If the longevity of an organization is a sign of its success, then 23 years spent on its board of directors is a sign of a good board member. Roberta Post has been on the Skills Centre board since 1999, and she’s retiring from the board this spring ready to hand the work over to someone new.

“The board members have always been interesting, each with different life experiences, and we don’t always know what those life experiences are, which can be good,” Roberta says of her time in the volunteer position.

> “It’s a well-run board, which doesn’t always happen in all organizations. I’ve been on other boards that weren’t as interesting, and never for as long as I’ve been on the Skills Centre board, which says a lot,” she says.

Roberta has been vice-president, president, and is the current past-president. When Lila Cresswell steps down as president in June, she’ll take on the mantle of past-president, and Roberta sees this as a good time to step down herself and let someone new join the board.

She says that she felt fully supported and appreciated in her various roles on the board. That the Skills Centre is still going strong after 25 years is significant and really shows its value in the community, she adds.

**Different perspectives build a good a board**

Roberta was asked to join the Skills Centre board of directors in its infancy. She worked at the hospital and brought a healthcare perspective to help the organization’s mandate of building skills and job opportunities in Trail and the surrounding communities. After she retired from her job, she and her husband opened a business, so she brought in a small business perspective as well.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with some great people—staff members, board members—really smart, good people.”

“I appreciated working with people with great values; otherwise they wouldn’t be working here or on the Board. Values are very important to me. The Skills Centre supports the community in any way it can. It’s had two excellent executive directors; they wouldn’t be in that role if they weren’t excellent people.”

The opportunities for the board members and the staff to interact at planning sessions are among the highlights she notes of her years contributing to the Skills Centre’s success.

> “It gave me a sense of involvement in the community that I wouldn’t have otherwise. It gave me an ability to speak and be heard and have my opinion valued, have my involvement valued.”

Her advice for people thinking about volunteering and what they can contribute as well as what they get out of the experience for themselves also hinges on values and being valued. It’s clear she has both fondness and respect for her time with the Skills Centre.

“It’s really important  that anyone coming on the board understands what the Skills Centre represents. New members need to be interested in the community.”

“I have been proud to be on the board with other caring, community-minded, empathetic people,” Roberta says as we wrap up our conversation, and she is confident that new board members will have a similar experience.

**Do you want to make a difference in your community?**

Are you interested in helping Trail and area communities solve employment, skills training and poverty issues? The Skills Centre is looking for two new board members this spring. If this sounds like you, give us a call.

[Read more about this volunteer position here.](https://skillscentre.ca/jobs/view/board-of-directors/)


Roberta Post marks 23 years on Skills Centre board of directors

I walked into the kitchen at the Trail United Church to meet the participants of Community Kitchens. Five friendly, enthusiastic people greeted me. They were working together to prepare a healthy meal for their families. They were tossing advice back and forth on how to prepare this or how to fix that, handing each other ingredients they needed, sharing the dishwashing duties, and generally just being social.

They looked like they were having fun. It was a good day. I was there to take their pictures for the Skills Centre’s social media and other communications. I wanted to stay and help and, yes, test the chocolate peanut butter squares that hadn’t even gone into the oven yet. (I didn’t; that’s not why I was there.)

Community Kitchens is one of the Skills Centre’s poverty reduction programs. People living with low income join our facilitator each week to learn about nutrition and food budgeting. Together they make a healthy meal with inexpensive ingredients. This day they were making meatloaf, a vegetable side dish, and chocolate peanut butter squares. Alanna, the facilitator, was clearly pleased to share that they were doing all this for less than $50 in food costs for all of them.

> There was much more at play than economical meal planning though. They were sharing stories, socializing, becoming friends, building each other up.

They were happy to have me take their photos. They were equally happy to share how much they appreciate Alanna’s guidance and Community Kitchens. They shared their gratitude openly and unsolicited. It made me feel good to hear their genuine appreciation for the opportunities Community Kitchens is giving them.

It is a great example of strengthening our community together. Wouldn’t it be great if we could have more programs like Community Kitchens and more local people taking part?

