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Province stops museum plan, will consult public on museum’s future

June 22, 2022 12:45 PM
Royal BC Museum project is stopped
The Province is halting plans announced last month to rebuild the Royal British Columbia Museum.
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Vancouver named FIFA World Cup 2026 official host city

June 16, 2022 2:37 PM
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close menu Advanced Education and Skills Training

Expanded physical therapy program coming to Surrey

June 23, 2022 10:15 AM
Expanded physical therapy program coming to Surrey
More people in Surrey and the Fraser Valley will be able to pursue careers in physical therapy at a new training space coming to Surrey.
  Read More

Investing in biomedical engineering will bolster British Columbians’ health

June 13, 2022 11:15 AM
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close menu Agriculture and Food

B.C. ramps up support for agritech

June 24, 2022 8:30 AM
Two Vancouver-based agritech businesses are paving the way for stronger food security through B.C.’s Agritech Ramp-Up Pilot Program (Ramp-Up) with robotics and technology to support B.C.’s agriculture sector.
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Agriculture advisory group to help create more resilient food supply

June 14, 2022 8:30 AM
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close menu Attorney General

Anti-racism data legislation becomes law

June 3, 2022 8:00 AM
Anti-racism data legislation becomes law
Indigenous and Black people, and people of colour, are another step closer to having better access to government programs and services as the historic Anti-Racism Data Act is enshrined in B.C. law.
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Province seeks people to join anti-racism committee, help dismantle systemic racism

June 24, 2022 10:00 AM
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close menu Children and Family Development

Province seeks public input on supports for children, youth

April 20, 2022 11:15 AM
A survey about B.C’s new service approach for children and youth with support needs is now open to the public.
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Process begins to select family connections centres

May 10, 2022 4:08 PM
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More Cariboo communities connected to high-speed internet

June 23, 2022 9:00 AM
More than 1,200 households in 15 communities, including four First Nations communities, have access to high-speed internet services in the Cariboo, thanks to the installation of new fibre to the home.
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Province seeks people to join anti-racism committee, help dismantle systemic racism

June 24, 2022 10:00 AM
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close menu Education and Child Care

Expansion of $10 a day child care to benefit thousands more B.C. families

June 20, 2022 12:02 PM
Expansion of $10 a day child care to benefit thousands more B.C. families
Applications are being accepted from child care providers to join the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program this year, which will enable them to offer low-cost child care, making life more affordable for thousands more families in B.C.
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Nisga’a students will benefit from new gymnasium

June 20, 2022 2:30 PM
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close menu Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation

British Columbians can access more in EV charger rebates

May 18, 2022 10:05 AM
Better rebates for EV chargers
The Province and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) are making it more affordable for people to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in their homes, businesses and communities.
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B.C. supports EV adoption from purchase through repair

June 1, 2022 12:55 PM
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close menu Environment and Climate Change Strategy

B.C. strengthens actions to prepare for climate change with new strategy

June 20, 2022 1:15 PM
B.C. strengthens actions to prepare for climate change with new strategy
People in British Columbia will be better protected from the impacts of wildfires, flooding and extreme heat through the actions included in the new Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy.
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Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act

June 6, 2022 10:38 AM
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close menu Finance

Heat pump demand heats up in northern B.C.

June 20, 2022 11:52 AM
Heat pumps are more affordable than ever in B.C. with a provincial sales tax (PST) exemption and the launch of a new incentive to help people switch to the cleaner, energy-efficient technology that works in warm and cold climates.
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Rating agencies validate B.C.’s financial plan to support people, businesses

June 10, 2022 11:23 AM
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close menu Forests

Historic investments help B.C. prepare for wildfire season

June 3, 2022 9:15 AM
Historic investments help B.C. prepare for wildfire season
British Columbians can expect cooler and wetter conditions in June, which means the fire hazard is anticipated to remain low through the early summer, as shown in the BC Wildfire Service’s latest seasonal outlook.
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Province launches public engagement on strengthening Great Bear Rainforest

June 9, 2022 9:00 AM
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close menu Health

Construction begins on redeveloped Burnaby Hospital

May 30, 2022 11:10 AM
Construction begins on redeveloped Burnaby Hospital
People in one of the fastest-growing communities in B.C. are one step closer to expanded patient care as construction begins on the redevelopment of Burnaby Hospital.
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BC Cancer launches lung-screening program

