They really should look into training Lab techs, and the various health scientists needed. I believe the next closest center would be BCIT or perhaps NAIT.

For a long time PGRH used to be involved in training medical laboratory technologists from about 1976 on for 20 years or so. For a lot of it there was a one year program at CNC called Medical Laboratory Orientation, which taught the basics of lab work and how to work safely and accurately. Unfortunately, it was canceled in the late 1980s. After CNC the students went on to BCIT or Kamloops for a year of specifically Medical Laboratory training, or into other programs. Both programs were later canceled, and there was no BC training of Med. Lab. Techs. for a while.

Each year, four students returned to PGRH for a year of practical instruction, training and practicing skills. I looked after that part of it for 20 years or so. During that time we provided med. Lab. Techs for most of Northern BC, and many still work there, so it was certainly a valuable program. I was very disappointed when the program was stopped and argued against it as much as I could. It did start up again at PGRH a few years ago, I notice, in conjunction with BCIT.

When UNBC the Chief Laboratory Technologist and I tried to get a program going there, but they were not ready for it. I will be interested to see if the CNC program will have all the instruction there for a complete program, or whether they are just setting up the initial orientation year.

My opinion is that Medical Laboratory Sciences have advanced enough in the last 30 years to require a degree program, whether CNC or UNBC, with a much more thorough grounding in basic sciences and human physiology than it used to have. Laboratory Technologists now have to cope with quite rapid advances in laboratory sciences and a thorough grounding is necessary to keep up to date during the 40 years working life. You would be surprised how much modern medicine depends on the results of lab testing.

That should be:
"When UNBC started up the Chief Technologist and I"

Actually it was not an orientation at all. It was accepted as the equivalent of the first year of the BCIT program. Those who passed that went right into the second year at BCIT. It was part of the "technology" suite of programs at CNC which have gone the way of the dodo bird. In fact, the history of the College published for its 35th anniversity barely even mentions the level of technology programs CNC had. Med Lab is not mentioned at all.

Heather S. was the individual who taught the med lab specific courses of the program which included first year science courses.

CNC lost the program because the ministry decided that there were going to be "centres of excellence" and Cariboo College was picked as the centre for medical technologies in the Interior.

There was not enough call for Med Lab techs in BC, thus the program was cancelled.

Here is the current run down of the accredited programs in Canada. Once again, look and see how much training both Ontario and Quebec do.

Also, in line with ammonra's position regarding a University program, note the length of the progams in Ontario and even in Alberta where it is a 17 month post diploma program at SAIT and a 3 year program at U of A with the option of staying for another year to receive a BSc.

Often the defacto entry requirement for such progams become a BSc. The reason is simple. A BSc was not a great degree for an entry level position for a long time. That may be changing with the problem of recruiting these days.

However, for those who thought they would be able to find a job working in a lab of some sort or another and could not, many went back to get a diploma at a Community College to give them practical training and good job entry opportunities.

http://www.csmls.org/english/career/programs.htm