OCNews

Articles tagged "Trades"

Gixtaala Nation carpentry grad
OC supports Gitxaala Nation with vital trades training for economic and cultural growth

January 24, 2022

In one northern village, Indigenous cultural needs and massive construction projects combined to create demand for specialized Okanagan College Trades training to support community members. Located on the north coast of British Columbia, the Gitxaala Nation’s main community is in Kitkatla. It identified the need for skilled trades people several years ago, as projects such as the LNG Canada in Kitimat and port expansion in Prince Rupert were announced. But it was a smaller project closer to home that inspired Gitxaala Nation to empower its ...

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Logos of SAIT, Kanaka Bar Indian Band and Okanagan College
Partners launch resilient housing solutions project at Kanaka Bar to assist with rebuild of fire-ravaged Lytton, B.C., region

January 13, 2022

Kanaka Bar Indian Band, SAIT, Okanagan College, Foresight Canada and Seko Construction partner to harness innovation to provide options for the rebuild of the region Kanaka Bar, B.C. (Jan. 13, 2022) — Patrick Michell, Chief of the Kanaka Bar Indian Band, announced today they have entered into an agreement with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) on a pilot project focused on climate-resilient housing options for evacuees who lost their homes in the June 30, 2021 Lytton, B.C., wildfire. The project is expected to reveal susta...

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A female trades student with medium length blonde hair looks off to the side.
OC graduate soars toward gold in Aero Skills tournament

November 30, 2021

An Okanagan College graduate is flying high after winning gold at the 2021 Aero Skills Tournament in Kelowna. Desarae Craig currently works at KF Aerospace as a structures technician, but before she got there, she was an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer – Structures (AME-S) student at Okanagan College. Since graduating in October 2020, her work at KF has included converting old passenger planes into cargo planes, using everything that was taught during her program.  “All the skills I learned have helped me so far,” Craig says. “Everything we ...

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Joey Bruno
Meet Joey Bruno, Automotive Collision and Refinishing student

November 1, 2021

Q: Why did you choose a career in Collision Repair? A: I’ve grown up around the industry, my father’s been a technician for 30 years but has worked for Craftsman for over 20 years. My uncle also has 20+ years experience as an automotive painter and now works as a Red Seal Automotive Collision Technician for Craftsman as well. Q: How did your training with OC help prepare you for your current role? What is your current position? A: Currently, I am working as a Level 2 Collision Repa...

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Alanah Coss FortisBC Award Recipient
FortisBC powers up support for women and Indigenous students

September 24, 2021

New awards and opportunities for mentorship with FortisBC are making it easier for female and female Indigenous students to be successful with their trades education. FortisBC recently set up three scholarships for women in trades with a focus on supporting female students who are at the mid-point in their education. The scholarship comes with the potential for the student to meet with FortisBC representatives and connect with someone working in a role they may be interested in pursuing in the future. "We wanted to support students in payin...

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Lawren Richards story
Lawren Richards

September 3, 2021

“I am a single mom to 17-year-old twins. We had been living in a 400-square-foot cabin about an hour from town when an opportunity came up that would allow me to purchase some land and build my own home closer to town and my kids’ school. I have always been interested in natural building but I don’t have a carpentry background so I enrolled in the Carpenter Foundation program in Salmon Arm. I was the only woman in the class and much older than my classmates, so I was a bit nervou...

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Culinary Arts
A perfect pairing: Sandhill invites OC Culinary Arts students into the kitchen

August 6, 2021

As a student, you never know when opportunities will pop up – and Okanagan College Culinary Arts students are bubbling over with new experiences thanks to Sandhill Wines. As a result of a unique collaboration with the Kelowna-based winery, Culinary Arts students will cook a three-course plated dinner as part of a pop-up dinner series Aug. 10 to 13. “We are thrilled to welcome the students of Okanagan College into our kitchen. They have concepted a mouth-watering menu which truly represents their creativity and skill. We are very excited for...

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Louise Trenholm
Meet Louise Trenholm, Automotive Collision and Refinishing student

August 5, 2021

Q: Why did you choose a career in Collision Repair? A: I’ve always had an interest in vehicles ever since I was a child. In high school, I hung out at the local Speedway in Penticton, making my love for vehicles grow even more. I wanted a career that worked on vehicles, so I decided to choose the Entry-Level Automotive Collision Repair Foundation program to help start my career as an Automotive Refinisher.  Q: How did your training with OC help prepare you for your current role? Wh...

