Skills Training

The Skills Centre provides free and low-cost skills training and employment programs. We will help you get the certifications you need, help with your resume and interview skills, and offer financial support while you learn.

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Mature Workers: RISE 50+

Older workers like you are returning to the workforce for various reasons, including longer life expectancy, increasing need for financial security, and changing views on traditional retirement. If you’re over 50, our RISE 50+ program can help you get the job you want. We work with you individually or you can join a small group of other like-minded learners and work with us to get or refresh the skills and certifications you need to be competitive in the labour market. Our goal is to get you working.

You’re not alone. We’re here to help you.

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We offer job specific certificates such as:

  • Food Safe
  • WHMIS
  • Super Host
  • First Aid training
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
  • Naloxone
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • Basic Security Training Certification
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We offer workshops such as:

  • Workshops on job searching today, updating your resume, and interview skills
  • Workshops on soft skills including communication, confidence, team work, interpersonal skills, age in the workplace, coping skills (such as stress or shift work), health and wellness, mental health & self-care
  • Job placement support including wage subsidies and connecting you with employers
  • Funding for transportation, required work clothing or gear, criminal record check, and more.
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Meet your facilitator

Karina Allis changed career tracks as a mature worker to become an employment counsellor. Her experience making a career and employment transition is key to successfully supporting job seekers. She knows her stuff, and she knows how to help people find the confidence and comfort level to learn new skills and find a new job at any stage of their life.

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“Knowing my job application skills were rusty and needed to be fine-tuned, I joined the Mature Workers program. As well as providing some guidance in updating skills, the staff has assisted in financial support for further courses and partnering with other community agencies. Many thanks to the staff of the Skills Centre.”

Mature Workers Participant

Funding for our programs comes from multiple provincial and federal sources, including:

  • Ministry of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills and the Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Development Agreement
  • The Government of Canada’s Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities
  • The Government of Canada’s Skills for Success Program
  • The Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnerships Program
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