Skilled trades students in the Nanaimo and Cowichan Valley school districts 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.

Nanaimo and Parksville will receive a combined sum of $272,470 in BikeBC funding this year, announced MLA for Parksville-Qualicum Beach Michelle Stilwell on behalf of Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone.

The Province is investing $24 million to increase access for low-income families to fresh food, dental and hearing care for children, and to support community initiatives to reduce poverty.

A new MRI machine is coming to Nanaimo Regional Hospital to help increase patient access to MRI services. It is expected to be in place in 2018.

Canadians will be better equipped for the well-paying middle-class jobs of today and tomorrow with a $35.9-million federal-provincial investment in Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) new $39.9-million Health and Science Centre.

Students in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District are connecting with skills and technology training development thanks to a $17,500 grant to the district from the Province’s Shoulder Tappers Program.

Provincial patient safety and quality officer Dr. Doug Cochrane has completed his review of the early functioning of IHealth, the electronic health record system implemented in three Nanaimo-area health facilities in March.

Multiculturalism Week in British Columbia is Nov. 13-19, 2016, a time to celebrate B.C.’s rich, cultural mosaic. The Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society is one of five multicultural champions profiled this week.

Students, teachers and staff at Cedar Elementary school in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district will benefit from $240,000 in provincial School Enhancement Program funding.