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October 29, 2009 PROVINCE REAPS REWARDS FROM TRADES TRAINING, ENERGY/WATER RETROFITS– – –$400,000 Saved to Date; Millions to be Saved During Next Decade: Selinger More than 1,400 Winnipeg dwellings have received energy and water saving upgrades through a project that retrofits homes and reinvigorates lives by training local residents to do the work, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
“This is such an effective way to make a difference in the lives of the people having their homes upgraded and also for those working in the program,” said Selinger. “This is a great example of a project that really makes an impact at every step along the way.”
Warm Up Winnipeg, a program of BUILD (Building Urban Industries for Local Development), has performed energy saving and water retrofits at approximately 1,000 apartments and 200 single-family Manitoba Housing units. In addition, it has completed nearly 200 insulation retrofits in privately owned, lower-income households.
“The Warm Up Winnipeg model works because we provide a supportive environment for people with employment barriers to get their start in the formal workforce,” said Lawrence Poirier, chair of the BUILD board. “Warm Up Winnipeg provides on-the-job and classroom training in addition to a life‑skills component that includes a driver’s licensing program, help to obtain identification, parenting classes, money-management training and access to an on-site social worker.”
Many of BUILD’s recruits first finish a six-month pre-employment program before going on to complete their high school and level-one trades theory at partners such as R.B. Russell Vocational School or the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development. This makes them eligible to enter the apprenticeship system. BUILD employs seven level-one Aboriginal carpenters through the first of four steps in the apprenticeship system.
“It is estimated the water-efficiency retrofits at one Manitoba Housing building alone (at 185 Smith St.) have already saved more than $30,000 and the overall effort has reduced utility bills by about $400,000. That will translate to about $3 million during the next decade. As more work is completed, those savings will continue to escalate while Manitoba’s greenhouse-gas emissions will fall,” said Selinger.
Manitoba has also partnered with the North End Community Renewal Corporation (NECRC) on similar projects to hire and train local people. The two organizations have a combined workforce of more than 110 people. NECRC is completing interior renovations at Manitoba Housing units in Lord Selkirk Park and Gilbert Park.
Warm Up Winnipeg is a community-based, non-profit group that receives funding from Manitoba Competitiveness, Training and Trade and Manitoba Science, Technology, Energy and Mines. The group also accesses Manitoba Hydro’s Lower Income Energy Efficiency Program and does work for Manitoba Housing.
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