The British Columbia government has announced $4.4 million in new funding for post-secondary education and training related to health-care professions throughout the province.
In a statement on Thursday, Minister of Advanced Education Melanie Mark says B.C. residents have been calling for more health-care workers in their communities for years.
The latest funding is aimed at programs for nurses, health-care and anaesthesia assistants as well as mental health and community support workers.
The province says it’s also created opportunities for existing health-care professionals to upgrade their skills through short, targeted training modules offered at the B.C. Institute of Technology.
Two Island colleges are among the institutions receiving funding.
North Island College will benefit from almost $775,000 for programs that will train health-care assistants, licensed practical nurses and community mental health workers.
Camosun College has received $310,000 to start a health-care assistant program and an educational assistant program on the West Shore.
Other institutions set to receive funding include the College of New Caledonia, Vancouver Community College, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, Okanagan College and Thompson Rivers University.
— The Canadian Press and Times Colonist
