April 18, 2006 Source: :
http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/Page13380.aspx Okanagan College answers call for more trades people with new facility; expanded training opportunities The quandary for Okanagan College of late has been how to address the burgeoning demand for skilled trades people in the region when its Kelowna Campus, which houses the Trades and Apprenticeship programs, is bursting at the seams. The answer is to open the doors to a new facility that will, in turn, open doors to new careers for individuals interested in the construction trades. The Electro-Mechanical Building Trades facility opened today at 188 Penno Road. It is the new home for entry-level and apprenticeship training programs in Electrical, Plumbing, and Sheet Metal, the latter two programs being offered in the region for the first time. Apprentice training has already begun in the facility with Electrical preapprenticeship courses starting today and Plumbing and Sheet Metal courses to begin in May and August respectively. "B.C.'s economic resurgence has opened doors for skilled workers throughout the province, especially in growing communities like Kelowna, and our government is committed to expanding our post-secondary system to provide the education they need," says Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell. "This new trades centre is one of the ways Okanagan College has risen to the challenge of increasing training opportunities, which will serve both residents and the construction industry." "This new facility is a great addition to Okanagan College’s Trades and Apprenticeship programs," says Norm Embree, Chair of the College’s Board of Governors. "The programs housed there will assist in meeting the incredible demand for construction trades workers in our region and beyond, and the facility will alleviate some of the space issues we are facing at the Kelowna Campus on KLO Road." "Our enrolment numbers have increased substantially in the past year and we are at 104 per cent capacity," says President Jim Hamilton. "While full enrolment is a great position to be in, it’s meant having to scramble to find space for all our students. We’ve installed seven portables at the Kelowna Campus already. This new facility will allow us to move the Electrical program out of its existing cramped quarters, and, in fact, offer more intakes. We’re also able to offer two new training programs that are in high demand by the construction industry." "Kelowna is not the only centre to benefit from this expansion of training opportunities", says Hamilton. "The demand for skilled workers in these trades is so great, pending budget approval by the Board of Governors later this month, we will be offering Electrical and Plumbing programs as well as Welding at our campuses in Salmon Arm, Vernon and Penticton on a rotating basis beginning in August 2006." This is one more initiative the College has undertaken to address the region’s skills shortage in the construction field, says John Haller, Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship. "Over the past year, Okanagan College has contributed to the region’s growth by providing more than 660 pre-apprentice and apprentice graduates in constructionrelated trades." The College also offers Joinery programs in Kelowna and Summerland, a Computer Numeric Control (CNC) Woodworking program in Vernon, and Electrical and Carpentry programs in Kelowna. It is involved in partnerships with industry to train students in Residential Construction programs in Salmon Arm and Kelowna that have students work alongside other skilled trades to build a home from the ground up. The grand opening of the Home for Learning, the house built by Residential Construction students in partnership with the Village of Kettle Valley and Excite Homes Inc., will be held this weekend in Kelowna. The home is located at 324 McCarren Ave. It will be open to the public this Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
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