Vancouver Island University (VIU), Natural Resources Extension Program (NREP) is one of Canada’s leading providers of applied, community-based natural resources professional development training. Since 1989, the NREP has developed and delivered fisheries, environmental, and wildlife training to over 15,000 industry stakeholders in communities throughout North America.

First Nations communities on the Central and North coast and Northwest Community College have worked together to create a regionally appropriate and accessible training program to build and strengthen local peoples’ capacity as environmental stewards, the “on-the-ground eyes and ears” of resource activity in their territories.