The Squamish Nation celebrated the grand reopening of the Squamish Nation Training and Trades Centre in North Vancouver Wednesday (Oct. 3) morning.
The First Nation received more than $1 million in funding through the Western Diversification Program prior to renovations in order to expand the facilities.
The improved training centre features a 50 per cent increase in floor space to 12,000 square feet, doubling the number of classrooms to four.
The new expansion also includes a new general construction workshop at the existing plumbing and carpentry workshops.
“The Western Economic Diversification Canada contribution has made a huge difference and we would like to thank them for making this expansion a reality. We are another step closer to our goal of becoming an accredited non-profit post-secondary institution, recognized by the Industry Training Authority of BC,” stated Paul Wick, Squamish Nation director of education employment and training, in a release.
The funding is part of an announcement made in March that 45 First Nations, Indigenous businesses and programs were to receive more than $27 million in order to expand business activities and pursue economic opportunities.
“The success of Indigenous businesses is essential to building a strong, innovative and inclusive Canadian economy,” stated federal Minister of Innovation Navdeep Bains in a release.
The training and trades centre has trained more 525 apprentices and more than 400 skilled construction workers since 2004 and plans to provide training for an additional 300 Indigenous peoples over the next two years.