Community Kitchens is part of our [Thriving for All poverty reduction initiative](https://skillscentre.ca/how-we-help/poverty-reduction/) and is funded by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and Teck. The Skills Centre is dedicated to strengthening the region’s workforce, promoting inclusion and eliminating poverty through initiatives such as Community Kitchens.

Community Kitchens participants take the cake

Are you 17 to 29 years old and want to train as a wildfire fighter? We’re offering a Boot Camp April 11-14 near Nelson. Take these four courses:
- S100/S185 Fireline Safety & Suppression/ Fire Entrapment Avoidance
- S212- Fireline Communications
- ICS100 – Introduction to the Incident Command System

You’ll also get employment readiness workshops and soft skills training in workshops such as resume writing, cover letters, interview prep, and soft skills including communication, team work, and time management. 

[Contact Bethel](https://skillscentre.ca/contact/) today to see about eligibility.


Wildfire Fighting Boot Camp this April

Community Kitchens is back in downtown Trail!

Community Kitchens provides people living with low income a supportive environment to learn about healthy, affordable food preparation, and creates a space for community and inclusion. A small group (up to six people including the facilitator) will meet regularly to prepare a nutritious meal together. They’ll prepare enough food for participants to take home for their families or others in their household. We will have COVID safety practices and policies in place to ensure a safe and healthy environment.

Alanna, our facilitator, will prepare for the group and guide the process: teaching about cooking and nutrition while ensuring everyone is engaged and feeling connected. She will ensure participants feel welcome and included in the group decision-making and task-sharing, and she’ll promote community inclusion and healthy lifestyle habits.

Alanna will develop menus for the weekly programs based on what is available at the food bank that week and what is on special in the local grocery stores.

We will work closely with organizations such as FAIR, Trail Association for Community Living, CDS, Sanctuary, the United Way and others to identify potential participants who might benefit from Community Kitchens.

Community Kitchens is part of our Thriving for All poverty reduction initiative and is funded by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and Teck. The Skills Centre is dedicated to strengthening the region’s workforce, promoting inclusion and eliminating poverty through initiatives such as Community Kitchens.

If you or someone you know would benefit from Community Kitchens, [please contact us](https://skillscentre.ca/contact/).


Community Kitchens returns to downtown Trail

**Government investments in child care and family supports offset other expense increases**

The gap is closing between the minimum wage and the living wage in the Greater Trail area. A new report from the Skills Centre and Living Wage for Families BC has found that the 2021 living wage for Trail and its surrounding communities is $18.15 per hour.

This is a slight decrease from the living wage calculation of two years ago when it was $18.83. Rather than an indication that the cost of living is going down, it signals that there are more financial supports available for low wage earners.

“The living wage indicates what it costs to get by in a community, so if there are more subsidies and credits available, then that living wage can decrease. That doesn’t mean the cost of living has decreased, it means that we’re taking better care of our low income earners,” explains Morag Carter, executive director of the Skills Centre.

“The reality is that many families in the Greater Trail area earn less than a living wage and struggle to make ends meet with the rising cost of living,” she says. “Minimum wage is the minimum an employer legally has to pay an employee. A living wage is the minimum pay to keep your employees above the poverty line.”

The living wage is calculated as the hourly amount that each of two working parents with two young children must earn to meet their basic expenses, including rent, child care, food and transportation, once government taxes, credits, deductions and subsidies are taken into account. Recent government investments in child care and other policy measures to support families have helped to prevent an increase in the living wage. 

Steve Morissette, mayor of the Village of Fruitvale, a living wage workplace, says that for employers, paying a living wage makes sense.

“There are many places looking for workers. This is an opportunity to promote your business as a living wage employer and attract people to come work for you,” he says.

“It made sense for Fruitvale to show our resolve that everyone should be afforded the dignity of a living wage. We made a commitment to providing a good quality of life for our employees and contractors, and to being a leader in bringing awareness of poverty issues in our area and finding solutions. I’m really excited that Fruitvale is leading the charge for municipalities both locally and provincially. Hopefully, it will inspire others,” Morissette adds.

“This year’s calculation shows the impact of public policy changes since 2018, notably significant child care investments, the new BC Child Opportunity Benefit and elimination of MSP premiums, as well as other small changes to government transfers and taxes,” says Anastasia French, Living Wage for Families BC Organiser.

