BURNABY, B.C. — People looking to enter the skilled trades will have more training opportunities at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), which is adding 272 new trades-training seats in 2026–27 as part of the province’s plan to create 5,000 new trades-training seats across B.C.
The expansion comes as demand for skilled workers continues across the Lower Mainland. BCIT has also added nearly 900 additional seats in response to demand.
Across the region, more than 2,000 new trades-training seats are being added in the Lower Mainland in 2026, with additional expansion planned.
The provincial government says the investment is intended to expand access to training, reduce wait lists for in-demand apprenticeship programs and help more people move into skilled-trades careers.
Training expands in high-demand trades
The new training capacity at BCIT will support programs in several high-demand occupations, including automotive service technician, carpentry, heavy mechanical trades, industrial mechanic (millwright), marine mechanical technician, plumbing and sheet metal work.
The expansion comes as major projects and the construction, marine and transportation sectors continue to drive demand for skilled workers across British Columbia, including the Lower Mainland.
By increasing training capacity in the Burnaby region, the province says more people will have opportunities to develop skills for good-paying jobs.
“Throughout British Columbia, more people are gaining access to the opportunities that come with a career in the skilled trades,” said Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “The additional seats at British Columbia Institute of Technology will help prepare the next generation of skilled workers who will contribute to our communities and support key sectors throughout the province.”
$241 million investment in skilled-trades training
The BCIT expansion is part of the province’s Look West strategy, through which the government is investing $241 million over three years to train people for in-demand jobs.
The province says the investment will help people enter training and move onto job sites sooner, while supporting employers facing demand for skilled workers.
Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, said the expansion will help support the workforce needed for B.C.’s clean-energy transition and regional economic growth.
“B.C.’s transition to a clean-energy future relies heavily on building a highly skilled workforce,” Dix said. “The expansion of trades-training seats at BCIT will help ensure that more people can secure good-paying jobs, driving regional economic growth in communities across the entire province.”
BCIT expansion responds to demand
BCIT President Jeff Zabudsky said the investment will allow the institution to provide hands-on training to more students while helping industry access skilled workers.
“As the largest trades-training provider in Western Canada, BCIT has a critical role in preparing students for job-readiness in high-demand careers across B.C.,” Zabudsky said.
Anne Kang, MLA for Burnaby-Centre, said the additional seats will create more opportunities for people in the community to pursue careers in the skilled trades.
“This is fantastic news for Burnaby and for the thousands of people across our community who are building their careers in the skilled trades,” Kang said.
Shelley Gray, CEO of SkilledTradesBC, said increased access to training can help more people begin an apprenticeship, whether they are entering the trades for the first time, changing careers or pursuing a long-term interest.
More pathways into skilled-trades careers
For people across the Lower Mainland considering a career in the trades, the expansion means increased training capacity at a time when employers in several sectors are seeking skilled workers.
BCIT apprentice Quinn de Haas said the trades offer a combination of technical skills, craftsmanship and creativity, adding that expanded training access can give more people an opportunity to experience hands-on learning.
The province’s broader 2026–27 plan calls for 5,000 new trades-training seats across B.C., with the Lower Mainland receiving more than 2,000 of those new seats.
The government says the expansion is designed to connect workforce training more closely with industry demand while giving more British Columbians opportunities to build careers in the skilled trades.
Note: Training seats provide access to education and apprenticeship pathways; they do not guarantee employment.
Learn more
People interested in apprenticeship opportunities can find information through SkilledTradesBC and the province’s skilled-trades training resources.
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving diaspora communities across 44 languages. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, Unifor, NEPMCC, and the Canada Freelance Union. Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
