The B.C. government and South Okanagan Immigrant Community Services announced funding for a partnership aimed at boosting English skills to the region's newcomers seeking work in the medical field. Photographer: Steve Arstad

Language funding to boost employability of South Okanagan immigrants

PENTICTON – Newcomers to the South Okanagan who are seeking work in health services will be provided some assistance in getting a grasp on the English language through a B.C. government initiative.

The Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training is providing $45,231 towards a medical English training program for new immigrants, the B.C. government announced in a media release today, Dec. 10.

The program will be run by the South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services. It will assist new immigrants in overcoming language barriers they might run into when seeking employment in the health care field, according to the release.

“We want to give new residents of the South Okanagan the support they need to settle into their new home and find in-demand jobs in our health care facilities,” Penticton MLA Dan Ashton says in the release.

The medical English course is intended to help newcomers achieve enough proficiency in English they will be able to take college-level courses in medical training for such positions as Health Care Aide, Medical Office Assistant and Pharmacy Technician.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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