Students from Osoyoos and the entire South Okanagan who are considering pursuing post-seconary studies in the trades and want to stay close to home received some very good news last week.

The British Columbia government announced last week a $7.44-million investment in Okanagan College for skills training in high- priority trades seats at the college’s newly renovated, $35-million  trades training complex in Kelowna.

The investment, through the Industry Training Authority (ITA), will fund 2,667 seats through to March 31, 2017 in various trades, including:

  • Electrician
  • Welder
  • Cook
  • Heavy mechanical group trades
  • Carpenter

The funding is part of the ITA’s annual allocation to B.C. post- secondary institutions and training providers to run various training  programs throughout the province.

In response to the objectives outlined in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and the McDonald Report, the B.C. government has worked in partnership with the ITA to begin building a demand-driven trades training system with funding aligned to specific in-demand trades.

The provincial government invests more than $94 million annually in industry training through the ITA. The ITA leads and co-ordinates British Columbia’s skilled trades system by working with employers, employees, industry, labour, training providers and government to issue credentials, manage apprenticeships, set program standards and increase opportunities in the trades.

Premier Christy Clark, MLA for Westside-Kelowna, said the funding announcement confirms her government’s commitment to promoting skills development in the trades across the South Okanagan.

“By working with Okanagan College and all of our training providers throughout the province, we are making it possible for young British Columbians to get the skills they need for the jobs they want,” said Clark. “The goal of B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint is simple: We want local women and men to be first in line for jobs in our strong and diverse economy.”

Steve Thomson, MLA for Kelowna-Mission, echoed the same thoughts.

“The future is bright in the Okanagan and across B.C., so it’s important that we prepare now for the job opportunities to come,” he said. “This annual investment by our government and the ITA shows our continuing confidence in Okanagan College to deliver top-notch training in the skilled trades for the region’s young people and businesses.”

Norm Letnick, MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country, said this funding will allow hundreds of young students from across this region to be able to pursue post-secondary training in a quality trades program that is close to home.

“Students have attended Okanagan College for trades and apprenticeship training for more than 50 years, and with the opening of the new trades complex, it is poised to deliver training for the next 50 and beyond,” said Letnick. “This $7.1-million investment in trades seats will create more opportunities for men and women throughout the Okanagan.”

Gary Herman, CEO, Industry Training Authority, said obtaining a diploma in the trades in today’s economy can almost guarantee a good job at a good wage.

“There is growing interest in trade careers across the province and the investment announced today will ensure British Columbians have the opportunity to access training in high-priority trades so that they are equipped with the right skills to respond to the job opportunities to come,” he said.

Jim Hamilton, president, Okanagan College, said he’s very thankful to the provincial government for investing significant dollars into the college and its growing trades programs.

“The annual investment in our trades programming by the Province is critical to providing students – and the communities we serve – with the education that will help drive our region’s economic vitality,” he said. “Coupled with community and employer support, this investment allows us to offer the programs that will give students the skills they need and that industry is looking for.”

ITA provides more than 100 apprenticeship training programs in B.C., including 50 Red Seal trades.

There are currently more than 39,000 registered apprentices in the industry training system (including youth) – more than double the  14,676 apprentices registered when ITA was created in 2004.

B.C. is expecting up to one million job openings by 2025 due to retirements and economic growth.

Eight of every 10 of these job openings will require post-secondary education or trades training.

You can learn more about the Industry Training Authority by going online and visiting www.itabc.ca.

You can also learn about the B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprintat www.workbc.ca/Training-Education.

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