AltaGas is training 14 local and Indigenous students to operate the Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal (RIPET) and the Ridley Island Energy Export Facility (REEF).
AltaGas, in partnership with Coast Mountain College and the College of New Caledonia, began the 10-month program on April 1. The program combines classroom learning with hands-on training and provides workforce preparation, safety certification and mentorship.
The initiative will help create local opportunities, said Derek Vallee, general manager of export operations at AltaGas.
“This program is about creating real opportunities for people in the communities where we operate. With REEF, we’re building on what worked at RIPET—training locally, hiring locally, and supporting long-term careers close to home.”
This program was last offered alongside the launch of RIPET and saw AltaGas benefit from investing in local talent as 11 of the 14 students graduated, with six of them remaining with AltaGas five years later. Graduates have also advanced across operational roles, Vallee said.
“These outcomes show the program isn’t just about training—it’s about retention, progression, and building a workforce that grows with our facilities.”
