Okanagan College and the Province of British Columbia are strengthening their commitment to trades training in the Shuswap.

On Friday, the Hon. George Abbott, Minister of Health and MLA for Shuswap, announced $684,712 funding for purchase of the trades training facility that Okanagan College has been leasing in Salmon Arm’s industrial park. Abbott made the announcement on behalf of his Cabinet colleague, the Hon. Murray Coell, Minister of Advanced Education.

"Student and employer demand and support for trades training in this region has been phenomenal," Abbott noted. "Okanagan College should be applauded for its hard work and the tremendous job the college has done around creating access to programs such as welding, carpentry, plumbing and electrical."

"The Ministry of Advanced Education and the Province recognize that trades training is crucial to the provincial economy. The purchase of this building will allow the college to provide excellent trades training and help meet employer and industry demand for skilled labour."

The facility is 659 square meters and houses two classrooms and three shops.

"We’re grateful to the government for the support and funding," said Janet Shaw, Chair of Okanagan College’s Board of Governors. "We made a decision three years ago to distribute trades training opportunities throughout the College region and the response has been heartening. In the last year we trained more than 2,700 apprentices at Okanagan College in a variety of trades. That is almost triple what it was three years ago and we will it see it increase further in the years ahead."

The provincial funding announcement was accompanied by news that Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union will be contributing $50,000 to a capital fund-raising campaign being organized by the Okanagan College Foundation that will further support trades training in Salmon Arm.

"Education and training are among the best investments we can make in our community on behalf of our 21,000 members," noted Michael Wagner, the CEO of Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union. "We’re pleased to be able to provide this support to the Okanagan College Foundation for trades training in Salmon Arm. We know that the community and industry support what the College and the Foundation are doing and we want government, students and employers to realize what a partnership this enterprise is."

"With these encouraging announcements today, we are hoping it will prompt others in this region to demonstrate their support," explained Steve Tuck, President of the Okanagan College Foundation. "This really signals the public launch of a $600,000 fundraising campaign that will support further development of trades training here in the Shuswap."

For more information, contact:

Lynda Wilson (250) 832-2126, ext 8239

Kathy Butler (250) 762-5445, ext. 4775

Louise Delaney, SASCU, Manager, Marketing (250) 833-1343