Residents in three Lower Mainland communities will have a chance to see some rare new attractions in local waters soon, thanks to a partnership with the British Columbia government and the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society.

A $500,000 investment will establish scholarships at public post-secondary institutions that encourage women to pursue education that aligns with the needs of the growing tech sector in British Columbia.

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.

Under the BC Rural Dividend, the provincial government is providing $100,000 to the Fort Nelson region.

Following public consultation on draft regulations, a new college of diagnostic and therapeutic health professions is established and will become fully functional in the next 12-18 months.

Twenty-one local governments throughout the province will share over $200,000 in B.C. government planning grants to help develop plans for local infrastructure investments. This is the second phase of funding following almost $300,000 in infrastructure planning grants awarded to 31 local governments last fall.  

Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett proclaimed April 2017 as “Safe Digging Month” to create awareness of smart and safe digging practices.

Skilled-trades students in the Coquitlam School District will benefit from a three-year, $15-million investment by the B.C. government to support youth trades programs with the purchase of new trades-training equipment.

The Province is providing over $628,000 to support a two-year pilot project for the viticulture technician diploma program at Okanagan College, developed in partnership with the BC Wine Grape Council.