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Today the Minister of Advanced Education Anne Kang, and Okanagan College President, Neil Fassina held the opening ceremony for the brand new Health Sciences Centre at the Okanagan College Kelowna campus.
The state of the art, 2,822-square-metre building opened up for students in September and has been offering in-person, hands-on learning in a variety of cutting edge labs and classrooms.
“This new facility will provide Okanagan College students with a world-class learning environment that will only further enhance the already outstanding education and training they are receiving at the college,” said Neil Fassina.
“We are grateful to the Province and to the community donors and industry partners across the region who have stepped to help us open these doors at a time when well-trained health-care and social development professionals are needed more than ever,” said Fassina.
The Health Sciences Centre received $15.4 million in funding from the government, while the Okanagan College raised an additional $4 million from generous donors in the community.
Okanagan college students in programs like early childhood education, practical nursing, bachelor of science in nursing, human service work, and pharmacy technicians will study in the new building.
“Health care is a demanding field, so having state-of-the-art classrooms and labs like those in the new Health Sciences Centre is extremely important," said Katelyn McGillivray, a second year nursing student.
"I really appreciate how the college and the Province are investing in the best possible facilities and education that will set us up for success going into our careers.”
In 2019 the BC Labour Market Outlook projected 117,100 job openings in health professions by 2029, and this new facility will support 591 students for a number of in-demand jobs in the Okanagan.
Learn more about the programs offered at the Health Sciences Centre at the Okanagan College here.
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