The Province is using its First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund to provide more than $500,000 for five clean-energy projects on the central coast and north Vancouver Island that will explore alternative clean-energy sources and help remote Aboriginal communities reduce their reliance on diesel power generation.

Skilled trades students in two northern Vancouver Island 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.

Students in the Vancouver Island North 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.

Students, teachers and staff at Port Hardy Secondary school in the Vancouver Island North school district will benefit from $717,000 in provincial School Enhancement Program funding.

Families in the Vancouver Island North school district will benefit from improved transportation services thanks to $118,179 in funding under the new provincial Student Transportation Fund.

Provincial funding is providing work experience to four North Islanders as they gain new skills removing invasive knotweed in four different communities.

Businesses, First Nations, local government and industry experts gathered on March 16, 2016, for the North Island Tourism Forum 2016 to explore key ideas, opportunities and challenges facing the tourism sector on the North Island.