A group of students in School District 83 recently got to test drive a potential new dual credit program - Heavy Duty Equipment Operator - when the BC Road Builders RoadShow held a session at the Splatsin Community Centre Sept. 27.

At the Oct. 15 school board meeting, director of instruction Reid Findlay explained what the event entailed and how it ties into a bigger initiative from the province.

鈥淔rom 2024/25, this school year into 27/28, they鈥檙e throwing significant amounts of money at dual credit expansion, and they鈥檙e looking at sectors in demand,鈥� he said.

He added that SD83 is one of six districts to have combined forces to form the Okanagan Careers Consortium that received a grant of $475,000, 鈥�$100,000 of which is coming to School District 83 to do nothing other than expand dual credit.鈥�
 
In doing so, the district is exploring the possibility of a Heavy Equipment Operator program, with the recent hands-on demonstration one of the first steps in that. 

鈥淚 really thought that the BC RoadShow... would be a really good way to stimulate interest in this program as well as gauge potential interest,鈥� Findlay said.

He added that 47 students attended the RoadShow, where they used simulators to experience what it鈥檚 like to operate heavy equipment. Following that, 20 kids expressed interest in enroling in a program like that, while the 27 others said they鈥檇 be interested in learning more.

In addition to the Heavy Duty Equipment program, other areas being explored include agri-tech, the manufacturing sector and climate change mitigation.

When opened up to questions and comments from the board, trustee Corryn Grayston acknowledged how important these dual credit programs are. 

鈥淓very time I hear more about it... it just really reinforces how valuable they are,鈥� she said. 鈥淓very individual, every student has a unique path that they want to walk, and our ability to provide multiple opportunities for them to discover and then determine what they want to do within their career is just fabulous.鈥�

Board chair Amanda Krebs agreed, and pointed out how expensive some of these post secondary programs can be, so getting to start in high school is a great opportunity. 

Further information on dual credit programs can be found on the district website at sd83.bc.ca.