“These changes have helped offset the increase in family expenses since 2018, improving affordability for modest- and middle-income families with young children, which demonstrates the power of good public policy to make life more affordable for families,” she says.

In 2021 Living Wage for Families BC certified over 100 new living wage employers across the province,  suggesting that employers have found paying a living wage as a solution to some of the pandemic-related hiring challenges they have experienced.

“The pandemic has revealed how much of our economy depends on undervalued and underpaid workers in service and care industries,” French says. “Public sector employers such as municipalities, school boards, health authorities and universities and private sector companies can support poverty reduction efforts and pandemic recovery across the province by increasing wages. This will also stimulate local economies because lower-income families tend to spend almost all of their income in their communities.”

The five living wage employers in Greater Trail are the Skills Centre, the Village of Fruitvale, Modern Purair, Community Futures Boundary and Grand Forks Credit Union.


New living wage shows progress for low income earners

Thriving for All is the official poverty reduction plan adopted by the City of Trail, City of Rossland, Village of Warfield, Village of Montrose, and Village of Fruitvale. The Skills Centre helped develop this plan with residents and representatives from the municipalities, including those with lived or living experience of poverty. With this information, we developed a series of strategies to reduce poverty and increase the opportunity to thrive, which fall into these five themes.

### Housing

1. Ensure the availability of data required to support affordable housing initiatives
2. Facilitate coordination amongst organizations operating subsidized housing for low income households
3. Develop mechanisms for low income households to access information on affordable housing options
4. Increase the number of subsidized rental housing options for low income households
5. Advocate for support by government to develop and operate affordable housing

### Social, Health & Community Services

1. Promote increased access to social and health services
2. Promote barrier free access to transportation for low income households
3. Promote barrier free access for lower income households to recreation, arts and culture activities
 
### Food Security

1. Promote the development of community gardens to support poverty reduction
2. Promote opportunities for low income households to earn livelihoods through the production and sale of food and food-related products
3. Promote opportunities for low income households to prepare nutritious food
4. Encourage planning and communication amongst food security players that contributes to the reduction of poverty

### Learning & Development

1. Improve access to learning and academic upgrading for low income individuals
2. Improve the availability of and access to childcare
3. Improve access to early childhood services and resources for low income families

### Vibrant & Inclusive Economy

1. Promote the Living Wage as a means of providing workers access to a good quality of life
2. Promote employment of lower skilled individuals by supporting the development of workplace essential skills
3. Support the development and diversification of the local economy


Thriving for All - Poverty reduction strategies

### Snapshot shows local impact of job training, poverty reduction programs


Kelton is one of the 73% of youth who found regular employment after completing their training plan. Jenn is one of the 97% of mature workers who completed a short term occupational certificate. Damaris is one of the clients who accessed training services in Spanish.

All three were clients of the Skills Centre in the past year, and all three are representative of the impact the Skills Centre has in the community. The Skills Centre has released its first Community Impact Report showcasing the work it does in the Kootenay and Boundary region.

“We help a lot of people get training and find jobs. We have solid partnerships with a lot of local organizations. We do a lot in the community, and we realized that we haven’t been sharing some of these positive stories publicly,” says Emily Gora, Program Development Officer at the Skills Centre.

“This report is a snapshot of the work we do in our communities. It highlights our poverty reduction work with five local governments. It lists the sponsorships we have made to shine a light on equity, diversity and inclusion, such as the Jesse Thistle and Desmond Cole presentations with the Mir Centre for Peace and Selkirk College.”

“Our mission is to create opportunities for all people to be engaged in a caring community. Next year we’ll be celebrating our 25th anniversary in the community, so it’s time we tell our story,” Gora adds.

Read our 2021 Community Impact Report, then contact us with any questions.

![alt](https://cdn.benecms.com/skillscentre/Community%20Impact%20Report%20p1%20web.webp)

![](https://cdn.benecms.com/skillscentre/Community%20Impact%20Report%20p2%20web.webp)

![](https://cdn.benecms.com/skillscentre/Community%20Impact%20Report%20p3%20web.webp)

![](https://cdn.benecms.com/skillscentre/Community%20Impact%20Report%20p4%20web.jpg)


Skills Centre Community Impact Report

CARF accreditation has been the internationally recognized benchmark of quality service providers for more than 50 years. The Skills Centre received its CARF accreditation this month following an intensive review of the non-profit.

