Personal to professional learning opportunities Jan. 24
From personal to professional learning, almost everything you could want to know about is covered at the Adult Education Open House, which will take place at Gaynor Family Regional Library on Jan. 24.
The Adult Education Open House is an annual event in Selkirk where many local organizations that provide learning opportunities for people over 18 get together to help people find the right fit for them.
Deanna Henderson, Director of the Adult Learning Program at the Lord Selkirk Education Centre, says that this is about creating awareness in our community about the available opportunities.
“[It’s] an opportunity for community members to have a one-stop shop kind of experience. I know there are lots of adult services in Selkirk. The issue sometimes is people aren’t aware of what’s available in Selkirk; sometimes they just assume they need to go to Winnipeg for those things,” she said.
Henderson says this event is for any adult in our community who wants to continue their educational journey.
“Whether that’s finishing high school, working on their literacy skills, they’re looking to get a job, or they’re looking to go into post-secondary, there’s a variety of services there. Each of [the organizations] that’s going to be there at the fair is unique in their services, but there are a lot of overlapping services, so sometimes it’s difficult to know for community members which one is appropriate. If we’re all in one place, then we can talk to the adults and then quickly refer them to the group that is probably the ideal one for them to chat with,” said Henderson.
There will be six groups that cover a vast array of educational opportunities.
The Lord Selkirk Education Centre offers learners 19 years of age or older the opportunity to complete their Grade 12 mature student diploma, improve their employability skills, or upgrade credits for entrance into post-secondary educational institutions.
The Selkirk Adult Learning Program provides tailored learning support for people who wish to engage in further study or training, who need support with literacy, numeracy, computer basics, and newcomers learning English as a Second Language.
Workplace Education Manitoba aims to help employers and employees upgrade to create an efficient, effective, and adaptable skilled workforce. They do this by providing essential skills education in reading, writing, numeracy, digital skills, problem-solving, communication, creativity and innovation, collaboration, and adaptability.
Selkirk Employment Services offers individualized and group-based employment assistance to unemployed or underemployed individuals. Their services provide clients the necessary support to enter or re-enter the labour market into sustainable employment.
LSSD Continuing Education provides a variety of personal interest, safety, health and wellness, arts and crafts, fitness and computer literacy programs. With a tremendous number of learning opportunities in various topics, just about anyone can find something they are interested in.
Aim for Work offers a full range of vocational rehabilitation services for persons with physical disabilities or chronic illnesses.
One of the big advantages of these organizations is that they provide services locally, meaning they are available to people who may have to work around busy schedules.
“A lot of our learners and most adults need to be working at some point. So, if they can access these services locally, they’re not having to take time off work to go into Winnipeg, or [dealing with] the costs of transportation increasing,” said Henderson.
She says that the groups keep coming together every year to provide this opportunity because many people in our community still don’t know about the great opportunities that we have in adult education.
“For my situation, for example, we’ve been in this building for almost 10 years plus and Adult Ed. has been running for 20 additional years in other locations in Selkirk. But there are still people out there and new people to the community who aren’t aware that we’re even here. So just getting the word out even if it’s not to [the community member direct] maybe they know someone that could use their services,” said Henderson.
This opportunity is unique because it creates a one-stop-shop type environment for people. Henderson says that people don’t need to know exactly what they are looking for just that they want to do something different and the organizations there can help them figure out the rest.
“It’s a good place to come and just talk and see what’s available in Selkirk. It could be people just seeing what’s out there and then other people specifically know they need a course or they know what program they want to get into but they just want to talk to someone about it before they actually apply,” she said.
She encourages residents to stop by on Jan. 24 from 12:30 until 2 p.m.
“Just stop by and even if they have no idea what they’re looking for, it’s a welcoming safe place. We have snacks, and there’ll be a door prize,” said Henderson.
