Construction is underway for Okanagan College’s new Health Sciences Centre that will give students better access to training for a health-science career.

“Students will get the skills and training in a modern building for a range of health-care and social-development careers,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “Nurses, pharmacy technicians and early childhood educators are in-demand jobs that people rely on every day in communities around the province to keep our families safe and healthy.”

The new 2,800 square-metre (30,000 square-foot) Health Sciences Centre will be an integrated learning centre. Programming provided through the new centre will include diploma and certificate programs, to help meet the need for high-priority health-care professionals, such as practical nurses, dental assistants, special-needs workers and health-care assistants.

“The groundbreaking is an exciting milestone in the start of a new era in training health professionals at the college,” said Jim Hamilton, president of Okanagan College (OC). “The Health Sciences Centre has been a high priority for us, and will be welcome news for thousands of students who will go on to become an important part of our province’s workforce.”

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