The Government of British Columbia is providing more than $4 million for 12 new mass-timber demonstration and research projects, which builds on B.C.’s global leadership in this area.

More than 7,000 British Columbians will be trained by this fall through a wide range of skilled-trades and employment training projects throughout the province, thanks to $45.4 million from the provincial and federal governments in 2016/17.

Skilled trades students in B.C.’s rural regions will benefit from the majority of funding from a three-year, $15-million investment by the provincial government with the purchase of new trades training equipment to support youth trades programs.

Forty-five school districts throughout British Columbia will each receive funding of between $20,000 and $40,000 for the Youth Work in Trades program to boost trades training for young people in the province.

More than 5,500 British Columbians across the province are receiving training for jobs in their communities, thanks to an investment of almost $36 million from the provincial and federal governments under the Canada-British Columbia Job Fund.

British Columbians are invited to celebrate authors, publishers and the written word on BC Book Day.

More than 100 communities throughout British Columbia can do more to support and promote local tourism initiatives as a result of provincial funding.

More than 180 communities across the province can do more to support and promote tourism as a result of provincial funding.