December 19, 2012 – British Columbia has confirmed it will invest $6.3 million to expand trades programs at NorKam Secondary. The funds will be used to develop a new NorKam Secondary Trades & Technology Centre of Excellence at a total cost of $7.4 million.

The Ministry of Education is investing $4.6 million in the project, and the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism & Skills Training is providing an additional $1.7 million. The remaining $1.1 million will be provided by the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education.

Through the Skills and Training Plan, the government says it is committed to accelerating student transition to the workforce by exposing students to technical trades and skills, and by expanding opportunities for students to begin apprenticeships before graduation and earn graduation credits.

The centre will include four skilled trades training shops with specialized equipment and two lecture areas. It aims to increase the trades-training capacity of the school by about 100 students, and enhance the school’s existing skills training facilities and programs.

The skills training programs offered by the NorKam Trades & Technology Centre will also complement apprenticeship and skills training programs available to Kamloops high school students through Thompson Rivers University. Students from all 11 secondary schools in the district will be able to attend training programs offered at the centre.