“The hurdle that we’ve seen and heard of is there’s not enough education and knowledge around the auto-technicians, and the small to medium enterprises that have those supports and resources in terms of their staffing’s skill levels, to be able to work and support EVs,” he adds. “It’s very limited.”

Lally oversees DIVERSEcity’s EVolve Skills program which trains EV technicians. In B.C., April marks Construction and Skilled Trades Month, recognizing how the expertise of tradespeople benefit the province.

A hybrid approach

Delivered with community partners – such as Vancouver Community College (VCC) – the EVolve Skills program plans to train 350 participants by March 2028. Out of this number, a portion will be new entrants –
those relatively new to their trade pathway. The program also welcomes workers looking to upskill.

EVolve provides technical education – including hands-on and industry-specific training with high-voltage safety, battery diagnostics and OEM digital diagnostics – alongside employment skills guidance.

This province has some of the highest adoption rates of EVs, adds Lally. B.C.’s geographical location, he says, with relatively warm weather makes owning these vehicles a suitable choice. An EV-owner himself, Lally recalls difficulties finding available technicians following a car accident.

“There is only a handful of folks or businesses that were able to work on my vehicle,” Lally shares – adding the wait time was up to six months. “At that time, it really spoke to the lack of opportunity available, even though the [EV] industry was growing, the infrastructure of being able to support that niche market wasn’t there.”

EVolve is designed to accommodate working professionals’ schedules while ensuring rigorous standards. The 10-day curriculum is delivered via a hybrid model: mixing online, self-paced study with intensive, hands-on shop time.

“It’s really hard to release staff for so many days at a time because then it impacts their business operations,” Lally says of making the program accessible to full-time technicians. “By making it a bit of a hybrid model, we’re kind of meeting them halfway.”

Beyond the wrench

Lally’s team is responsible for recruiting and preparing participants – both those already working in the automative sector and those new to the industry.

He adds that DIVERSEcity has been identified as a “frontline” delivery partner. This recognition extends beyond their recruitment work – it also involves providing employment support.

“How do I go about creating a more attractive profile when I am looking for work, and trying to enter the industry itself?” Lally points to a question EVolve helps participants address.

New entrants to the automative sector require more support with career development, the manager adds. Carried out by the program’s employment specialists, these services involve job coaching, resume development and interview preparation.

Through DIVERSEcity, EVolve also provides “wraparound” services to lower the industry’s barrier to entry and practice. This support can extend beyond the program’s hands-on training timeline.

“Our program and [available] funding allow us to support those existing and new entrants with transportation and safety gear to be able to pursue whatever they need,” Lally shares.

Work boots, for example, can be made available through this support. The program has served 69 participants so far this fiscal year.

Diversity in the shop

A core pillar of EVolve’s mandate is creating inclusive spaces – while greening the automotive sector. They welcome equity-seeking groups, including newcomers, women, racialized individuals and people with disabilities.

“We want to make sure it’s inclusive, and available, to any and all folks that have an interest in the industry, and in the trade,” Lally emphasizes. “I can confidently say we have a strong representation from those equity-seeking groups – we’re staying true to what we had set forth.”

Funded by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, this intiative is a multi-provincial workforce development project. It aims to train and upskill 1, 302 people – a mix of new career entrants and current workers – in B.C., Ontario and Nova Scotia.

For Lally, the program is a win-win situation for both its participants and the province. The former receives an opportunity to learn new, in-demand skills. B.C. and its residents then benefit from having more EV technicians who can meet the sector’s growing demand.

“The EV transition is here – it’s every[where] you go, you hear about it, you see it – it’s already here,” Lally shares. “B.C. has some of the highest rate[s] of EV vehicles out on the road.”

EVolve is currently available to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected persons with the legal right to work in Canada. They must also be employed or apprenticing in one of the eligible Red Seal trades related to the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) sector.

Additionally, pre-apprentices and entry-level mechanics are eligible for a one-week Career Exploration and Employment Skills training. A previous participant highlighted how the program’s EV course is “absolutely essential” for a career in the automotive industry – placing students at the “forefront of new technologies.” The team has also received positive feedback on the instructors.

“We want to grow this program,” Lally says. “We have a strong aspiration for where this program is going – and for the folks that it is serving, and truly, strongly believe it can make a really strong impact in the communities that we’re working with and serving.”

Lally encourages those in the field to keep an open mind about professional growth and find opportunities to upscale. EVolve is one pathway for those looking to do so.

“You’re adopting and adjusting to the growing trends, and you’re ensuring that your skills are relevant to meet the needs of the future in this industry,” he adds.

For more information on the program, see www.dcrs.ca/our-services/employment-programs/evolve-skills/#:~:text=This%20program%20will%20help%20you,program%20with%20Vancouver%20Community%20College.