VALLEYINBRIEF

Okanagan College expands program

Twelve more students in Oliver will be able to get the education and skills to pursue an in-demand career as health-care assistants with the expansion of the program at Okanagan College.

Okanagan College will receive $89,000 from the Ministry of Advanced Education to add seats to its health-care assistant program, beginning February 2019.

The one-time funding is part of a larger provincial investment to boost the number of health-care assistants throughout the province. The total funding of nearly $1 million will help approximately 100 students get the skills and education they need to build careers in the health-care field.

In the Okanagan, there will be an expected 2,360 job openings by 2027 for health-care assistants and related professions.

Due to the increase in British Columbia’s aging population, the health-care and social assistance sectors will have some of the most career opportunities, with 142,500 job openings expected within the next decade.

Summerland hosts free public event Saturday

If you’ve ever wanted to try Tai Chi or Quigong, this will be the weekend to do it.

In honour of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day, there is a free public event planned for Saturday at 10 a.m. in Summerland Memorial Park.

Tai Chi and Qigong exercise systems both have equivalent health benefits and give a full body-mind-spirit workout when done properly.

The gentle exercise systems have a long history in Chinese medicine, and are now being recognized by western medicine as well.

The event is being sponsored by the Summerland Drop In Recreation Centre Association (formerly the Summerland Seniors Drop In), which will host an open house afterwards at 9710 Brown St.

For more information, call 250-494-9377.