Okanagan College students in the electrical trades programs will soon plug into a cutting edge new learning space thanks to a $100,000 donation from Vernon’s Westwood Electric.

Westwood’s donation to the Okanagan College Foundation’s Bright Horizons: Building for Skills campaign will support the trades training complex under construction at the Kelowna campus. The electrical controls lab in the new facility will feature state-of-the-art equipment, technology, and workstations for students.

“Today’s apprentices are tomorrow’s qualified journeypersons, supervisors and industry leaders,” said Jason McCormick, Westwood partner and vice-president of operations.

“The best possible trades training will only further promote the apprentice’s future, opportunities for local business and ultimately B.C. We are honoured to be involved with what will be one of the largest, most comprehensive and environmentally sustainable trades training facilities in B.C.”

Work on the $33-million complex expansion is expected to be complete in the spring of 2016. The provincial government has committed $28 million to the project and the Okanagan College Foundation is responsible for raising an additional $7 million.

“This support from Westwood is exciting news for Okanagan College and especially so for our students enrolled in the electrical trades programs, which is one of our largest trades programs, having grown by over 80 students this year,” said Jim Hamilton, Okanagan College president.