Prospera’s $80K donation gives OC’s Women in Trades program a big boost

More women will get the chance to take the first step in a career in trades thanks to a generous gift from Prospera to Okanagan College (OC).

Made up of two separate donations, Prospera has contributed just under $80,000 to OC’s Women in Trades training program, which was created to remove barriers for women interested in pursuing trades education.

One of the donations is $60,000 in student bursaries that Prospera has given to the school since 2021, which will be dispersed until 2025, and the other is a $19,660 donation for equipment for the SISTERS program.

That is a 30-week program that introduces Indigenous women to all aspects of the carpentry trade, including the use of hand tools and other equipment.

“These bursaries and added equipment provide opportunities for women to pursue trades training, supporting them to go on to find a rewarding career and adding to the richness of representation and diversity in the workplace,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training.

“This is just one example of how OC is opening doors for students and supporting their talent, passions, and pursuit of knowledge.”

Niki Jelstad from Prospera said that the credit union is proud to support OC’s Women in Trades training program.

“Our partnership is a valuable investment in women and their families, and strategically supports our commitment to helping our local communities,” she explained.

Amanda Kury was a recipient of a bursary made possible by Prospera’s contributions to OC.

“When I found out I’d received the award, I was overwhelmed with joy,” the second-year OC Aircraft Maintenance Engineer student said. “It couldn’t have come at a better time because my savings had just run out.”

She called it “life-changing” to get the much-needed break from worrying about finances and her tuition.

the Women in Trades training program has already trained over 1,300 women since it was founded.