Big boost at OK College

UPDATED: 11:20 a.m.

A new, $18.9-million Health Sciences Centre will be built at Okanagan College in Kelowna.

Kelowna-Mission MLA Steve Thomson made the announcement Tuesday morning at the college.

The province will contribute $15.4 million toward the project, and the college's share will be $3.5 million.

“Nurses, pharmacy technicians and child-care workers are just some of the professionals we rely on every day. Students completing their education in the new centre will go on to careers that support the health of Okanagan families at all stages of their lives," said Norm Letnick, MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country.

The new facility will be located beside the college's existing laboratory building, which currently houses the bachelor of science in nursing program, university transfer science programs and engineering technology programs.

The new 2,800-square-metre (30,000 square-foot) Health Sciences Centre will include programs such as practical nursing, pharmacy technician, human service worker and early childhood education.

"The new building will be constructed to meet high standards of sustainability and will provide a modern learning space for students who will become an integral part of our province’s work force," said Jim Hamilton, president, Okanagan College.

Jenny Winberg, a health science student, at Okanagan College said, “This new building will be the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to training our health-care and social development practitioners of the future."

It is expected to open in 2020, with construction starting in summer of 2018.