent addition to the VanAsep Aboriginal Training Advisors, working primarily with electricians along with Aboriginal women who are looking to enter the trades.