Aspiring paramedics in Prince George and the region will be able to get the training they need close to home thanks to new funding for the Primary Care Paramedic program. The program is focused on the training of paramedics in British Columbia’s rural communities, with Prince George and Cranbrook as the first beneficiaries. The program will be delivered by the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC), and funding will come through an annual investment of $250,000 by the provincial government, which will go to two rural primary care paramedic programs each year. Past investments in Prince George include $138,400 in 2012-13 and $117,000 in 2011-12.
The Primary Care Paramedic Program will train a total of 30 students, organized as two intakes of 15 students in two rural communities each year. The program is designed to help meet current demand for paramedic training in rural areas, including growing demand for paramedics in public and private organizations in these areas. The new annual funding for this program will allow JIBC to plan and develop programming to meet the needs of industry and open up training to a wider catchment area.
“With this funding, the Justice Institute of British Columbia will be able to continue its Primary Care Paramedic program in Prince George,” said Shirley Bond, MLA for Prince George-Valemount. “I have always been a strong advocate for providing expanded training opportunities in Northern BC so I am glad to see this program among the courses being provided in our region.”
Submitted by: BC Government
