Seventeen students and apprentices from throughout B.C. were honoured last night as B.C. gears up to host the 2013 Skills Canada National Competition.

Two tentative agreements have been reached under the Cooperative Gains Mandate between the University of Victoria and the Professional Employees Association (PEA), as well as between the University of British Columbia and CUPE Local 2950, Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology John Yap announced today.

Encouraging multiculturalism and challenging racism are the cornerstones of the Embracing Difference, Engaging Symposium taking place in Burnaby this week.

I am delighted to extend my best wishes to the people of Fijian descent as you celebrate the 42nd anniversary of your independence.

Minister John Yap conveyed on behalf of the Government of British Columbia to the government of Hong Kong SAR condolences on the tragic ferry accident off Lamma Island on Oct. 1, 2012.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the people of Ugandan descent as they celebrate the Golden Jubilee of their independence as a nation and country.

Students at Thompson Rivers University's law school will enjoy new, state-of-the-art lecture spaces and upgraded facilities through a provincial investment of up to $7.4 million.

Students at the University of Northern British Columbia will benefit from improved and upgraded campus facilities, thanks to over $582,000 in capital funding that is part of government's $44-million investment in B.C.'s post-secondary infrastructure this year.

The Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) Observatory, run by the University of Victoria, will receive $8.9 million from government to support ongoing research activities.