Gitxsan Safety Services helps train and protect workers as Northern B.C. economy expands

The natural resource sector is one of the most significant economic drivers in Northern British Columbia. The sector’s safety specialists are helping ensure economic progress is made responsibly and conscientiously.

Safety specialists help natural resource professionals across B.C. return home safe and sound. They do this as:

• traffic flaggers for road projects
• pilot vehicle drivers supporting heavy hauls
• local emergency medical responders

For the Gitxsan people, Gitxsan Safety Services represents something even more significant – not just economic stability, but stewardship and care over their traditional territory and all of Northern B.C.

In response to surging economic activity in Northern B.C.’s natural resources sector from the Coastal Gas Link pipeline, Construction Safety Alliance Certificate of Recognition certified Gitxsan Safety Services received $445,006 in PacifiCan funding in 2019 to scale-up its services to meet rising demand for emergency medical support.

Through this funding, Gitxsan Safety Services was able to expand its fleet of trucks, including the addition of four new customized vehicles to their medical service fleet, equipped with light bars and additional gas tanks to enable 24/7 medical support and long-distance transportation.

This support also allowed Gitxsan Safety Services to invest in a robust hiring and development program, with a focus on training Indigenous workers. This project helped Gitxsan Safety Services re-invest in its community, creating 32 new jobs for Indigenous workers and providing community members with transferable, professional skills and experience.

During wildfire season, Gitxsan Safety Services will also use its expanded medical and transportation services to help people affected by wildires in Northern British Columbia.