Construction is now underway on Okanagan College’s new Health Sciences Centre.
The new 30,000 square foot space will be an integrated learning centre that will give students better access to training for a health-science career.
"Students will get the skills and training in a modern building for a range of health-care and social-development careers," said Melanie Mark, minister of advanced education, skills and training.
"Nurses, pharmacy technicians and early childhood educators are in-demand jobs that people rely on every day in communities around the province to keep our families safe and healthy."
The new centre will offer diploma and certificate programs, which will help meet the need for high-priority health-care professionals.
That includes practical nurses, dental assistants, special-needs workers and health-care assistants.
"The groundbreaking is an exciting milestone in the start of a new era in training health professionals at the college," said Jim Hamilton, president of OC.
"The Health Sciences Centre has been a high priority for us, and will be welcome news for thousands of students who will go on to become an important part of our province's workforce."
The state-of-the-art space will cost $18.9 million to build, with $15.4 million of that coming from the provincial government.
OC is providing the remainder of the money through reserves and fundraising.
Completing of the building is estimated for spring 2020 with student occupancy following that in fall 2020.
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