Province funds logging truck driver training at OC
The province recently contributed nearly $325,000 in funding to Okanagan College's Vernon campus to deliver the Professional Industry Driver program, which offers 15 weeks of fully-funded training for up to eight students, preparing them for jobs as professional logging truck drivers.
The program began yesterday and runs until Feb. 25, 2022 and is focused at youth living within the Okanagan region. It is part of a new Community and Employer Partnerships (CEP) project and designed to include the new Mandatory Entry Level Training (MELT) for students to obtain their Class 1 Licence and give them essential skills training and theory.
“Projects like this one support people to find new opportunities in a growing and high-demand sector,” said Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, in a statement. “Graduates of the program will have the skills they need to find good-paying jobs, while employers will have access to qualified employees.”
The program is comprised of a blend of classroom, practical training, work experience and a mentorship program. The goal is to improve the safety performance and professionalism of industry drivers and includes a focus on logging truck driving as well as chip trucks.
“Offering training that meets industry needs is a key component of Okanagan College’s mission to transform lives and communities,” said Danelle Greebe, OC's Director of Continuing Studies and Corporate Training. “The CEP project will propel this work forward.”
The program is funded through the Project Based Labour Market Training stream of WorkBC's CEP, which are investments aimed at projects that support an inclusive economic recovery.
Tags: Continuing Studies, Vernon, Inside OC
