As part of B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, Okanagan College will be adding 203 training spaces to increase access and reduce waitlists for trades critical to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector and other industries.

Students in the Okanagan who want to learn a trade are getting a helping hand with more than $367,000 in one-time funding for 88 foundation seats in targeted trades training courses during 2013-14.

The government of B.C. is investing more than $867,000 in new skills training equipment at Okanagan College.

The B.C. government is providing $28 million under B.C.'s Skills and Training Plan to expand and renovate trades training facilities at the Kelowna campus of Okanagan College, ensuring future welders, heavy-duty mechanics, electricians, plumbers and other skilled workers will get the training they need.

The first cohort of nursing students at Okanagan College (OC) are on their way to completing the first half of the four-year bachelor of science in nursing program with the help of the college's new, state-of-the-art health simulation lab.

Future nurses in B.C.'s Interior will now have more options to get their education closer to home and closer to their families with the addition of 24 local first-year student spaces.