"Nurses play a vital role in our health-care system. This technology will allow us to provide expanded  training opportunities for nursing students across northern B.C., as well as additional professional development activities for the nurses who work at Northern Health," said Bond.

Students in Terrace will be the first to experience a simulation laboratory, followed by Quesnel, Prince George, and Fort St. John.

Since 2001, government has doubled the number of funded nursing seats -in 2008 alone, over 400 nursing spaces were added. Government has also added 24 nursing programs across B.C. for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, and masters and PHD students.