Chris Walkus wasn’t sure he could be successful in the North Island College’s Employment Transition and Construction Labourer program saying, “I had low self-esteem.”

Government announced approval for new trades training facilities at the Silver King Campus of Selkirk College that will support students pursuing in-demand careers in a range of sectors that support a strong, diverse and growing economy.

Post-secondary students and instructors can now access more than 120 textbooks online, including more than 50 new textbooks focussed on skills training and technical subjects, as part of a commitment to make education resources more affordable and accessible.

A survey of former British Columbia apprenticeship students shows that 86% of students who completed their training at public post-secondary institutions in the Interior and Kootenays were employed and earning a median hourly wage of $29.

A survey of more than 3,000 former apprenticeship students in British Columbia shows that a career in the trades can pay off, with 90% of employed respondents working in a field related to their training and earning a median wage of $28 an hour.

Eleven public post-secondary institutions in British Columbia expect to save up to $500,000 through three joint procurement agreements for welding and electrical equipment.