In the bustling shop spaces on Selkirk College’s Silver King Campus, students training toward a career in trades are benefiting from a partnership with Columbia Basin Trust.
Committed to building and enhancing the local workforce through post-secondary education, the Trust is supporting Selkirk College and College of the Rockies to undertake projects that bolster student experience. The funding enables the colleges to improve programs and services, including purchasing equipment that might otherwise be out of reach.
The latest addition to the Metal Fabricator Foundation Program shop at the Silver King Campus was made possible through the Trust funding. A state-of-the-art press brake has been installed in the program’s shop, allowing learners access to industrial equipment that mirrors what they will work on in their chosen trade.
“This piece of equipment has features that will definitely help student learning,” says Lawrence Zaytsoff, an instructor in both the Metal Fabricator Foundation Program and the Welding Program. “This modern technology provides the highest level of safety for students and gives instructors the opportunity to advance teaching that is beneficial to program outcomes.”
The Metal Fabricator Foundation Program provides 23 weeks of education and training on the Nelson-based Silver King Campus. The first step in a Red Seal trade that is associated with manufacturing, forestry, oil and gas, mining, construction and transportation, graduates can find employment as an apprentice in a variety of fabrication projects such as buildings, bridges, ships and heavy equipment.
“Supporting students in the Columbia Basin helps them shape their careers in meaningful ways, join the workforce that keeps local businesses and economies vibrant, and contribute to the region’s communities,” says Patrick Checknita, community liaison for Columbia Basin Trust. “Our partnership with the colleges has resulted in tangible benefits like this press brake at Selkirk College, which will have hands-on impacts that the students can carry into their professional lives.
Learn more about Selkirk College’s School of Industry & Trades Training.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.