Students in northwest British Columbia will be better equipped for the well-paying, jobs of today and tomorrow as a result of an $18.4-million investment to renew trades training facilities at Northwest Community College.

The joint federal-provincial investment was announced today by the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and MLA for Nechako Lakes, on behalf of Andrew Wilkinson, Minister of Advanced Education for the Province of British Columbia.

The funding will support the renewal and refurbishment of trades training facilities at the Terrace campus of Northwest Community College. The new facilities will provide modern, up-to-date facilities for students to develop their skills and prepare for in-demand careers in the trades.

The Government of Canada is contributing $6.31 million and the Province of British Columbia is providing $11.87 million toward the $18.4 million cost of this project. Northwest Community College and private donors will contribute the balance of the project cost.

The funding from the Government of Canada will be allocated through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, which will enhance and modernize learning and research facilities on Canadian campuses and improve the environmental sustainability of these facilities.

As a result of these investments, students, staff and faculty will work in state-of-the-art facilities.

The Terrace campus of Northwest Community College was established in 1975 and serves an area with a combined population of approximately 20,000. A variety of trades programs are offered at the Terrace campus, including carpentry, welding, automotive service, electrical and heavy mechanical trades. The college serves approximately 5,100 students annually with about 300 trades seats at the Terrace campus.

Renewal and renovation is underway and projected for completion in August 2018. An estimated 78 direct and 61 indirect jobs are expected to be created.

Since the first campus was established in Terrace, Northwest College has expanded to nine regional campuses that serve 34 communities. The college provides its students with innovative programs that lead to sustainable careers for people in northern B.C.

Nearly one million job openings are expected in B.C. over the next decade, and eight out of 10 of these openings will require post-secondary education. In-demand occupations requiring post-secondary education or training range from professional to management to trades.

Quotes:

The Hon. Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development –

“This once-in-a-generation investment by the Government of Canada is a historic down payment on the government’s vision to position Canada as a global centre for innovation. That means making Canada a world leader in turning ideas into solutions, science into technologies, skills into jobs and start-up companies into global successes. This investment will create conditions that are conducive to innovation and long-term growth, which will, in turn, keep the Canadian economy globally competitive.”

Andrew Wilkinson, Minister of Advanced Education –

“Our investments in new and improved infrastructure at public post-secondary institutions are helping to build a highly-skilled trades workforce for B.C. A renewed trades training facility at Northwest Community College will give students the skills and experience that they need to take advantage of careers in a range of sectors that support the prosperity of our province.”

John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and MLA for Nechako Lakes –

“A career in the trades opens the doors of opportunity in a range of sectors that support our diverse, strong and growing economy. Our government’s investment in post-secondary education at Northwest Community College will benefit students and faculty with a modern learning environment.”

Ken Burt, president, Northwest Community College –

“This announcement is so exciting for NWCC. The investment in our institution will allow us to offer more robust, state-of-the-art programming, benefiting students from across Northern B.C., and building economic resilience for our communities.”

Gary Herman, CEO, Industry Training Authority of B.C. –

“The Industry Training Authority supports innovation in trades training and this new facility will foster innovative thinking and enable students to gain the necessary training to respond to the demand for skilled tradespeople in B.C. The investment announced today will not only benefit the students but their families and the whole community.”

Josh Hahn, welding student, Northwest Community College –

“Through this generous investment the governments of B.C. and Canada are not only creating easily accessible trades training but paving the way for a safe and efficient future in industry.”

Quick Facts:

• The Government of Canada is contributing $6.31 million and the Province of British Columbia is providing $11.87 million toward the $18.4 million cost of this project. Northwest Community College and private donors will contribute the balance of the project cost.
• The Government of Canada’s recently-launched Innovation Agenda is designed to ensure Canada is globally competitive in promoting research, translating ideas into new products and services, accelerating business growth and propelling entrepreneurs from the start-up phase to international success.
• The targeted, short-term investments under the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund will promote economic activity across Canada and help Canada’s universities and colleges develop highly skilled workers, act as engines of discovery, and collaborate on innovations that help Canadian companies compete and grow internationally.
• The Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund supports the Government of Canada’s climate change objectives by encouraging sustainable and green infrastructure projects.
• The renewed trades facilities at Northwest Community College are part of B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint to re-engineer education and training programs using a data-driven system that focuses investments on training for in-demand jobs.
• Since the Blueprint was launched, government has invested $1.26 million for 298 critical trades seats, along with almost $1.5 million for new industry-standard training equipment at Northwest Community College.
• The renewed trades training facilities are part of the commitment by the provincial government to invest $185 million in trades training facilities and equipment throughout the province as outlined in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint.

Learn More:

Canada’s Innovation Agenda: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/062.nsf/eng/home

Innovation Agenda backgrounder: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1084739

Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/051.nsf/eng/home

Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund backgrounder: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1105379 

B.C. Skills for Jobs Blueprint: https://www.workbc.ca/training-education/b-c-s-skills-for-jobs-blueprint.aspx 

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