New technology and trades equipment will help set up students in the Okanagan with the skills they need for rewarding careers.

Students at Okanagan College are benefiting from modern equipment. The schools are among 19 throughout B.C. that each received $160,000 to buy up-to-date equipment for trades and technology programs. Government funding for this year totalled $3 million.

“Student success is the key ingredient to creating, building and maintaining the best B.C.,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “Our strong economy and the technology driving it are rapidly evolving. Investing in students, skills and state-of-the-art training equipment at our province’s post-secondary institutions is a win-win.”

Trades and technology workers are in high demand. The 2018 B.C. Labour Market Outlook projects about 82,300 tech-related job openings and about 71,000 trades openings in the province in the next decade.

“Employment opportunities in the trades and technology sectors are increasing in every region of the province, helping to further B.C.’s economic prosperity,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology. “Training with the latest tools and equipment allows students to gain real-world skills that translate to the jobs of tomorrow.”

Quotes:

Jim Hamilton, president, Okanagan College –

“A world-class learning environment at Okanagan College is helping build the skills of our students, and this new equipment is one way we’ll be able to continue to provide that excellence in education. Our students will go on to work in trades from culinary arts to electrical and help build and manage the region’s technological infrastructure with the most up-to-date skills.

Shelley Gray, CEO, Industry Training Authority –

“The experience trades students get in their classrooms, labs and kitchens is so important to set them up for successful careers. When students have access to the most-up-to-date equipment, it’s really building skills that employers need, and that will allow them to excel in their future careers.”

Quick Facts:

• Nineteen public post-secondary institutions throughout B.C. were awarded $160,000 in fall 2018, for a total of $3 million to buy trades and technology equipment.
• Equipment is now in place, benefiting students training for careers in the skilled trades and technology.
• New equipment includes hardware and class sets for the network and telecommunications engineering technologies program and a blast chiller for the culinary and pastry arts program.
• High-demand occupations in B.C. include millwrights, heavy duty mechanics and carpenters.
• High-demand occupations in the tech industry include civil engineering, computer and software engineering, programming, web development and technicians.
• The $3 million in equipment builds on the $5.4 million that was provided to 15 post-secondary institutions for trades and technology equipment in 2017.