Animation students at Capilano today received some long-awaited good news.

The Province is funding an additional 50 seats in animation programs to give students the creative and technical skills to get good-paying jobs in the booming tech industry.

“The last significant investment in tech programming at our public post-secondary institutions was more than 10 years ago,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “Additional tech spaces at Capilano University are among thousands of tech spaces we’re adding to improve people’s access to education, and support the tech sector with more homegrown talent.”

Funding of $100,000 will allow Capilano University to start planning for additional spaces in the 2D animation and visual effects diploma program, as well as for more spaces in the 3D animation diploma program.

“Capilano is an amazing university that gives students every tool needed to excel in the animation industry,” said Bowinn Ma, MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale. “Adding more seats in the 2D and 3D animation programs opens the door for more students to access training that will help them produce stunning visuals for computer games, television and feature films.”

The first 25 additional spaces for the two-year diploma programs will become available in 2019-20, ramping up to 50 spaces in 2020-21. It’s expected there will be 14 new spaces in the 2D animation and visual effects diploma program, and 36 new spaces in the 3D animation program. Once the spaces are fully implemented, funding is expected to increase to $500,000 annually.

Read the full release here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018AEST0051-000675