Okanagan College - Vernon Campus

The Try-a-Trade event at the Okanagan College campus in Vernon gave students the chance to explore different career paths in the residential construction industry through hands-on learning.

Hosted in partnership with the Canadian Home Builders' Association Central Okanagan, the event invited students to roll up their sleeves and participate in interactive workshops, trying out a variety of trades and learning directly from OC instructors and mentors in the dual credit program.

Parents and guests also joined the conversation through industry panel discussions, campus tours and a tradeshow where professionals shared insights about their career journeys.

Thanks to everyone who helped make it an evening of discovery, connection and inspiration for the next generation of skilled trades professionals.

Collaboration, innovation and community were on full display at the TogetHER conference hosted at our Vernon campus.

Over two days, self-identifying women from across the Okanagan came together to share experiences, build connections and learn from business leaders and innovators working across a range of sectors. The conference created space for meaningful conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership and the power of collaboration.

Participants explored topics such as strategic partnerships to support women-led businesses, building innovative companies, strengthening professional networks through LinkedIn and the value of work-integrated learning opportunities that connect students with industry. The event also included a hands-on workshop focused on building strategic alliances, along with learning sessions.

Spring is here and that means it’s time to replace the winter gloves with gardening gloves! Get started with the basics of vermicomposting. Discover the benefits of worm composting and transform your kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich fertilizer.

April 11, 9 a.m. – noon, Vernon campus
Register today at: https://continuingstudies.okanagan.bc.ca/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=4018428&selectedProgramAreaId=1482617&selectedProgramStreamId=1482660

When Okanagan College alumna Kira Watton first stepped onto a job site, she was often the only woman there. Today, she’s a Red Seal electrician working on a major project in East Kelowna and this spring, she’s returning to campus to inspire the next generation.

Kira will serve as keynote speaker for our Women in Trades Leadership Series, co-hosted by OC’s ACTION Project and WinSETT – Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology.

“True leadership isn’t about a title,” says Watton. “It’s about showing up, doing excellent work and supporting the next person coming up behind you.”

The three-part, in-person series (March 7, April 18 and May 2) is open to tradeswomen at all career stages from pre-apprentice to journeyperson and beyond. Full-day sessions will focus on emotional intelligence, communication, mentorship and career development. Participants can attend one session or all three at no cost.

Through initiatives like the ACTION Project, supported in part by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy OC is helping more women move from training to Red Seal certification and into high-opportunity careers that offer strong wages and long-term stability.

This series is more than professional development. It’s a space to connect, share experiences and build leadership in the skilled trades.

Learn more and register at okanagancollege.ca/tradeswomen-leadership.

Okanagan College is welcoming future students, families and career changers to our 2026 Open House events across the region this spring!

Choosing your path after high school or deciding to start something new is a big step. Our Open House events are designed to make that first step easier. Tour classrooms, labs, trades shops and student spaces. Meet instructors, advisors and current students. Explore more than 130 programs and discover flexible pathways, including upgrading and part-time study options.

📍 Event schedule:
• Vernon campus — Wednesday, March 11 | 5 – 6:30 p.m.
• Salmon Arm campus — Tuesday, March 31 | 5 – 6:30 p.m.
• Kelowna campus — Wednesday, April 1 | 5 – 6:30 p.m.
• Penticton campus — Thursday, April 9 | 5 – 6:30 p.m.

As our campuses continue to grow, including the future Don Folk Family Recreation and Wellness Centre, the Centre for Food, Wine and Tourism and new student housing in Penticton there has never been a more exciting time to experience OC.

We look forward to welcoming you, answering your questions and helping you see what’s possible.

Open House is free and open to everyone. Register at okanagancollege.ca/experience-oc.

Our hearts are with the people of Tumbler Ridge and everyone affected by the tragic events in their community including students, families, educators, first responders, leaders and anyone impacted by this heartbreaking loss.

To our OC community, remember that there are supports in place for you. Please take care of yourself and check in with your friends and colleagues. You can find information about supports for students and employees at the links below.

Supports for students: https://www.okanagancollege.ca/student-well-being
Supports for employees: https://homeweb.ca/en

Upcoming OC Speaker Series

A Printer in Vernon: Making Fine Press Books in the Okanagan Valley

Abstract:
Jason will discuss the work he does through his Greenboathouse Press, where, for more than 20 years, he has cast his own metal type, designed, letterpress printed, and bound fine press books of poetry and typographic reference. He'll also discuss his peripheral activities as a freelance book designer, and how all of this relates back to his teaching at OC.

