Science World gets federal funding to teach kids coding skills
HARRISON MOONEY / The Vancouver Sun
The Telus World of Science has been awarded $693,000 in federal funding to teach thousands of young people in Vancouver coding and digital skills, MP Hedy Fry announced Wednesday.
The investment is allocated through CanCode, a $50-million federal program that aims to teach digital skills, such as coding, to over one million Canadian K-12 students. The money will allow the Telus World of Science, more commonly known as Science World, to develop new educational programs that do just that.
“In a time of unprecedented change, when high-tech innovations are rapidly transforming the job requirements of our province, the need for digital skills is greater than ever,” said Science World president and CEO Dr. Scott Sampson. “We are thrilled to be a funding recipient of the Government of Canada’s CanCode initiative, enabling us to provide youth in British Columbia access to the education and resources needed for the next generation to thrive.”
Fry, MP for Vancouver Centre, called the announcement great news for the young people in her riding. This investment will allow Science World to continue to ignite the dreams of Canadian youth, but also provide our young people with the digital skills needed to succeed in future employment,” she said.
Minister of Innovation Navdeep Bains said in a news release that the government is committed to equipping Canadian youth with the skills necessary for the jobs of the future.
“By teaching kids to code today,” he said, “we’re positioning Canada for future success across all industries and sectors because these kids will facilitate digital adoption, making all Canadian industries more profitable and globally competitive.
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This story originally appeared in The Vancouver Sun on January 25, 2018