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Skoglund Family
Skogie’s 50th anniversary adds shine to student experience

July 28, 2021

Skogie’s car washes are celebrating 50 years of business by making the ride for Okanagan College students a little easier. For every year the family-run business has been in operation, Skogie’s is donating $1,000 to Okanagan College — for a total of $50,000 in honour of their half-century anniversary. “We've hired a lot of Okanagan College students over the years,” says David Skoglund, who founded the company in 1971. “We want to support young people and help them get ahead and we also wanted to give back to our community.” The gift will su...

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OC Culinary Arts students and the OC Inspiration Box
Partnership dishes up meal ideas by OC Culinary Students and local food products

June 24, 2021

A new partnership between Okanagan College and produce supplier company Farm Bound is bringing locally sourced organic foods to your doorstep with delicious summer-ready recipes crafted by OC Culinary Arts students. Food-lovers can now order the OC Inspiration Box from the Farm Bound website. The box has fully portioned ingredients for recipes to make Middle Eastern Chicken Za’atar, Carrot and Radish Salad, Pea Risotto with Asparagus and a spice blend to make your own Za’atar Spice Mix. Not only will you learn new recipes but also a few cul...

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Victor Flint and Sharla Flint
OC student follows in her father’s footsteps as RV Service Technician

June 17, 2021

As an RV Service Technician instructor at Okanagan College, Victor Flint welcomes hundreds of new faces to the classroom each year, but none so familiar as his own daughter, Sharla, who is proudly following in his footsteps. Sharla will join nearly 300 students from various Okanagan College Trades and Apprenticeship programs who will take an important step towards their career path at the virtual Commencement ceremony tonight (Thursday, June 17). Sharla recently completed the Recreation Vehicle Service Technician Foundation program at the C...

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OC alumna Cassidy McEown
OC alumna masters her trade on TV; panelist in upcoming webinar

June 9, 2021

While most college graduates can relate to the at times hectic challenge of balancing life, school and work during their student days, few know what it feels like to meet that challenge while followed around by a camera crew. OC alumna Cassidy McEown is one who does. She has been learning her trade, Collision Repair and Refinishing, while on HISTORY’s Rust Valley Restorers (RVR) for the last three years. “I generally work better under pressure, but having a camera over your shoulder while working on metal work is something you definitely h...

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Culinary Arts
OC offers up new culinary workshops for foodies and wine connoisseurs

May 31, 2021

Calling all foodies to the table: mark your calendars. This June, Okanagan College is offering up a series of safe, distanced but still hands-on culinary workshops to help you build some new skills and explore different flavours while learning in the College’s commercial kitchens under the guidance of Red Seal Chefs. The College’s Culinary and Pastry Arts department is launching four new short culinary series this month: Dinner Party – Wine and Dine Series – Mediterranean is happening on June 11 and 12. This two-day workshop is a unique opp...

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Easter eggs
College Pastry Arts students craft creative Easter confections

April 1, 2021

While no official sightings of the Easter Bunny have been reported on campus, Okanagan College’s Pastry Arts students hopped into action this week, serving up smiles ahead of the holiday.  Students pulled out all the stops to prepare an eggs-travaganza of chocolate eggs, bunnies, bon bons, sponge candy and other confections for the OC community.  “The students outdid themselves once again,” notes Culinary and Pastry Arts Manager Cari Jahns. “When everyone saw the tables of treats assembled, the array of different items they prepared, the co...

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Stephen Speers
Speers to lead Trades and Apprenticeship at Okanagan College

April 1, 2021

Okanagan College will welcome a new Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship this spring with the arrival of Stephen Speers, who brings extensive experience as a post-secondary administrator and an impressive record of public service in Ontario. Speers will start in the role on April 19. He comes to the College having most recently served as Chair of Workforce Development and Partnerships in the School of Trades and Apprenticeship at Conestoga College in southern Ontario. For much of his 16-year career at Conestoga, Speers has been responsible fo...

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Vernon Trades student
Knuever Legacy Fund makes major investment in Vernon students

March 30, 2021

A new awards fund at Okanagan College will more than double the value of annual support available for students attending the Vernon campus. Kurt and Jutta Knuever have donated $210,000 to create the K&J Knuever Legacy Awards, which will provide up to $70,000 annually in tuition and living support to students entering trades programs or the Health Care Assistant program over the next three years. The awards reflect the value the Knuever family place on education, especially hands-on skills training that can add value to an individual’s l...

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