A new animation diploma program at Okanagan College will give students the skills needed for careers in the animation industry in the Okanagan and support the growing B.C. tech sector.

Premier Christy Clark, along with representatives of the Government of Canada and the City of Kelowna, announced the official opening of the Okanagan Centre for Innovation.

Students at Okanagan College will be encouraged to explore co-op opportunities to support their career ambitions.

The Province is contributing $100,000 to expand business training for current and potential entrepreneurs in communities throughout B.C., including Kelowna, Kamloops and Cranbrook and surrounding areas.

Westbank First Nation will explore the possibility of installing rooftop solar panels to heat a portion of its community school and building centre thanks to a $20,380 investment from B.C.’s First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund.

Skilled-trades students in the Central Okanagan School District will benefit from a three-year, $15-million investment by the B.C. government to support youth trades programs with the purchase of new trades-training equipment.

The Government of B.C. and the Central Okanagan School District have partnered to invest $36.1 million for a brand new Okanagan Mission Junior Middle school for students in the fast growing neighbourhood of Okanagan Mission.

British Columbia is focusing on preventing invasive mussels from entering the province by opening two new invasive mussel inspections stations near the border at Yahk and Midway, and extending the hours of all inspection stations throughout the province.