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Just two days after the College of New Caledonia announced it will suspend student intakes for the dental assistant and dental hygiene programs, the province coughed up some money for institution. However, it won’t be for the ailing dental programs. On Monday, Victoria announced $330,496 for 64 trade seats to reduce wait times for students entering an in-demand trade profession. Funding will go towards the following programs: Electrical: 16 Foundation seats; millwright: 16 Foundatio...

Should the idea of Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond be followed, in future years we could be celebrating Holi (Festival of Colours) in a much bigger way, by singing and dancing in the streets of downtown. Bond was a guest at the Happy Holi celebrations hosted by the Prince George Hindu Society Saturday at the Day’s Inn. She told guests that in her research of the festival, she found out that Holi is about putting negative things behind you, forgiving others and moving...

B.C.’s minimum wage is going up by 20 cents in September, and will see annual increases to match the B.C. consumer price index each September after that. It’s the first increase since 2012, when the current wage of $10.25 was set. Jobs Minister Shirley Bond said this year’s increase reflects what would have taken place if indexing to inflation had been in place at that time. The lower minimum wage for restaurant and pub servers is being retained, going from $9 to $9.20 in...

It was Lyn Hall who got him. Anthony Everett went off script and admitted it was going to be hard enough for him to get through his own comments to wind up the 2015 Canada Winter Games. But when Mayor Hall singled out Everett, chairman of the Games, and CEO Stu Ballantyne for praise, it was hard for Everett to keep his emotions in check. “I have one mission this morning, and that’s to recognize two gentlemen who made this absolutely possible,” Hall said at the closing press conference for...

The province is continuing a program to train people in the hospitality industry. The Room Keys project, which gives people training and on-the-job work experience at Prince George-area hotels and motels, was launched last year. This morning the province announced it will contribute another $110,000 to the $104,000 given last year. “As a key sector in the BC Jobs Plan, tourism has a critical role to play in our strong, diverse and growing economy,” said Jobs Minister Shirley Bond in a...

  It’s probably time to add a few more floors onto the top of North America’s tallest wood building. The reason? The six-storey Wood Innovation and Design Centre is full. It was announced last week that the Emily Carr University of Art and Design will be the latest and last tenant for the building that opened in downtown Prince George last year. “As the tallest contemporary wooden structure in all of North America, the Wood Innovation and Design Centre is an incredible new space and an...

The new Giscome Elementary School and adjoining East Line activity centre were officially opened Friday. Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond met with the school’s 26 kindergarten to Grade 7 students and toured the classrooms to highlight the official opening, according to a government press release. “I am very proud to help officially open the new Giscome Elementary school,” said Bond. The fate of the Giscome school was questionable going back to 2009 when a Ministry of...

By Shirley Bond Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour Our government has a plan - a plan to keep our economy growing and our province strong. Over the past year we’ve made progress implementing that plan - and achieving some of its goals. We have already seen significant growth in several sectors, from natural resource development to tourism, small business and skills training. We aren’t stopping there; growth is...