Three public post-secondary institutions in the Lower Mainland will receive a total of $1,103,048 to buy new trades training equipment that supports students entering in-demand occupations critical to the economy.

British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) will receive $421,500 for new trades training equipment. Examples include a CNC lathe that will be used in the machinist and millwright programs, a motor grader that will be used in the heavy mechanic programs, welding equipment that will be used in the welding and pipefitting programs, and fall arrest lifelines for the carpentry programs.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University will receive $325,274 for trades training equipment to support pipe fitter, electrical, millwright and construction craft worker students and apprentices. Training equipment includes fire suppression training system simulators, high voltage and low voltage trainers, back-up energy and fire alarm control system simulators, and precision tooling for millwright and machinists programs.

Vancouver Community College will receive $356,274 for trades training equipment that includes scanners for heavy mechanical trades, and commercial cooking and baking equipment such as a full-sized blast freezer, proofer, range, ovens, meat slicers, mixers, and walk-in coolers.

Consultations with institutions, the Industry Training Authority, as well as the most-recent labour-market data, informed funding allocation decisions.

The $1,103,048 in 2014-15 for trades training equipment is part of B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint commitment of $185 million over three years for trades training infrastructure and equipment at public post-secondary institutions. Funding for equipment builds on the announcement in July 2014 of 404 additional critical trades training seats at the three institutions.

Quotes:

Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson -

“Learning a trade offers an exciting and rewarding career for students. Investing in new trades training equipment will allow students to keep up with the latest industry and curriculum requirements.”

Burnaby North MLA Richard T. Lee -

“B.C.’s post-secondary institutions are helping train the next generation of workers for in-demand industries, like LNG and shipbuilding. New trades equipment means that students will have the skills needed to continue driving our economy.”

Surrey-Panorama MLA Marvin Hunt -

“New trades training equipment and spaces at our post-secondary training institutions provide Lower Mainland students the opportunity to get the skills necessary to take advantage of job opportunities in regions across B.C.”

British Columbia Institute of Technology president Kathy Kinloch -

“New trades training equipment will help BCIT students get hands-on training for in-demand jobs in B.C. This is a prime example of how BCIT is turning the government’s Blueprint into action - to ensure our economy has the skilled labour, when and where it needs it.”

Kwantlen Polytechnic University president Dr. Alan Davis -

“As we revitalize our skills, trades and technology agenda to meet the needs of our region and our province, funds for new trades training equipment will help facilitate student success.”

Vancouver Community College president Dr. Peter Nunoda -

“New equipment will give our students hands-on opportunities on technologies meeting current industry standards which enhances their employability even further.”

Quick facts:

• B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint was launched in April 2014.
• The Blueprint outlines how the province is re-engineering the education system - from kindergarten through to post-secondary training and beyond - to align education and training with high-demand occupations.
• There are expected to be one million job openings in B.C. by 2022 - more than 78% of jobs will require some form of post-secondary education, and 44% of jobs will be in skilled trades and technical occupations.

Learn more:

B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: www.workbc.ca/skills

B.C.’s 2022 Labour Market Outlook: http://ow.ly/DOw6R

Critical Trades Training Seat Funding for BCIT, KPU and VCC: http://ow.ly/I2R7M

Media Contacts:

Richelle Funk
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 356-7876

Andrea Bellamy
BC Institute of Technology
604 456-1278

Tori Klassen
Vancouver Community College
604 871-7000, ext. 7531

Hayley Woodin
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
604 599-2883

BACKGROUNDER

Funding training equipment to support trades programs

The 18 eligible trades training programs, in the top 60 list of in-demand occupations, delivered by public post-secondary institutions in B.C. are:

• Carpenters
• Chefs/cooks/bakers
• Concrete finishers
• Construction craft workers
• Crane operators
• Electricians
• Gas fitters
• Heavy equipment operators 
• Heavy mechanical trades
• Insulators
• Iron workers
• Machinists
• Millwrights
• Plumbers
• Power engineers
• Sheet metal workers
• Steam/Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers
• Welders

Media Contacts:

Richelle Funk
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 356-7876

Andrea Bellamy
BC Institute of Technology
604 456-1278

Tori Klassen
Vancouver Community College
604 871-7000, ext. 7531

Hayley Woodin
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
604 599-2883