Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) in Surrey will add 462 new skilled-trades training seats this year, part of a provincewide effort to expand training opportunities and prepare British Columbians for growing demand in construction, infrastructure and industrial projects.
The additional seats will bring KPU’s total trades-training capacity to 1,762 seats in 2026-27.
The announcement is part of the B.C. government’s Look West strategy, which includes a commitment to create 5,000 new skilled-trades training seats across the province next year. The province is investing $241 million over three years to expand trades training and help fill in-demand jobs.
Premier David Eby said the expansion is intended to ensure British Columbians are prepared for the jobs tied to major projects planned across the province.
“Skilled-trades training opens the door to rewarding careers and bigger paycheques, delivering the homes, infrastructure and major projects our province needs,” Eby said in a statement.
The new training spaces at KPU are expected to reduce wait lists for apprenticeship programs, expand access to apprenticeship training and introduce more young people to careers in the trades.
Programs benefiting from the expansion include training for:
-
construction electricians,
-
industrial mechanics (millwrights),
-
plumbers,
-
construction craft workers, and
-
parts technicians.
Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, said Surrey’s rapid growth is increasing the need for skilled workers.
“These new seats at KPU will help more people access trades training closer to home and prepare for rewarding careers in the trades building projects across our province, including local infrastructure like hospitals, schools and the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain,” Sunner said.
As one of Canada’s fastest-growing regions, the Lower Mainland continues to face strong demand for workers in construction and infrastructure sectors. The province says expanding training capacity at KPU will help students enter programs sooner while providing employers with a larger pool of skilled workers.
KPU president and vice-chancellor pro tem Diane Purvey welcomed the funding, saying it provides stability during a period of economic uncertainty and will help the university respond to future labour-market needs.
Local MLAs also emphasized the importance of expanding training opportunities in Surrey. Gary Begg, parliamentary secretary for Surrey infrastructure and MLA for Surrey-Guildford, said the new seats will help residents train for “good-paying careers that build the homes and infrastructure our province relies on.” Amna Shah, MLA for Surrey-City Centre, said the investment will create more pathways to rewarding careers while helping meet the workforce demands created by Surrey’s continued growth.
KPU apprentice Brandon Payne, who is in his first year of construction electrical trades training, said demand for skilled tradespeople remains strong as technology and automation reshape the workforce.
“There are plenty of opportunities for new apprentices, and employers are actively seeking talent,” Payne said. “This funding for trades training helps students like me advance to the next level.”
The province says the additional seats at KPU are funded through the broader $241-million Look West trades-training investment, which is intended to strengthen workforce development and support economic growth across British Columbia.
