Okanagan College’s new health sciences centre on the Kelowna campus was designed by GEC architecture.
Image Credit: GEC architecture
October 01, 2021 - 7:00 PM
The Kelowna campus of the Okanagan College opened the highly anticipated health sciences building this fall.
This term, the new building will house programming that will provide 591 prospective health-care workers with the opportunity to train for in-demand jobs, according to a Ministry of Advanced Education media release issued today, Oct. 1.
Students can now study to become registered nurses, practical nurses, health-care assistants, pharmacy technicians, therapy assistants, dental assistants along with early childhood education and human service work in the new building.
With the opening of the health sciences building “more people will have the opportunity to develop the skills, education and experience they need for rewarding careers here (in Kelowna)," Interior Health CEO Susan Brown said in the release.
The training at the new state-of-the-art health sciences building will provide students with the opportunity to train in student-centred labs and learning environments that have been equipped with the latest education technology to provide hands-on learning opportunities, designed to prepare students for the unique and varied environments encountered while working in healthcare.
"Given the hands-on, highly practical nature of health and social development training, it's incredibly important for students and instructors to have access to learning environments that reflect the settings they'll encounter out in the industry," Okanagan College associate vice-president of education service Yvonne Moritz said in the release. "In this new facility, students step into state-of-the-art health-care labs and settings that reflect the current realities of dynamic hospital, clinic and home care."
It is no secret that health-care professionals are in high demand in the province of B.C. and across Canada. The B.C. Interior is “actively recruiting health care workers” Brown said.
The need for skilled health-care workers is projected to grow significantly over the next few years according to the B.C. Labour Market Outlook.
The $19.4-million health sciences centre was built in alignment with the province's CleanBC goals for energy-efficient buildings. The high-tech building, designed by GEC architecture, received $15.4 million in funding from the provincial government, $1.1 million from donors and the remaining $2.9 million came from Okanagan College.
"We are grateful to the province and to the community donors and industry partners across the region who have stepped to help us open these doors," Okanagan College president Neil Fassina said in the release.
To learn more and to register to become a health-care professional visit the Okanagan College website here.
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