May 25, 2022 11:15 AM
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close menu Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation

Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act

June 6, 2022 10:38 AM
Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act
Tahltan Central Government and the Province have entered into the first consent-based decision-making agreement under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act).
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B.C. invests in First Nations language, arts, culture and heritage revitalization

June 14, 2022 1:15 PM
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close menu Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat

Nominate an exceptional citizen for Province’s highest honour

January 20, 2022 8:00 AM
Nominate an exceptional citizen for Province’s highest honour
Nominations are being accepted for the Order of British Columbia, the Province’s highest honour.
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Outstanding people recognized for service during the pandemic

March 22, 2022 2:30 PM
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close menu Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation

Significant partnership with Japan to better support transportation infrastructure

June 16, 2022 1:30 PM
Significant partnership with Japan to better support transportation infrastructure
A new agreement signed between the Province of B.C. and the group Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development (JOIN) will help deliver innovative and clean solutions for future transportation projects and priorities.
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Tŝilhqot’in Nation will benefit from forest-to-frame project

June 22, 2022 10:46 AM
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close menu Labour

B.C. minimum wage increases June 1 for lowest paid workers

May 31, 2022 8:30 AM
B.C. minimum wage increases June 1 for lowest paid workers
As of June 1, 2022, B.C.’s lowest paid workers will get a pay boost as the minimum wage increases from $15.20 to $15.65 per hour, which is the highest of any province.
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B.C. expands cancer coverage for firefighters

April 22, 2022 12:30 PM
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close menu Land, Water and Resource Stewardship

Watershed restoration creates a healthier future for B.C.

April 21, 2022 11:15 AM
Watershed restoration creates a healthier future for B.C.
An ongoing effort to restore watersheds and wetlands in the province is creating a healthier future for British Columbians by mitigating the impacts of climate change on communities, strengthening ecosystems and securing quality drinking water.
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Minister’s and parliamentary secretary’s statement on federal decision about salmon farms

June 22, 2022 4:20 PM
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close menu Mental Health and Addictions

B.C. receives exemption to decriminalize possession of some illegal drugs for personal use

May 31, 2022 11:15 AM
A photo of a support group sitting in a circle
Text reads: Helping reduce drug stigma through decriminalization
British Columbia is taking a critical step toward reducing the shame and fear associated with substance use as the federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health announced the granting of a three-year exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) to remove criminal penalties for people who possess a small amount of certain illicit substances for personal use.
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New Foundry will provide services to youth in northeastern B.C.

June 14, 2022 12:30 PM
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close menu Municipal Affairs

Ukrainians fleeing violence get immediate MSP coverage

April 25, 2022 1:30 PM
Ukrainians fleeing violence get immediate MSP coverage
Displaced Ukrainians arriving in B.C. with visas issued under the federal Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) will now have access to date-of-arrival Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage.
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Pandemic relief funds help libraries adapt to changing needs

May 17, 2022 12:30 PM
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close menu Public Safety and Solicitor General

New funding helps prepare for Lytton rebuild

June 23, 2022 1:30 PM
The Province is committing $21 million to help re-establish essential infrastructure and services, and sustain ongoing municipal and community-led recovery efforts.
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Toxic drug supply continues to devastate communities throughout B.C.

June 9, 2022 10:00 AM
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close menu Social Development and Poverty Reduction

Funding helps immigrants fight food insecurity, get connected

June 8, 2022 1:15 PM
People facing food insecurity in B.C. will benefit from new government funding for community-based programs.
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Network helps people with disabilities focus on mental, physical wellness

June 3, 2022 8:30 AM
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close menu Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport

Vancouver named FIFA World Cup 2026 official host city

June 16, 2022 2:37 PM
Vancouver named FIFA World Cup 2026 official host city
FIFA has confirmed that Vancouver has been chosen as an official host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
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Grants help youth in and from government care get in the game

May 30, 2022 12:30 PM
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close menu Transportation and Infrastructure

Permanent repairs begin soon to Coquihalla and Highway 1

June 16, 2022 8:00 AM
Permanent repairs begin soon to Coquihalla and Highway 1
Permanent repairs to flood-damaged sections of the Coquihalla (Highway 5) and Highway 1 will soon be underway, protecting the safe movement of people and goods in British Columbia.
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Major progress on Kicking Horse Canyon Project in first year of construction

June 8, 2022 9:00 AM
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Advanced Education and Skills Training

