Education Minister George Abbott joined students at Victoria High school to officially open the new Fairey Technical Building.

This new tech wing gives more than 350 students the opportunity to take courses like wood and metal work, auto mechanics, auto body, carpentry joinery, electronics, jewellery-making and industrial design. These programs help to prepare students for careers in trades and industry while still in high school.

These trades-related courses also support the goals outlined in BC's Education Plan, which focuses on acknowledging the unique learning styles of every B.C. student. The plan focuses on letting students pursue their individual interests and passions so that our young people will be able to achieve and thrive in a dynamic, rapidly evolving world.

Abbott also visited Central Middle school, where he met with staff and students and took a tour of the recently completed $14.1-million seismic renovation. These upgrades included retro-fitting the entire interior of the school while maintaining the historical integrity of the exterior. Students celebrated their return to their newly renovated school in September with the Songhees First Nation through song, dance and a scavenger hunt.

The Fairey Technical Building and Central Middle school renovations created an estimated 150 jobs for the Greater Victoria community.

Since 2001, 21 capital and seismic projects worth $95.3 million have been completed in the Greater Victoria school district, including a conversion and seismic upgrade to Monterey Middle school and the replacement of Colquitz Middle school. In addition, the Province is investing $540,000 for additional space for full-day kindergarten.

Quotes:

Greater Victoria board of education chair Tom Ferris -

"The construction of the original Fairey technical facility in the 1940s was supported by the Ministry of Education at the time as they recognized the need for skilled workers following the Second World War. This new, state of the art Fairey tech building, with updated equipment and the skilled instructors within, will help prepare new generations of young people for careers in the trades, thereby allowing our students an opportunity to contribute to B.C.'s skilled workforce."

Quick Facts:

• Victoria High school is the oldest public high school west of Winnipeg and north of San Francisco.
• The first Fairey Technical-Vocational unit was opened in 1949.
• This 1,470 square-metre building houses over 350 students.

Learn More:

To learn about BC's Education Plan, visit: www.bcedplan.ca

For information about Victoria High School, visit: http://vichigh.sd61.bc.ca/

For information about Central Middle School, visit http://www.central.sd61.bc.ca/

Media Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963