photo credit: https://cnc.bc.ca/campuses/vanderhoof
VANDERHOOF – A new Vanderhoof campus of the College of New Caledonia (CNC) has officially opened to meet the growing demand for trades training and post-secondary programs in the region.
The new campus is a renovated building CNC purchased in 2017 with financial support from the Province. Able to accommodate 136 student spaces, the facility has been converted to include classroom, shop and library areas with a focus on physical and digital accessibility. Digital Delivery Instruction (DDI) will make it possible for students to join classroom instruction in Prince George, while completing coursework and projects in Vanderhoof.
“The opening of a new campus in Vanderhoof strikes at the core of CNC’s new strategic plan, lhulh whuts’odutel’eh – Learning Together,” said Dennis Johnson, president, CNC. “This campus reflects the responsive approach CNC takes to the diverse needs of the communities in our region. We look forward to working with students and partners to support training and educational goals in Vanderhoof and beyond.”
The following programs will be offered at the Vanderhoof campus: trades training on a rotational basis, including millwright, piping, carpentry, welding and trades discovery; applied business technology – administrative assistant (certificate); and university studies, bookkeeping, human services and business courses.
The campus also supports a group of students taking part in the Health Career Access Program. Students are receiving hands-on skills in a specifically equipped classroom to become health-care assistants to support older adults in long-term care and assisted living residences.
“The community of Vanderhoof is excited and thankful to the Province of BC, to see the confidence and commitment to our residents, as well as those of the surrounding communities, that rely on us for services, health care and education. This building is the cumulation of about a decade of planning and work into a vision of educating close to home. We are looking forward to working with CNC and the Province of B.C. to educate our citizens for real meaningful employment, which will help us diversify the next generation,” said Gerry Thiessen, mayor of Vanderhoof.
The $6.5-million renovation received $5.8 million from government and a $700,000 contribution from CNC.
There are CNC campuses in Vanderhoof, Burns Lake, Fort St. James, Mackenzie, Prince George and Quesnel.
