Royal Roads University. Photo courtesy Youtube.
With it being one of the fastest growing regions in B.C., the province is looking at ways to improve access to post-secondary education and training for people living in the West Shore and Sooke.
Royal Roads University in Colwood is getting $250,000 from the province to report on possible program delivery options based on need.
West Shore, which includes Langford, Colwood, Metchosin, Highlands and View Royal, had an estimated population of 74,000 last year.
The annual average population growth in Langford over the last decade is 4.7 per cent.
The population of Sooke is around 14,000.
“We’ve been looking at ways to advance the delivery of post-secondary education and training to programs in the West Shore for a number of years,” Langford Mayor Stewart Young said in a statement.
“It makes a lot of sense to give students pursuing a post-secondary education the opportunity to do that in the community they live in.”
The planning process will involve students and parents, Sooke School District, Royal Roads, Camosun College, the University of Victoria, First Nations, the advanced education, skills and training ministry and West Shore communities.
“Giving our students the ability to transition to post-secondary education or training, while continuing to live in their home community, is a great option,” School District 62 superintendent Jim Cambridge said.
“Students can stay in a familiar place where they are comfortable, can continue working locally and, potentially, save money by living at home.”
Andy Neal
