September 15, 2025
THE MUNICIPALITY OF CHILLIWACK had no rules in their book for how to zone a trades training facility, but that didn’t stop the leaders of Teamsters Local 213 and LiUNA Local 1611 from forging a path forward.
The two unions, representing a combined 20,000+ trades workers who often work hand in hand at job sites, had been independently seeking the space to open a new training facility when, realizing their shared interests, they decided to join forces about three years ago.
“Collectively we already work together on a lot of other initiatives, like different organizing campaigns,” said Tom Miller, training plan administrator for LiUNA Local 1611. “There’s a synergy that’s already been built there with various aspects of the two organizations.”
By pooling their resources, the unions were able to split the costs of purchasing a three-acre lot in Chilliwack and renovating the warehouse that came with it.
“It shows the world that unions can work together, that we’re not this independent thing,” said Konrad Sears, administrator of the Teamsters 213 Joint Training School. “We do work well together, and it is about the benefit of the people that we serve.”
Set to open this fall, the facility will house the ‘Teamsters Local 213 and LiUNA Local 1611 Training & Resource Centre.’
Through the Teamsters branch of the operation, workers can access the necessary training and certification to drive different vehicles — from cabs and school buses to tractor-trailers — and classes to upgrade driver safety skills. Meanwhile, LiUNA plans to offer over 30 programs for workers who build infrastructure, like bridges and pipelines — everything from a one-day fall protection class, to a Red Seal Apprenticeship program, where each level takes four weeks to complete.
The plan, Miller said, is to offer classes year-round based on the needs of union members, contractors, and job sites. “Some days we might not have anything going on. Other days we might have three or four classes going on all at once,” he said.
According to Miller and Sears, the facility overall can train between 40 to 60 students on any given day. Support from neighbours and the city council itself was key to getting the facility approved.
“I cannot stress enough the support that we’ve gotten from our direct neighbors on the block where we’re setting up, helping us with everything from loaning us their forklift to unload a truck, to helping us navigate some of the actual dealings with City Hall,” Sears said. “We had two councilors stand up on our behalf and speak of our project and support us.”
The unions are planning a grand opening in September after the dust settles on some final approvals. One of the last hurdles, according to Sears, is a consultation with ICBC to open the driver’s services division. “ICBC Driver Training Industry Support is busy, and we are at the mercy of their workload,” he said.
The organizers said they are showing their appreciation to their neighbours and the council by hiring local and sourcing local building materials as much as possible.
“We want to be a partner in the community, and I think they see that,” Miller said.
By Brishti Basu