The world is changing and B.C. students need to be ready to adapt to the careers of tomorrow. Students in the Okanagan Similkameen School District will be prepared thanks to $22,500 in provincial funding awarded to the district, helping to connect kids with opportunities in skilled trades and tech training. 

Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson announced this today on behalf of Education Minister Mike Bernier. Students are receiving one-on-one supports from shoulder tappers―career co-ordinators and recruitment specialists―thanks to $17,500 from the Province’s Shoulder Tappers Program to the Okanagan Similkameen School District.

Shoulder tappers are encouraging students with positive input and advice, and connecting them with innovative workshops and on-the-job experience in the skilled-trades and technology fields, such as aircraft engineering and heavy-duty mechanics.

The school district is also receiving $5,000 from the Province’s Skills Training Access Grant, which is helping the district connect students with training in fields such as carpentry, coding, and culinary arts.

This grant program also supports student skills-training development right at home by bringing mobile training units to the Okanagan Similkameen School District. Also, throughout the district, schools are offering small skills-training classes to ensure students receive the attention and opportunities they need to succeed.

The Shoulder Tappers Program and the Skills Training Access Grant support B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, which is re-engineering the province’s education and apprenticeship system so training dollars and programs are targeted to in-demand jobs.

These programs also support the #BCTECH Strategy―a key component of the BC Jobs Plan to support the growth of B.C.’s vibrant technology sector and strengthen British Columbia’s diverse innovation economy.

Quote:

Linda Larson, MLA for Boundary-Similkameen –

“Thanks to these programs, students in the Okanagan-Similkameen region have a unique opportunity to receive mentorship and training right here at home that will help them take advantage of available jobs in our thriving economy.”

Learn More:

Explore B.C.’s new curriculum: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca

Read the #BCTECH Strategy: https://bctechstrategy.gov.bc.ca/

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

The B.C. government has launched a new parent-engagement process to better understand how parents want to be informed of their student’s success from kindergarten to Grade 9.  Participate in this process by visiting: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/yourkidsprogress

British Columbians can also join in an online discussion about rural education by visiting: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/ruraleducation