Provincial public-sector employers and employees continue to make progress with affordable collective agreements under the Economic Stability Mandate, as three new tentative agreements, including two in the post-secondary sector, have been reached and a further agreement ratified.

Domestic violence perpetrators, who previously only received intervention services following conviction, will soon have access to new, preventative community-based programs that can be attended before a crime is committed.

Speeches, singing and traditional drumming highlighted a new agreement signing to support aboriginal student success in the Okanagan Skaha school district (SD 67).

Future heavy industrial manufacturing workers will soon be hard at work in the classroom and on the jobsite, thanks to a new employment training program at Chilliwack`s Mussell Crane Manufacturing.

Vancouver Island University (VIU) and the British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union Vocational Local 702, have ratified their agreement reached under the Economic Stability Mandate.

With a lush green slope as the backdrop, families from Port Moody and Anmore gathered for the official opening of their new $28-million Eagle Mountain Middle school.

The Conseil scolaire francophone (School District 93) marked the signing of their second Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement with a banquet that celebrated the tastes of First Nations and French Canadian cuisines featuring wild B.C. salmon and a maple syrup dessert.

British Columbia residents attending a full-time arts degree or diploma program this fall are eligible to apply for up to $6,000 per person through the BC Arts Council's scholarship program. Professional half-day dance programs in conjunction with high school are also eligible.