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BladeRunners History

BladeRunners was created in 1994 during the construction of General Motors Place in Vancouver.  It was founded with the purpose of matching construction industry needs with opportunities for inner city disadvantaged ‘street-involved’ youth.  Because many of the at-risk youth taking part in the program at that time were experiencing problems outside of their work hours, a system of 24/7 support from BladeRunners coordinators was developed which led to the award winning BladeRunners model.

Labour Market Agreement

The Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement (the "Agreement" or "LMA") was signed February 20, 2008 and continues until March 31, 2014. Under the Agreement BC receives approximately $65.7 million per year ($394.2 million over six years) from the federal government to invest in labour market programs. Working in cooperation with the Government of Canada, the MRESD is responsible for oversight and management of skills development programs funded through the Agreement.

The overall goal of the LMA is to support labour market participation. Section 10 of the LMA specifically identifies two groups of eligible beneficiaries:

  • Unemployed individuals who are determined to be non-Employment Insurance clients; and,
  • Employed individuals who are low-skilled, in particular employed individuals who do not have a high school diploma or a recognized certification, or who have low levels of literacy and essential skills.


LMA funding currently supports training initiatives in the following categories:

  • Employment Services for Unemployed or Low-Skilled Employed Clients (e.g. employment assessment, resume-writing and job interview assistance).
  • Skills Development and Upgrading Interventions for Unemployed (e.g. earnings supplements, formal training).
  • Work Experience Interventions for Unemployed Clients (e.g. job placements and project-based job creation).
  • Interventions that Offer Skills Development and/or Work Experience Components for Employed and/or Unemployed Clients (includes integrated projects for youth at-risk, persons with disabilities or non-EI-eligible workers who have been laid off).
  • Skill Development and Training for Low-Skilled Employed Clients (includes training offered by the employer to their employees, either in the workplace or off-site).