Small and medium-sized B.C. businesses looking to expand their export capacity and access new markets will soon benefit from a new partnership between the Province and the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.

Skilled trades students in School District 39 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 public has chosen 56 Japanese-Canadian historic places with significance to British Columbians of Japanese descent following a four-month nomination period.

Due to cooler than normal weather this year, seven winter response shelters will receive additional provincial government funding to remain open in April.

The Province of British Columbia and Creative BC are allocating $300,000 for a new innovation program, as part of the BC Music Fund.

Making sure young adults leaving government care have the tools to be successful is the focus of a series of innovative provincial partnerships with TELUS, IBM, the Adoptive Families Association of BC and the Public Guardian and Trustee.

The new $19.7-million Crosstown Elementary school officially opened today, creating more classroom space for the rapidly growing city centre and providing students with a unique urban learning environment.