Release Date: August 18, 2016
Camosun’s new Centre for Trades Education and Innovation received a visit recently from a major donor for the college’s Coastal Skills Initiative to review the progress on an initiative originally announced in May.
Kinder Morgan Canada President Ian Anderson, who has been an active volunteer cabinet member of the Camosun College Foundation’s TRADEmark of Excellence fundraising campaign, joined Camosun trades students for a roundtable discussion on the future of trades training in the coastal economy. This rare opportunity for Trades students to meet with a major Canadian corporate president focused on how the coastal communities will respond to both the economic and social opportunities of a growing demand for skilled tradespeople.
With over 168,000 new tradespeople needed in the next decade, demand for highly trained apprentices is growing. The Camosun Foundation and its TRADEmark funding partners—including major donor Kinder Morgan Canada—have stepped up with a focus on the college’s new Coastal Skills Initiative.
“Camosun offers a wide range of training opportunities for students looking to advance their careers in the trades,” said Camosun President Sherri Bell. “As one of Canada’s largest energy companies and a strong supporter of skilled trades training, Kinder Morgan Canada is helping to ensure that the next generation of skilled tradespeople is prepared to meet the needs of British Columbia’s coastal communities.”
Ian Anderson, President of Kinder Morgan Canada, holds a roundtable discussion with students in the new Centre for Trades Education & Innovation The Coastal Skills Initiative is a key component of the TRADEmark of Excellence campaign. It is designed to identify emerging issues, trends and opportunities and link them directly to a range of skilled trades programs at Camosun with an enhanced coastal perspective. Kinder Morgan Canada’s support will help the college ensure that it meets the evolving needs of specific industries and communities in the province’s coastal regions, both today and in the future. The focus of Coastal Skills aligns with industry’s needs to add both perspective and skills for careers that support marine infrastructure, marine transportation, forestry, fishing, mining, energy and construction in coastal communities.
“We believe today’s youth have a unique perspective on our marine environment and an interest for B.C coastal communities to excel,” said Ian Anderson, President of Kinder Morgan Canada. “We are proud to support education and training programs which provide more opportunity for students to study on Vancouver Island to bring coastal skilled-trades to B.C’s coastal communities.”
Kinder Morgan‘s $400,000 donation will go directly to a dedicated space to house the Coastal Skills Initiative at Camosun’s Interurban campus as well to support student bursaries and scholarships. Their contribution is the largest to date in support of the program, representing Kinder Morgan Canada’s sector leadership in supporting the training of trades students to meet the growing demands of the coastal economy.
Contact
Joan Yates
Vice President, Student Experience
Camosun College
250-370-4626
Last updated: August 29, 2016 1:11 pm
