Camosun College officially opened the doors Thursday to its $30-million Centre for Trades Education and Innovation at the Interurban campus.
The 80,000-square-foot facility has space for a marine and metal trades training program that includes welding, sheet metal, metal fabrication, nautical and ship building and repair programs.
The school will also offer a mechanical trades program to train students in heavy mechanical trades and automotive service.
“Training young people in skilled trades builds prosperity,” said Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson. “The new centre will help students to gain the skills and experience they need to take advantage of exciting and rewarding careers.”
The centre will offer room for 370 full-time-equivalent seats in trades training programs.
Camosun has about 2,700 students annually in 20 trades foundation and apprenticeship programs.
“This is an incredible day for our college. Camosun is the largest provider of trades training on Vancouver Island,” said Camosun president Sherri Bell. “It is part of our vision to ensure local trades students have the most up-to-date skills, technology and state-of-the-art facilities available to prepare them in meeting emerging marketplace and industry demands.”
Part of the project will see older trades buildings on the campus upgraded. It is expected the work will be completed this spring.
Funding came principally from the province, which provided $29.2 million, with the rest coming from the college.
The college has a goal to raise $5 million from donors and federal grants to help with funding equipment to be used in the new facility and renovate the existing trades training space. So far, the TRADEmark of Excellence campaign has raised about $2.5 million.
