October 15, 2013 – Saskatchewan’s Premier Brad Wall has announced the government is providing $10 million in funding to support construction of a new Trades and Technology Centre at Parkland Regional College in Yorkton.

“Saskatchewan is experiencing remarkable growth, which will result in a number of employment opportunities, many of which will be in the skilled trades,” Wall said. “The new Trades and Technology Centre will increase the number of graduates in many highly skilled areas that are needed in Saskatchewan, and will make it possible for students from the Yorkton area to learn closer to home.”

Parkland Regional College has raised $8.27 million within the Parkland region through its Capital Campaign. The proposed facility will be more than 2500 m² and is expected to help address the trades and technical training needs of the region by graduating an additional 360 students, and providing upgrading for more than 2000 new students annually.

“The Trades and Technology Centre will yield educational excellence, foster innovation, cultivate inclusion and create accountability to the citizens of the Parkland Region, as well as the entire province of Saskatchewan,” said Parkland regional college president Dr. Fay Myers.

The planning phase for the Trades and Technology Centre is complete and design is underway. The project is expected to be ready to proceed with tenders in November 2013.

Wall also highlighted the government matching a $150,000 scholarship donation by the Yorkton Tribal Council to Parkland to help provide local First Nations youth with scholarship dollars over the next five years. Ranging from $5000 to $25,000 per student, the post-secondary scholarship is available to applicants from the Yorkton Tribal Council’s six member First Nations (Cote, Key, Keeseekoose, Ocean Man, Sakimay and Kahkewistahaw). Parkland College is awarding $20,000 of the scholarship in 2013, $40,000 in 2014 and $80,000 in the remaining three years.

“One of our government’s priorities is to help find new opportunities and to remove barriers to our Aboriginal young people so they can receive post-secondary training and education,” Wall said. “This scholarship is a good example of how working together can make that happen.”