Okanagan College Media Release - May 7, 2008

For the first time in it’s more than 40-year history, trades students at Okanagan College will play a prominent role in shaping the Kelowna campus as it grows to reflect the changing needs of students.

The College is currently accepting applications to fill 16 spaces in the Residential Construction program, which will see students gain practical experience as they build the new 3,000 square-foot child care centre, recently announced by the Honourable Minister of State for Child Care, Linda Reid.

The program will begin during the first week of September and will start off with classroom training for students, who are not required to have any experience in the construction trades. After learning everything they need to know about job site safety, tool usage and building techniques, the class of pre-apprentices will step outside the doors of the campus shop and onto their job site.

“This is really an incredible opportunity for our own students to get involved with a project that will be a landmark on our campus,” said Nancy Ankerstein, program administrator for Residential Construction. “In past programs we have achieved great success having our students welcomed into the Village of Kettle Valley where they contributed to the development of that neighbourhood. However, having our students do their learning and develop their craft on our campus is really a unique opportunity and an ideal situation for students and the College.”

The Residential Construction program, often referred to as the Home for Learning, goes well beyond training students. Through the sale of the homes built by the students, and due to an incredible amount of community support through donations, the Okanagan College Foundation has received more than $300,000 to be distributed by way of bursaries to students who successfully complete the program.

Though the construction of the child care facility will not turn a profit for the College, students who take part in the program will still receive financial support as they complete the levels of their journeyperson apprentice training. Students who complete the Residential Construction program will also receive credit for level one of their carpentry pre-apprenticeship.

To find out more about the Residential Construction program, contact Nancy Ankerstein at 762-5445 ext. 4424 or nankerstein@okanagan.bc.ca.