Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson officially opened the 7,432-square-metre trades education facility at Camosun College that will provide students on Vancouver Island with more opportunities to train for in-demand careers.

Ever wonder what former post-secondary students are doing a couple of years after graduating?

The Government of British Columbia is investing $6 million for the next generation of talent in tech research and business to support the recently announced #BCTECH strategy.

Operating grants to public post-secondary education institutions continue to be aligned with education and training for in-demand occupations, with an additional $90 million targeted in 2015-16.

Four public post-secondary institutions are partnering with seven Aboriginal communities in the Vancouver Island – B.C. Coast region to deliver programs that will help prepare 124 Aboriginal learners for jobs in the skilled trades and forestry.

Capilano University is partnering with the Lil’Wat Nation to deliver the Mt. Currie Aboriginal Sustainable Employment program that will help learners obtain industry certificates such as Occupational First Aid, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) and Foodsafe.

The Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT), Okanagan College and the University of Victoria (UVic) and eleven Aboriginal communities in the region are creating six program partnerships that will help prepare 141 Aboriginal learners for a career in the skilled trades.

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and the University of Northern B.C. are working in partnership with four Aboriginal communities to deliver four education and skills training programs to 67 Aboriginal learners.

The College of New Caledonia is partnering with six Aboriginal communities to deliver five education and skills training programs to help 79 Aboriginal learners in the North find and maintain employment in sectors facing skill shortages such as health care and skilled trades.