Selkirk College has kicked off the next chapter in post-secondary education in the West Kootenay-Boundary by securing a $1 million donation from Columbia Basin Trust for facility and equipment upgrades to the trades-based Silver King Campus in Nelson.
With the infusion of funds, Selkirk College is poised to move ahead with an ambitious project that will provide $32 million in upgrades and enhancements to its Silver King and Castlegar Campus. The end result will be modern facilities that provide the most beneficial learning environments for students.
“The opportunities for employment in the skilled trades and in advanced technical careers in the coming decade are tremendous,” said Selkirk College president Angus Graeme.
“A well prepared workforce will be essential to the strength of our economy and the resilience of our communities. But we must have state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment for our youth and returning learners to take advantage of those opportunities.”
Nelson’s Silver King Campus opened in 1964 as the British Columbia Vocational School, the first such institute in the province. It became part of Selkirk College in 1975 and today houses the majority of trades training programs offered by the college. As the campus enters its 50th year, the facility is in desperate need of revitalization.
The launch of the capital improvement campaign is the first step in bringing new life and improved training options to students choosing a career pathway in trades.