A $444,000 donation to Camosun College for scholarships and bursaries will help women and Indigenous students graduate from trades programs and buy equipment for a new marine welding program.
The Dennis and 颅Phyllis 颅Washington Foundation in 颅conjunction with Seaspan (founded by Dennis Washington) are making the donation over three years.
Monies are going to help address a years-long shortage of trained tradespeople in B.C. in a range of workplaces, including shipyards. The Washington Companies鈥� Seaspan owns Victoria and 91原创 shipyards and 91原创 Drydock.
鈥淎s the leading ship repair and conversion operation on Canada鈥檚 west coast, having diversity in our skilled workforce is critical to our success,鈥� Joe O鈥橰ourke, vice-president and general manager of Victoria Shipyards said in a statement Tuesday.
Seaspan鈥檚 North 91原创 shipyard is building billions of dollars worth of non-combat vessels for the federal government. It was recently announced that the job of building one of Canada鈥檚 two new polar icebreakers will go to Seaspan.
The donation is part of the Washington Foundation鈥檚 Diversifying the Tools for Success initiative.
Every year for three years, $100,000 will be allocated for student scholarships and bursaries for women and Indigenous trades students.
This money is for more than tuition. It will help with related costs students bear such as food, childcare, work clothing and equipment.
A grant of $144,000 is buying equipment for a planned marine welding program at Camosun. It will pay for advanced equipment including new marine 颅welding booths and virtual training 颅consoles.
鈥淐amosun College has been an excellent partner to help more women and Indigenous students launch their careers in the marine industry and we are proud to continue our longstanding relationship,鈥� said O鈥橰ourke.
Seaspan and the Washington family鈥檚 charitable organizations have donated to Camosun before.
In June 2016, the Washington Foundation donated $300,000 to a Camosun fundraising campaign which included a program aimed at encouraging women to join the trades.
Later that year, a custom-made bulkhead for Camosun College was unveiled to train students. Seaspan鈥檚 Victoria Shipyards designed, built and delivered the six-tonne, $88,000 bulkhead to Camosun鈥檚 Interurban campus.