Twenty-seven B.C. schools will share over $730,000 in new trades equipment to help boost trades training and skills development in the classroom, Education Minister Shirley Bond announced today.
“B.C. has a thriving economy and there is increasing demand for tradespeople,” said Bond. “We’re expecting to create a million new jobs in B.C. over the next 12 years, and to meet that demand we need to make sure young British Columbians get the education and training they need to take full advantage of those opportunities.”
The funding is the first instalment of a $3-million grant to help schools purchase new trades-training equipment. Examples of newly funded projects include the following:
- The Powell River school district’s Welding Training Centre will receive $50,000 to buy new welding machines and safety equipment.
- Panorama Ridge secondary school in the Surrey school district will use $38,000 to set up an area with mobile and stationary equipment required to teach plumbing.
- Rutland senior secondary in the Kelowna school district will receive $36,000 to purchase power saws and safety equipment for its carpentry classes.
“Learning a skilled trade while completing secondary school can be a wise career choice,” said Bond. “By giving students access to high-quality trades training and the latest professional equipment, we’re enabling students to use their secondary school education as a springboard to a better future.”
Schools receiving the grants have an Accelerated Credit Enrolment in Industry Training (ACE IT) program in place. The grants are being administered by Skills Canada BC to schools that have demonstrated that they can raise the profile of trades training by adding or expanding existing ACE IT programs and by purchasing or upgrading equipment.
“Skills Canada BC is grateful to the Ministry of Education for the opportunity to help provide better skills training and equipment to all B.C. students,” said Rob Chioccarello, executive director for Skills Canada BC. “The number of applications for this first round of grants shows a real interest in ACE IT programs. The grants will provide equipment essential to the delivery of ACE IT courses and make a significant difference in classrooms across the province.”
Schools that want to apply for the second instalment of the $3-million grant must submit an application to Skills Canada BC no later than April 1, 2007. The deadline for the third instalment is Oct. 1, 2007.
In 2006, over 2,000 students in 32 school districts participated in an ACE IT technical training program. ACE IT offers students the chance to gain level one industry certification, which qualifies them to work as apprentices. Students get help transitioning from the classroom to the worksite while earning their high school diploma and learning specific trade skills. In addition, there are currently over 1,000 active apprentices aged 15 and older in the Secondary School Apprenticeship Program in B.C. schools.
The Province is committed to providing trades and technology training and opportunities to help achieve its goals of becoming the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction in Canada and creating more jobs per capita in B.C. than anywhere else in Canada. This year’s budget provides an additional $400 million to increase training and skills development.
A total of 27 schools have been approved for grant funding this month to help them purchase new trades-training equipment. Some of the key tourism related grants include:
| SD# |
School |
Program |
Equipment |
Grant Total |
| 38 |
Richmond Secondary |
Culinary Arts |
Cooking and refrigeration equipment |
$11,614.28 |
| 48 |
Howe Sound Secondary |
Culinary Arts |
Food preparation equipment |
$2,921.00 |
| 63 |
Stelly's Secondary |
Culinary Arts |
Ovens |
$50,000.00 |
| 64 |
Gulf Islands Secondary |
Culinary Arts |
Convection steamer |
$8,181.00 |
| 71 |
GP Vanier Secondary |
Culinary Arts |
Freezer, meat cutter |
$5,850.00 |
| 72 |
Carihi Secondary |
Culinary Arts |
Ovens, refrigeration units |
$17,644.00 |
| 83 |
Salmon Arm Secondary |
Culinary Arts |
Electric boilerless steamer |
$8,861.00 |
|
|
|
Total |
$105,071.28 |
