Canadians will be better equipped for the well-paying middle-class jobs of today and tomorrow as a result of a $22-million investment in renovations to the Spruce Building at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) in Surrey.

Ground was officially broken to mark the start of construction for the new $30-million Industrial Training and Technology Centre at Thompson Rivers University (TRU).

The Ministry of Advanced Education is funding partnerships that connect Aboriginal students with education and training programs in their communities. These programs provide Aboriginal learners with work-ready skills such as basic computer literacy, as well as skills needed for jobs in sectors such as construction, tourism and education.

More than 180 Aboriginal learners in the Vancouver Island – B.C. Coast Region are receiving training in their communities through programs that will prepare them for jobs in sectors such as construction, forestry and eco-tourism.

More than 250 Aboriginal learners in the Vancouver- Coast Mountain Region are receiving training in their communities through programs that will prepare them for jobs such as early childhood educators and trades such as welders and cooks.

More than 90 Aboriginal learners in Northern B.C. are receiving training in their communities through five programs that will help them prepare for jobs such as health care assistants, skilled trades people and residential building maintenance assistants.

More than 200 Aboriginal learners in the Thompson-Okanagan region are receiving training in their communities through programs that provide students with employment readiness, heavy equipment operator and small business development skills.

More than 62 Aboriginal learners in the Cariboo Region are receiving training in their communities through four programs that will help them upgrade skills for a variety of occupations and prepare for jobs such as language support workers and translators.

Premier Christy Clark announced a $4.5-million joint federal-provincial investment that will accelerate innovation in timber engineering and development of wood products at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC).

Thousands of student spaces have been newly targeted over the last three years as operating grants for public post-secondary institutions are aligned with education and training for a variety of in-demand occupations.