The B.C. government has followed through on its commitment to ban mandatory high heels in the workplace.

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.

The Province is providing $480,600 as part of a Sector Labour Market Partnership project with the Association of BC Marine Industries (ABCMI) to conduct an assessment of the labour force in B.C.’s industrial marine sector.

The Province is providing $253,500 as part of a Sector Labour Market Partnership project with the Quadrant Marine Institute aimed at identifying and assessing the obstacles associated with apprenticeship training in B.C.’s recreational-marine industry.

Up to 202 Vancouver residents are currently receiving the training they need for jobs in their communities, thanks to support from the federal and provincial governments.

Improving trades training outcomes and employability for trades students and apprentices is the goal of an innovative program developed by Camosun College for delivery at Riverside College, thanks to $49,980 in funding from the Province of British Columbia and the Industry Training Authority (ITA).

The Government of British Columbia is investing $250,000 in the 2017 Honda Celebration of Light, Vancouver’s international musical fireworks competition.

B.C.’s top trades and technology students put their skills on display Wednesday, April 5, in a series of Olympic-style competitions to determine who will make up Team BC at the national finals later this spring.

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.