Okanagan College Welding Students Get New State-of-the-Art Work Space

Welding students at Okanagan College are now working in a brand new classroom, and thanks to a donation from Praxair’s Global Giving Program, students will soon have a state-of-the-art work space for them to work with.

Praxair has pledged $50,000 to the Bright Horizons funding campaign, which is behind the $33 million renovation and expansion project for the College’s trade training facilities.

Praxair Canada’s donation was also supplemented by a matching grant through United Way Worldwide, bringing the overall donation up to almost $60,000.

“Praxair has a long history of developing talented STEM and skilled trade professionals that help us remain competitive globally,” said Praxair Canada President Sean Durbin. “Having this kind of training available locally through Okanagan College will help our region grow and we’re proud to be able to support our community in this way.”

The donation will support the construction and equipping of six welding booths in the new shop.

“Despite slowdowns in a number of sectors like Oil and Gas, we are seeing that the demand for welders in Western Canada remains strong,” said Steve Moores, Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship. “Our welding programs are waitlisted and train in two shifts, morning and night, five days a week, to accommodate as many students as we can.”

“This new welding shop is going to provide our students with a completely modern learning environment with all the latest technologies and equipment that they will encounter out in the industry,” added Moores.

In addition, the funding will help to improve the shop via more efficient lighting, heating, and cooling, and a more adequate extraction system to improve ventilation.

Launched in October, 2014, the Bright Horizons Building for Skills Campaign aims to raise $7 million: $5 million for capital construction and $2 million for student and program support. The $7 million will complement the government’s $28 million funding commitment.

The new, fully equipped complex is expected to be ready and open to students next spring.

For more information about the campaign, click here.