“CARF accreditation helps organizations improve the quality of their services and meet internationally recognized standards. The public can look at CARF accreditation as assurance that we strive to offer the highest quality programs and services,” says Morag Carter, executive director of the Skills Centre.

“In many ways, getting the certification is about our processes and policies, things that the public and our clients don’t think about. For the public, the value of CARF is in what we offer our clients and partners. As one client told the certification committee, ‘The Skills Centre goes above and beyond to help clients build confidence in themselves.’”

Carter says that sort of testimonial along with the recommendations and endorsement of CARF are very rewarding for everyone at the Skills Centre.

“The organization has worked hard to create a professional yet personal and welcoming workplace that both the staff members and community members appreciate,” the CARF certification committee said in granting the Skills Centre its accreditation.

The Skills Centre is one of only two organizations in the region to achieve its CARF certification.

“Everyone at the Skills Centre participated in this process, our staff and board directors, and the achievement belongs to each one of them. I’m very proud of our team and the impact we’re able to make in the community,” Carter adds.

New Certification Big News for Skills Centre Community

Home-cooked meal delivery in Greater Trail comes with a side of community goodwill. Our poverty reduction program, Bringing Community to Your Door, served 1,700 meals in 2021, and the Trail Times and the Rossland News featured it in this front page story.

[https://www.rosslandnews.com/home/home-cooked-meal-delivery-in-greater-trail-comes-with-a-side-of-community-goodwill/](https://www.rosslandnews.com/home/home-cooked-meal-delivery-in-greater-trail-comes-with-a-side-of-community-goodwill/)

Bringing Community to Your Door

A four-day work week is an evolving trend around the world, but something the Greater Trail Community Skills Centre is proud to say it’s been doing for more than two years.

A recent study from Reykjavik, Iceland has been getting a lot of press for its findings on the upside of a four-day work week. Yet, Skills Centre executive director Morag Carter is acutely aware of the benefits as she and her staff have experienced them first hand since introducing the new work week in Greater Trail 28 months ago.

“We have a high level of productivity, and a high level of commitment from the staff, so from the perspective of an employer, I think it’s a no brainer.

“The way that we have managed to engage our staff, deliver on the programs, rebuild the Skills Centre … I believe the four-day work week has played a very significant role in the rebirth of the Skills Centre.”

The report on Iceland’s four-year experiment with shorter work weeks showed an improvement in quality of working life and in work-life balance during a lengthy trial period from 2015 to 2019.

There was no reduction in pay with the shorter work week of 35 to 36 hours, and employers often saw an increase in productivity.

Microsoft Japan’s experiment with a four-day work week also showed a 40 per cent rise in productivity in a 2019 study.

Another report from the University of Reading found similar improvements in productivity and employer loyalty among over 200 U.K. companies that had experimented with four-day work weeks.

The Skills Centre, which serves Rossland, Trail, Warfield, Montrose and Fruitvale, began its trial run on April 1, 2019, when employees would go from a five-day, 40-hour week to a four-day 34-hour week but with the same salary and workload.

“The board agreed to do a trial for 12 months just to see how it went, but we knew very quickly that it was going to work very well for us,” said Carter.

Currently, the community non-profit provides employment services and career planning and also runs a variety of programs ranging from employment consulting and poverty reduction to a community kitchen and health and wellness services.

But it was the loss of a massive WorkBC contract in 2019 that prompted further introspection.

“We had just lost a major contract and we were in the process of rebuilding the Skills Centre, and we were in a position where we could look quite carefully at all the pieces in place,” said Carter. “The four-day work week was part of a package of measures.”

The employer pivoted creating two shifts, which ran from Monday to Thursday and another from Tuesday to Friday. The centre permitted staff to work from home, go into the office early or work late, in order to accommodate their respective family’s needs.

“We all go through periods in our lives when we are responsible for kids, or we have elderly parents, or we have a partner who is sick at home. We wanted to make sure there was flexibility built in to the way that we offered work.”

Within three months, staff knew they were headed in the right direction.

