Aboriginal students at the College of the Rockies and Selkirk College will benefit from a range of new and expanded programs as the result of receiving $75,000 in one-time funding.

The College of the Rockies is receiving $843,000 toward the purchase of new training equipment, including two L3 Mobile Truck Driving Training simulators and health care training mannequins.

Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson made the following statement in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the College of the Rockies.

The College of the Rockies (COTR) will receive $150,000 from the Ministry of Advanced Education to support training for workers affected by the Canfor mill slowdown in Canal Flats.

As part of B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, the College of the Rockies will receive funding for an additional 32 training spaces to increase access and help reduce waitlists for trades critical to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other industries.

Students in the Kootenays who want to learn a trade are getting a helping hand with more than $65,000 in one-time funding for 16 foundation seats in targeted trades training courses during 2013-14.

Students at College of the Rockies who are training to work in the Kootenays' thriving mining sector will have access to the latest mining truck haul simulators thanks to over $1.1 million in investment from the government of British Columbia and the Columbia Basin Trust.

The government of B.C. is investing $443,842 in new skills training equipment at the College of the Rockies.