Initially founded as the East Kootenay Community College in 1975, the College of the Rockies began with a single campus at Cranbrook with the aim of providing vocational, technical and academic courses to local students. Further, the college extended into 6 more campuses: Creston Campus, Fernie Campus, Golden Campus, Invermere Campus, Kimberley Campus and Gold Creek Campus. Presently, the institute contributes more than $200 million to the local economy of British Columbia. The College of the Rockies’ Contract Training and Business Development department works closely with local businesses, industries and other organizations in order to deliver hands-on vocational training to students and helping them gain exposure to the real world. Continuing Education courses are also available in a plethora of specialised fields areas such as Advanced Writing, Backcountry Navigation and GPS and Basic Bookkeeping amongst others. Apart from this, the college has worked on various international projects on a multitude of contemporary issues including Gender Equality in Tanzania, Trades Training in Bolivia, Maternal Health in Kenya and Youth at Risk in the Caribbean. Classes are offered in small sizes and students are also provided with the option to study either directly on campus or online, or a blend of the two, as per their convenience.