The second annual #BCTECH Summit on March 14-15, has sold out, with more than 5,000 participants expected over the two-day showcase of made-in-British Columbia technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Following on the success of the We for She conference in Vancouver last year, Premier Christy Clark announced, on International Women’s Day, that the We for She conference will bring business leaders and young women from all across B.C. together again for an event in the fall of 2017.

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour was joined by Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Peter Fassbender, Her Honour Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon, Speaker of the House Linda Reid, and representatives from the Association of Book Publishers of BC, to officially proclaim March 8 Book Day in the province.

Students at the University of Victoria (UVic) have saved more than $51,000 through the Open Textbook Project. These educational resources are easily accessed and shared online among students and faculty, and are available in a number of programs including earth and ocean sciences, economics and technology and society.

The B.C. government has approved a $35,000 Restructure Planning Grant to the Village of Valemount to study the impact of a municipal boundary extension that would include a proposed destination resort.

British Columbia plans to introduce a series of improvements to help the taxi industry modernize and remain competitive in anticipation of ride-sharing services coming to British Columbia by the holiday season at the end of 2017.

Deputy Premier and Minister Responsible for Housing Rich Coleman has presented the Honour House Society with a $4,330,000 cheque on behalf of the Province to pay off its remaining mortgage.

Government introduced a new Discriminatory Provisions (Historical Wrongs) Repeal Act to permanently remove discriminatory provisions in historical private legislation.

Construction of new passing lanes along Highway 5 between Barriere and Little Fort, near Darfield, is anticipated to begin this spring.

The Province has proclaimed March 7 as BC Colleges Day. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the critical role colleges in British Columbia play in connecting students of all ages to the education and training they need to secure a prosperous future.