Bio:
Jason Dewinetz is a writer, typographer, printer, publisher, and educator living and working in the Okanagan Valley. For more than 25 years Jason has operated Greenboathouse Press, designing, letterpress-printing, and binding fine press editions of poetry and typographic reference. His books have received numerous Alcuin Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada, and have been exhibited and held in private and institutional collections in more than a dozen countries.

In addition to his efforts at Greenboathouse Press, his printed works have been included in a variety of international collaborative projects and exhibits such as Gibralter Edition's Harry Duncan portfolio All Along the Fence, and the CODEX Foundation's Art of the Edge of the Abyss. He is a current board member and past North American Chair of the Fine Press Book Association.

Jason has also worked as a freelance book designer & typographer for publishers across Canada and the US, including Nawakum Press, Éditions Lucie Lambert, Conversation Tree Press, and Suntup Editions, as well as a range of Canadian trade publishers. For more than 20 years he has taught typography & design at Okanagan College, where he has established a letterpress studio allowing students to get away from their screens and work with real type.

Date: Thu, Feb 12 2026, 4:30 - 6 p.m.
Location: Vernon - Lecture Theatre D310

Okanagan College, in partnership with WeBC is launching TogetHER, a new leadership and growth initiative designed to bring self-identifying women business owners, leaders and entrepreneurs together to strengthen innovation and collaboration across the Okanagan region.

Starting February 18, TogetHER will host the first of three weekly online Innovation Exchanges. These sessions are built as learning conversations co-led by local industry leaders and Okanagan College faculty, where women can learn from one another and explore new ways to grow their businesses. Topics include innovation, access to funding, leadership journeys, learning from failure, procurement opportunities and navigating change.

TogetHER will wrap up with a two-day Women’s Leadership Summit on March 5 and 6 at Okanagan College’s Vernon campus. The summit will feature panel discussions, sector-based breakout sessions and a hands-on workshop focused on building strong, strategic partnerships for women-led businesses.

Women business owners, employers and community partners are invited to join the Innovation Exchanges, the Summit or through mentorship opportunities. We look forward to learning and growing together.

TogetHER is made possible with support from the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.

Register for the innovation exchanges at https://www.okanagancollege.ca/events/15608-together-innovation-exchanges and the women's leadership summit at https://www.okanagancollege.ca/events/15609-together-womens-leadership-summit

Okanagan College students and recent graduates are invited to take the next step in building their professional brand with Level Up: LinkedIn Headshots for Students, a free, on-campus opportunity to receive a polished, high-quality headshot for LinkedIn and other career platforms.

A strong profile photo can make a powerful difference when connecting with employers, networking, or applying for jobs. This event is designed to help students showcase their confidence and professionalism while preparing for the workforce.

Headshot sessions will take place at multiple OC campuses to ensure accessibility for students across the region. Sessions are scheduled for January 21–22 at the Kelowna campus, followed by January 28 in Penticton, and January 29 in Vernon. Each session is free for all OC students and graduates, with advance booking required.

Spaces are limited, and students are encouraged to reserve their spot before the booking deadlines for each campus. Whether you’re updating your LinkedIn profile or creating one for the first time, this event is an easy way to elevate your career presence and put your best face forward.

REGISTRATION-All OC current students & graduates across all campuses: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=72j4XCb2zk2a3ipxqrVnYRZhGFM0FU9NqAciOXLGFvBUMzhINUJFTzFMQ1BIQURIWEUzVjRGMDlSOCQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl

Not sure what’s next after high school?

Explore the Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) with hands-on learning and paid Work-Integrated learning internships.

Offered by Okanagan College and in partnership with BCIT, the ACE Certificate is a fully funded program.

Join our info session on Jan. 27 to learn more. Sign up at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/okanagan-college-ace-certificate-virtual-info-session-tickets-1980739047812?aff=oddtdtcreator

Ready to upskill this winter? GIS Essentials is a 175-hour, fully online microcredential through InspirED Continuing Studies at Okanagan College. This program is 90 per cent tuition-funded and seats are limited! Program starts on January 26.

Apply online at https://www.okanagancollege.ca/gis-essentials