
YOUTH CLIMATE CORPS BC - Trade Union
Creating Careers and Fostering Climate Resilience
In 2024 Youth Climate Corps BC (YCCBC) and the Union of BC Insulators collaborated on a three-month pilot program to recruit and train young trade apprentices. The initiative aligns with YCCBC’s commitment to helping young people access well-paid employment in high-demand sectors that are central to the transition to a more climate-resilient future.

Land Acknowledgment
The City of Vancouver stands on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We acknowledge and honor the rich heritage and deep connection to this land.
“Move Over Peace Corps, Meet Climate Corps” is a podcast from CBC’s What On Earth?
BC Insulators Program Participant Summary
The BC Insulators program offered participants a unique and meaningful opportunity to engage in hands-on, climate-related work, an experience that many had struggled to find in the current job market. Several participants shared their experience with the lack of environmental employment opportunities, often working in unrelated fields that left them feeling unfulfilled.
For many, this was their first exposure to the skilled trades. Most had not previously considered trades as a viable or relevant career path. Through the program, they began to see how trade work—particularly within the context of climate infrastructure—could be both purposeful and impactful.
The cohort was diverse, consisting of five men, two women, and one trans participant. Two were newcomers to Canada, and seven of the eight identified as visible minorities.
Eight participants were hired through the program, and seven completed the three-month term. All seven have continued in their roles beyond the pilot and are now on track to deepen their training and pursue union membership.
Within Youth Climate Corps, crew members are between 17-30 years old; they earn wages, gain work experience, build networks, and develop themselves personally and professionally. Meanwhile, they complete projects that both benefit their own communities and support global efforts to act on the climate crisis.
If you or your organization wants to learn more about how to team up with us and move forward on projects in your community, or if you are interested in funding one of our projects related to our different focus areas, we are here to support you.