
Prospera gives big in support of Women in Trades at Okanagan College

More women will get a chance to lace up their work boots and take the first step in a career in trades, thanks to a recent $79,660 gift from Prospera to a program at Okanagan College that has already trained over 1,300 women since it was founded.
The Women in Trades Training program was created to remove barriers for women interested in pursuing trades education and help meet the community’s surging need for skilled trades professionals.
“These bursaries and added equipment provide opportunities for women to pursue trades training, supporting them to go on to find a rewarding career and adding to the richness of representation and diversity in the workplace,” says Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training. “This is just one example of how Okanagan College is opening doors for students and supporting their talent, passions, and pursuit of knowledge.”
“Women often don’t have early engagement with tools and equipment, which means they likely won’t consider the skilled trades as a career path. Our programs provide a supportive environment where women can learn new skills,” says Nancy Darling, Manager of the Women in Trades Training Program at Okanagan College.
The gift is made up of two separate donations: Since 2021, Prospera Credit Union has given $60,000 in student bursaries to be disbursed until 2025, and Prospera Foundation recently gave $19,660 for equipment for the SISTERS program.
The SISTERS program is a 30-week program that introduces Indigenous women to all aspects of the carpentry trade, including the use of hand tools and other equipment. SISTERS is part of Okanagan College’s Carpenter Foundation program.
“We’re proud to support Okanagan College’s Women in Trades Training program,” says Niki Jelstad, Director, Marketing and Community Engagement at Prospera. “Our partnership is a valuable investment in women and their families, and strategically supports our commitment to helping our local communities.”
Okanagan College has already received a portion of the funding for bursaries, and the remainder will be distributed over the next three years. The 2022 contribution provided $1,500 bursaries for seven students.

One of the recipients was Amanda Kury, a second-year student in Okanagan College’s Aircraft Maintenance Engineer – Structures program.
“When I found out I’d received the award, I was overwhelmed with joy. It couldn’t have come at a better time because my savings had just run out. It was life-changing to get that much-needed break from worrying about money,” says Kury.
“Prospera’s generous gift has already had an incredible impact. Providing support for women accessing trades education increases diversity and inclusion, which benefits our entire community,” says Helen Jackman, Executive Director of Okanagan College Foundation.
By actively participating in exploring many different trades, women gain the confidence to pursue their career goals in trades. Trades that students experience in the training programs include carpentry, joinery, plumbing, and electrical.
Tags: Trades, Women in Trades Training, OC Foundation
TOP STORIES
RELATED STORIES
Sign up for weekly stories

Meet Ruth Gabriela Melo Flores
April 4, 2023
Q: What's your name? A: Ruth Gabriela Melo Flores Q: What's your hometown? A: Quito – Ecuador – South America Q: How did you end up at Okanagan College? A: Well, I studied for a bachelor's degree in Law in Ecuador. Then, I worked for a while and got my Master's degree in Government and Culture of Organizations at the University of Pamplona. When I returned to my country, professional opportunities arose for me. I mean, a Master's degree improved my career. Spain helped me develop ...
Read more...
Artistic students design future careers in animation
June 7, 2022
Grads of Okanagan College’s Animation Diploma program are finding their skills have never been in higher demand. First- and second-year students showed samples of their artwork and demo reels to industry partners at OC’s annual Animation Industry Night on May 17. “Lots of the work was very professional,” says James Wood, Chair of Okanagan College’s Animation Department. “Our program is short, but intense. The instructors make sure the students have a realistic understanding of what they need do to succeed in a competitive and demanding wo...
Read more...
OC Business students embrace international study again
May 30, 2022
Business students from Okanagan College are once again able to travel to Jyväskylä, Finland to experience an international summer school at the JAMK University of Applied Sciences. Finland’s education system is widely regarded as one of the best in the world. OC Business Professor Blair Baldwin, who has taught Services Design at JAMK for several summers, says working in Finland has helped him innovate and create new teaching methodologies. “JAMK employs experiential learning across its curriculum,” he says. “They stress critical thinkin...
Read more...
Enactus Okanagan College tops the field, sets sights on national championships
May 27, 2022
Okanagan College students will once again be competing for the Canadian title after qualifying for the Enactus National Exposition with a first-place finish in their league during the semi-final round. Enactus teams at post-secondary institutions across Canada competed virtually earlier this month, and Okanagan College scooped up top position in the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge, and runner-up in the Scotiabank Climate Action Challenge for the Unusually Good Food Co. project. It also included national runner-up in Shaw and RBC accelerators...
Read more...