Rebuilding Homes and Bringing Together Community in Lytton

Photo source: Lytton First Nation Crew Members Complete Carpentry Level 3 While Rebuilding Their Community (YouTube video)

Project Rebuild, a community-led initiative by Lytton First Nation, is working to rebuild and restore more than 100 homes. Among those contributing to the effort are apprentices enrolled in a carpentry class at Thompson Rivers University. Eight students who completed their Level 3 technical training earlier this year, reaching a major milestone in their apprenticeship journey.

SkilledTradesBC is proud to support this program through our Community-Based Training funds. Ensuring that both classroom training and on-site work experience took place within the community was an important aspect of the program. This approach allowed students to remain close to their families while gaining hands-on experience. Lytton First Nation serves as the apprentices’ sponsor, and the local construction company Michael Ford Contracting employs them.

"The rebuild project is definitely having a positive impact on the community,” says one of the apprentices, Michael Brown. “I heard there were tears of joy as the first three families got occupancy. A group of sisters were sitting out front of their house at 6 a.m., taking it in. As for the future, I believe that our rebuild team can meet the demand for housing in our town."

A unique aspect of this project is that the homes are being designed in collaboration with the homeowners to meet their specific needs, such as improved accessibility to those with mobility issues. Many of them are designed for multi-generational living and built to be fire-resistant. 

Andrew Ford, a former teacher and now Education Manager at Lytton First Nation, is a strong advocate for apprenticeships and skilled trades careers. He says that the students have been excited to take part in this project, with some of them even rebuilding their own homes.

With Level 3 now complete, the apprentices are nearing the finish line and hope to begin Level 4 class soon. 

Andrew emphasizes the benefits of having certified Red Seal journeypersons and investing in talent within their community. “You can’t just call a contractor from Kamloops or Vancouver. That’s why having local Red Seal professionals is so important. When you have certified trades professionals here in the community—carpenters, plumbers, electricians—doing the work that they’re proud of, you can keep the work moving and build a stronger future for everyone.”

When asked about his goals after finishing the level, Michael says that he plans to continue with Carpentry Level 4 and eventually get Red Seal certified. 

There is a great sense of pride in the work these apprentices are doing, and in the way their entire community has come together to support them. As you drive through the city,  their hard work is visible in every newly built home.   

To learn more about the Rebuild project and the Carpentry class, check out the videos created by Lytton First Nation Education below:

• Project REBUILD | Rising from the Ashes

• Lytton First Nation Crew Members Complete Carpentry Level 3 While Rebuilding Their Community