Selkirk College benefits from B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint
By Nelson Daily Staff
Selkirk College is one of 14 public post-secondary institutions that will benefit from the B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint said Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson in a media release Monday.
The government is investing $12 million in 2015-16 for new trades equipment so students planning to enter in-demand occupations learn their trade using industry-standard technology.
Selkirk College will receive $87,000 as part of the investment to to purchase a stonebake oven, a vertical milling machine, and a manual cold saw.
“Our investment of $12 million in new trades training equipment will give students the skills needed for a wide range of in-demand careers,” said Wilkinson.
“The provincial economy is growing in a range of sectors – from LNG to shipbuilding and ship repairs to construction – and having skilled workers to fill positions is critical to our ongoing success.”
Post-secondary institutions will use the funds to purchase equipment such as diesel engines, a logging truck and trailer, and air disc brake and high voltage trainers.
“We promised to shift funding and training to support in-demand jobs,” said Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Minister and Minister Responsible for Labour Shirley Bond.
“Since launching B.C.’s Blueprint, we have invested $17 million in trades training equipment and targeted $13 million to reduce wait lists in high-demand trades so our diverse, strong and growing economy has the trained workers it needs.”
Consultations with institutions, the Industry Training Authority, as well as current labour market data, inform decisions for funding.
“For more than 40 years, students have come to Camosun for trades training, and employers have come to Camosun for skilled employees,” said Camosun College president Sherri Bell.
“This latest injection of funding for industry-standard equipment, combined with our new Centre for Trades Education and Innovation, positions Camosun to meet and exceed the needs of our students and employers.”
The $12 million is part of the B.C. government’s investment of $185 million over three years in new trades training equipment and facilities to support students who will help meet the need for skilled tradespeople in B.C.
Quick facts:
- B.C.’s Blueprint outlines how the province is re-engineering the education system – from kindergarten through to post-secondary training and beyond – to make sure education and training aligns with B.C. jobs.
- By 2022, B.C. is expected to have one million job openings in B.C. – more than 78% of jobs will require some form of post-secondary education.
- Approximately 13% of the one million projected job openings to 2022 are for in-demand trade occupations in B.C.
