Okanagan College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will soon tip off their sophomore season.
They’ll be doing so with some nice new amenities thanks to 13 grade 10-12 students who are building locker rooms for the two teams.
The work, which includes improvements to the coaches meeting room as well, is currently underway at Okanagan Christian School.
“That class is the first of its kind in the province – an all-female gateway to trades opportunity that is modelled on the Industry Training Authority (ITA) Youth Explore Trades Sampler program for high school students,” explains Mackenzie Pachal, who’s in the class.
“The 19-week program (a collaboration between the ITA, school district and the college) provides youth an experience in various trades to help students identify their passion before continuing on to an apprenticeship."
Pachal says they learn a lot about different tools and trades and it’s much different than school.
It’s cool to be working on something that someone else will be appreciating,” she says.
Others from Okanagan College’s Trades and Apprenticeship department will come in to finish the project, like electricians, plumbers, carpenters and more.
While the project may not be complete for the OC Coyotes’ Nov. 16 home openers, the locker rooms and coach’s meeting room are expected to be done by the end of the month.