Okanagan College opens lab with nursing class of 2015

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Honourable Anne Kang

Honourable Anne Kang

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Expanded physical therapy program coming to Surrey

June 23, 2022 10:15 AM
Expanded physical therapy program coming to Surrey
More people in Surrey and the Fraser Valley will be able to pursue careers in physical therapy at a new training space coming to Surrey.
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Investing in biomedical engineering will bolster British Columbians’ health

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British Columbia News

Okanagan College opens lab with nursing class of 2015

https://news.gov.bc.ca/00946

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News Release

Kelowna
Friday, October 7, 2011 11:15 AM

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News Release

Kelowna

Friday, October 7, 2011 11:15 AM

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The first cohort of nursing students at Okanagan College (OC) are on their way to completing the first half of the four-year bachelor of science in nursing program with the help of the college's new, state-of-the-art health simulation lab.

Steven Thomson, MLA for Kelowna-Mission, Norm Letnick, MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country and Ben Stewart, MLA for Westside-Kelowna will be joined by OC and UBCO executive, faculty, staff and students to officially open the new health simulation lab. The new lab will allow students to acquire nursing knowledge and gain practical experience, preparing them with the latest technology in their field.

Through a collaborative partnership between OC and the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus (UBCO), 26 nursing students enrolled in this new program will benefit from a learning environment that supports small class sizes, problem-based learning, and fosters collegial and inter-professional relationships.

Students who successfully complete all courses in years one and two at OC will be fully prepared to transfer to, and guaranteed admission, into the bachelor of science in nursing program at UBCO to complete the final two years of the program.

This partnership provides students with more choices for nursing education, including choice of where they can receive this education. It is also and investment into a priority health-education program that will benefit British Columbians now and in the future.

The Province provided the post-secondary institutions with a combined $2 million in startup funding to get the program up and running for September 2011. The Ministry of Advanced Education will also provide ongoing funding to support the additional student enrolment.

Quotes:

Ben Stewart, MLA for Westside-Kelowna -

"Partnerships like this one between the Okanagan College and UBCO exemplify the collaboration and innovation needed to ensure B.C. has the skilled workers we need in the future."

Jim Hamilton, Okanagan College president -

"Today we celebrate two important developments for Okanagan College and for the community."

"The investment from the Province in our new health lab and in the delivery of years one and two of the bachelor of science in nursing program have resulted in increased access for students seeking a career in health care. The return on that investment will greatly benefit our community and add to the growing number of health-care professionals being trained here at the college and at our partner institution, the University of British Columbia."

Doug Owram, UBC Okanagan deputy vice chancellor and principal -

"Connecting the nursing programs at Okanagan College and UBC expands capacity for nursing education in our region and for all of British Columbia."

"We are grateful to both Okanagan College and the Government of British Columbia for their strong commitment to this partnership and look forward to welcoming Okanagan College nursing students into the third and fourth years of our BSN degree two years from now, in 2013."

Quick Facts:

Since 2001...

  • The Province has invested more than $200 million through the BC Nursing Strategy to educate, recruit and retain nurses.
  • B.C. has more than doubled the number of nurse training spaces, adding more than 4,500 new spaces and producing a record number of graduates who have received more than 20,000 degrees, diplomas and certificates in B.C.
  • The number of practising nurses in B.C. has risen to nearly 44,000 - with nearly 13,000 more nurses practising in this province, an increase of nearly 22 per cent.
  • The Province has created 26 new nursing education programs at public post-secondary institutions in B.C. - including practical nurse, registered nurse, psychiatric nurse, nurse practitioner and other graduate nurse programs.
  • In 2010-11, the Province provided over $1.5 million in B.C. student loan forgiveness for nursing graduates who work in underserved B.C. communities for three years.
  • $2 million in provincial funds have been allocated for an Aboriginal Nursing Strategy to increase the number of nurses of Aboriginal ancestry working in B.C. and to increase the number of Aboriginal communities in B.C. with quality nursing care.
  • Recognizing the demand for nurses, the Province has established three new three-year accelerated nursing degree programs at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Vancouver Community College and the University of the Fraser Valley to graduate nurses sooner so they enter the workforce faster.

Learn More:

To learn more about Okanagan College, go to: http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/

To learn more about the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus, go to: http://www.ubc.ca/okanagan/welcome.html

Contact:

Joanne Whittier
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 952-6400


https://news.gov.bc.ca/00946

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