More students will be offered the chance to pursue a career in health care thanks to one-time targeted funding for the introduction to health practices program at Northwest Community College.

MLA for Kelowna-Mission Steve Thomson, on behalf of the Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson, has announced $18.9 million for the construction of a new Health Sciences Centre at Okanagan College in Kelowna.

The Northwest Aboriginal Canadian Entrepreneurs (NW-ACE) program provides business skill training in northern B.C. Indigenous communities. It took home the top prize at the Gold Global Best Awards ceremony in Oslo, Norway in September 2016 in recognition of the significant impact NW-ACE is having on the communities in which they operate.

Malcolm Stewart is completing the Justice and Public Safety Certificate program provided by the Justice Institute of British Columbia and the Native Education College.  Malcolm’s experience has opened his eyes to new potential career opportunities and encouraged him to continue his studies in law enforcement.

Funding for an additional 16 full-time equivalent seats at the College of New Caledonia (CNC) in Vanderhoof will benefit British Columbians training to support the health-care needs of their communities.

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 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.

Canadians will be better equipped for the well-paying middle-class jobs of today and tomorrow as a result of a $46.9 million investment.