A new training facility for in-demand health-care positions 鈥� including physical therapy, occupational therapy and midwifery 鈥� has opened at UBC in Surrey, near the city's hospital.

In an announcement in central Surrey on Friday afternoon (Sept. 6), Education Minister Rachna Singh and the University of British Columbia's Dr. Roger Wong from the faculty of medicine shared the news.

鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to have UBC鈥檚 physical therapy, occupational therapy and midwifery students in the Fraser region together under one roof for the first time,鈥� Wong said.

Newly opened at the City Centre 1 building, adjacent to Surrey Memorial Hospital, 88 students are already training there as of this month, the province shared in a press release.

鈥淥ur Province is focused on training more people for good-paying, in-demand health-care jobs in their communities,鈥� said Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, in the release. (Beare was absent from the announcement.)

鈥淏y supporting UBC鈥檚 new training space in Surrey, we鈥檙e delivering more physical therapists, occupational therapists and midwives to care for people in our province today and for years to come.鈥�

The new facility will take in 20 master's students in physical therapy, 16 master's students in occupational therapy, and eight midwifery students annually.

The space has newly renovated research laboratories, seminar rooms, multi-purpose rooms and common areas for students. Funding from the province for the new facility totalled $24.9 million.

"The students being trained at this facility will help all British Columbians," Singh said.