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NEWS RELEASE |
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For Immediate Release |
Ministry of Advanced
Education and Labour Market Development
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WORK ON $1M TRADES EXPANSION AT OKANAGAN COLLEGE UNDERWAY
SALMON ARM – Colin Mayes, MP for Okanagan-Shuswap, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, and George Abbott, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and MLA for Shuswap joined Okanagan College representatives for the official groundbreaking of the $1-million expansion of the college’s trades training facility in Salmon Arm.
“The Knowledge Infrastructure Program provides an opportunity for effective partnerships between the provincial and the federal government,” said Mayes. “The solid co-operative efforts to deepen support for post-secondary education will bring lasting benefits for all Canadians.”
The expansion will accommodate 144 more students – 96 additional student spaces in carpentry and 48 additional student spaces in three entry-level trades programs. The gateway to the trades, the women in trades and the Aboriginal careers in trades programs will each be able to accept 16 more students once the expansion is complete.
“We are fortunate in the Shuswap to have access to the calibre of trades training and education that Okanagan College provides,” said Abbott. “It’s exciting to see that more students, including women and Aboriginal students, will have an opportunity to learn the skills required to pursue a rewarding career in the skilled trades, right in their own backyard.”
The project will expand the existing trades building by 262 square metres (2,819 square feet) and add a 525-square metre (5,617-square-foot) covered work area. The project also includes the renovation of the existing 38-square metre (409 square feet) shop space.
“This investment with our federal and college partners ensures that students in all regions in British Columbia continue to be well prepared to take advantage of future opportunities,” said Moira Stilwell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. “British Columbia’s prosperity depends on having a skilled work force, and that’s why our government continues to invest in post-secondary education throughout the province.”
Funding for the expansion is being provided by the provincial and federal governments with a contribution from Okanagan College. Construction of the expansion is expected to be complete by August 2010, while renovations of the existing space will continue through December 2010.
“The federal and provincial government’s knowledge infrastructure investment in Okanagan College will help meet the growing demand for trades training in Salmon Arm,” said Okanagan College president Jim Hamilton. “Once complete, this project will allow more students to access the programs they will need in order to respond to the growth of this region. The development of human capital is the best kind of investment we can make for the short- and long-term success of the region.”
This is one of 40 projects at post-secondary institutions across the province funded through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, a joint federal-provincial investment of $497 million. The total investment in these projects is $519 million, including contributions from institutions.
This project is also part of an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan sets out to stimulate the Canadian economy over the next two years and to improve our long-term competitiveness through $12 billion in new infrastructure investment, which includes the $2-billion Knowledge Infrastructure Program.
For more information on the provincial government’s three-year job creation plan, visit www.gov.bc.ca/infrastructure.
For more information about the federal Knowledge Infrastructure Program, visit www.ic.gc.ca/knowledge-infrastructure.
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Media Contact: |
Lisa Tees Communications Manager Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development 250 952-6400 250 888-3466 (cell) |
Lynn Meahan Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Tony Clement Minister of Industry 613 995-9001 |
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.
