Skilled trades students in B.C.’s rural regions will benefit from the majority of funding from a three-year, $15-million investment by the provincial government with the purchase of new trades training equipment to support youth trades programs.
The Youth Trades Capital Equipment Program enables school districts to replace or upgrade equipment for their schools’ trades programs. The program will see $7.5 million dispersed during the current school year to 59 school districts throughout British Columbia. The remaining $7.5 million will be distributed in the 2017-18 ($4 million) and 2018-19 ($3.5 million) school years.
“These significant upgrades to trades-training equipment in our rural school districts are a reflection of the importance we place on students and families who live outside our big cities,” said Donna Barnett, Minister of State for Rural Economic Development.
“This forward-looking program will encourage more young people to consider a career in the skilled trades close to home and help create conditions that support job growth and economic expansion in our rural communities.”
Over the three-year program, more than $9 million of the total $15-million fund will be distributed to B.C.’s 42 rural school districts.
The North Okanagan Shuswap School District will receive $398,527 while the Vernon School District will collect $180,609.
This investment in rural communities supports the recently announced “Building on our Rural Advantages: B.C.’s Rural Economic Development Strategy.” The strategy outlines the province’s long-term vision to ensure British Columbians in all regions have the opportunity for well-paying jobs and a high quality of life in their community.