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.

Capital investments totalling $7.4 million at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) will create hundreds of additional specialty nursing spaces to improve care for patients throughout the province.

Students attending the Nechako Region campus of the College of New Caledonia (CNC) in Vanderhoof will have a new education and training facility following the purchase of several buildings that sit on 2.38 acres (0.96 hectares) of land.

British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) will be home to a new Health Sciences Centre for Advanced Simulation (HSCAS) that will educate and train future health care professionals to meet the growing demands of British Columbian families.

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) will be home to a new $30.6-million Nursing and Population Health Building that will help meet the need for nurses in the Thompson-Okanagan and throughout B.C.

Additional health-care seats are being offered through one-time funding of $111,000 to students in Prince George as they train to help meet an increased demand for health care in the region.

More health-care seats are being added at three public post-secondary institutions on Vancouver Island through one-time funding of $345,000 to ensure that health demands for patients are being met in local communities.          

Funding for additional health-care assistant seats at Selkirk College in Trail will address the demand for health-care professionals in the region.