Local luminaries to lure workers to job- rich B. C.

Do you have friends and relatives in another province who would like to work in B. C.?

Let the provincial government know and they’ll have luminaries like billionaire businessman Jimmy Pattison, B. C. Lions executive and former kicker Lui Passaglia, or Finance Minister Carole Taylor invite them here with an electronic postcard or voicemail message.

It’s all part of WorkBC, an initiative unveiled Friday to address mounting skills shortages and longer- term labour market challenges.

One component is the WorkBC website at www. WorkBC. ca which includes tips in both English and Chinese for individuals looking for work and information about certification and licensing in B. C.

Over the coming months the government says the site will be converted into a virtual job marketplace for B. C. and translated into other languages such as Punjabi, Japanese, Korean, Italian, French, Spanish and German.

A n o t h e r c o m p o n e n t i s www. bciscalling. ca where residents can choose from 11 community leaders to deliver the message that B. C. is a great place to live and work.

In addition to Pattison, Passaglia, and Taylor, the website offers photos and recordings from:

Art Aylesworth, CEO of Carmanah Technologies.

Nadine Caron, surgeon and University of Northern B. C. professor.

Karimah Es Sabar, president of LifeSciences British Columbia.

John Fluevog, designer and founder of Fluevog Shoes.

Economic Development Minister Colin Hansen.

Terry Hui, president and CEO of Concord Pacific.

Paul Lee, president of EA Worldwide Studios.

Chip Wilson, founder of lululemon athletica.

Pattison and Wilson will also be featured in a two- week “ B. C. is calling” print and radio advertising campaign starting today.