Pushor Mitchell LLP Partners, left to right, Clarke Burnett, Ronald Solmer, Theresa Arsenault, Greg Pratch, Alf Kempf, Susan Connaghan, Andrew Brunton, Joni Metherell, Vanessa DeDominicis, Steven Wilson, Melodie Lind, Blair Forrest, Mark Baron.
Image Credit: Contributed
February 02, 2015 - 1:22 PM
KELOWNA - A local law firm is recognizing the importance of trades to the entire community and is putting its support behind a $33-million project to renovate and expand the trades training complex at the Kelowna Campus.
Pushor Mitchell LLP has pledged $30,000 to the Okanagan College Foundation towards the Bright Horizons, Building for Skills Campaign for the complex.
“Our gift is based on community mindedness,” says Alf Kempf, Partner, Pushor Mitchell LLP. “We know that many of our commercial clients are either tradespeople or employ tradespeople, and we believe that all Kelowna businesses, even if they don’t employ trades, should recognize the importance of trades education.”
The gift has special meaning for Kempf, who also serves as President of the Okanagan College Foundation.
“When we hear the excitement among students for the new complex, we are reminded continually that this campaign goes way beyond bricks and mortar,” says Kempf. “The education they are receiving at the College is charting new courses in their lives—it’s getting them ready for careers that are in high demand, meaning that they will have security, opportunity, and mobility in the region. The campaign is an invitation to everyone to help us make that future a reality for students right here in the valley.”
“We know there are 430,000 job openings projected in the province by 2022 that will require trades or technical training,” explains Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton. “We are very grateful to Pushor Mitchell and other local organizations for working with us to further trades training in the region. This is an investment that will have a huge impact, both at the immediate level for students and in the long-term for the region’s economy as a whole.”
The $7-million campaign launched publicly in October and is now over the $3-million mark according to the Foundation, thanks to strong support from local businesses and individuals.
“It’s great to see how quickly the community has responded to the Bright Horizons Campaign,” says Campaign Ambassador Mike Roberts. “A huge thank you to our corporate supporters, like Pushor Mitchell, and everyone else who has stepped forward to help us with the project. Whether large or small, all your donations can make a world of difference for trades students at Okanagan College.
“This expanded facility will attract thousands of students to train here, work here, live here…and that positive effect will be felt throughout our communities, without a doubt.”
The campaign’s efforts will supplement the provincial government’s commitment of $28 million to the project.
Construction on the complex at the second-largest trades training institution in B.C is expected to be completed in spring of 2016. When completed, the new complex will help unite Okanagan College’s Kelowna Campus trades students who currently train in multiple campus facilities across the city.
To learn more about the campaign and opportunities to be involved in shaping the future of Okanagan College, please visit: okanagan.bc.ca/campaign.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015