Internal surveys showed that the overall approval rate was more than 80 per cent, productivity increased 20 per cent, sick leave was reduced drastically, and job satisfaction high.

“For us we think that it’s been an unqualified success, and we are very happy to talk about it because it’s a really good story for us.”

The board officially adopted the four-day week the following year, just as the pandemic hit and restrictions imposed, interrupting many Greater Trail businesses and services.

The transition to work from home, however, was relatively seamless for Skills Centre staff, said Carter. They had grown accustomed to the flexibility and extra day off, which proved vital for the 10-weeks the Skills Centre had to close due to COVID-19.

“Having the four-day work week was great, first of all for supporting staff mental health, because you have that break, so that was another really good outcome that we saw.”

The transition to a four-day week has improved employees’ well-being and the positive results permeate the communiti

Skills Centre embraces four-day work week

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Explore

Couldn't find what you're looking for? Here are more ways we can help you!

Find the latest news about programs for you, our work in the community & trends that help you as a worker or an employer.

News

Support for Business

Inside Job Consulting (IJC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Skills Centre. Since 2010, IJC has provided services focusing on human resources knowledge and skills development, wellness programs and workforce development within the Lower Columbia Region.

About Inside Job Consulting

Our experienced consultants offer human resources services tailored to meet the needs and unique challenges of each person and business. Whether you need assistance with your job search or professional development, our consultants will provide the expertise, support and guidance customized to meet your needs. We offer individual services as well as group workshops to assist you with your career and your business’s success.

How it works

"I feel I can better represent myself when interacting with a supervisor or co-worker. I feel more confident of how to express myself better. I am feeling more positive. I would recommend this workshop for sure. I found it very enjoyable and encouraging." 

Inside Job Consulting

With completion of this pilot project, Teck Trail Operations moved ahead with a secondary strategy to utilize internal people to develop and drive a diversity plan, including establishing Diversity Committee. They announced a 30 x 30 target of 30% of their workforce would be women by 2030.

The result

- Maternity/paternity leave policy development
- Networking events across business areas
- Increased awareness of gender diversity within Teck’s Trail Operations
- Posting and succession planning processes
- Development of a Quick Guide (easy access information for employees)
- Bridging the gap in community perception and promotion of career opportunities for women
- Industrial lifting devices that mitigate physically demanding tasks
- Family friendly workplace practices, including research of childcare and family sick days

The Affinity Projects addressed topics including:

***As a result of the mentorship relationships, the Affinity Projects and the conversations within the project’s sponsorship team, other project successes include:***

- greater transparency in career advancement opportunities, including more job postings
- new kinds of conversations, including career mentorship and sponsorship, awareness of gender differences and the accommodation of family needs; and
- people at all levels taking on leadership to make a difference

"This program has so many different facets. It really taught me new coping skills in areas I’d never thought of looking at."

Mining & Refining for Women

Our best example of our success is the Teck Wellness & Learning Centre. We work with Teck Metals Ltd. to organize short courses, sports and fitness activities, and health and wellness awareness campaigns.

Inside Job Consulting has over 10 years of experience facilitating workplace learning and wellness programs for employers in the Lower Columbia Region.

Our success

IJC can facilitate individual pay-per-use courses or comprehensive programs for employers focussed on enhancing employees’ overall health and wellness. We can also develop general interest programs that can help your workplace become a first choice for job seekers.

IJC’s wellness and learning programs can be held at the employer’s facility as a ‘Lunch and Learn’ format or after hours in a classroom-based format for more in-depth programs

Teck Wellness & Learning Centre

We are leading the way in bringing awareness to poverty issues in the area and finding solutions for the most vulnerable people in our communities.

Poverty Reduction

Thriving for All is the official poverty reduction plan adopted by the City of Trail, City of Rossland, Village of Warfield, Village of Montrose, and Village of Fruitvale. It is a project of the Skills Centre. Learn how your community can be involved.

What is Thriving for All?

A living wage sets a higher standard than the minimum wage: it is what a family needs to earn to provide the basic needs based on the actual costs of living in a community. Living Wage Canada notes that it gets families out of severe financial stress, lifts them out of poverty and provides a basic level of economic security.

We're a Living Wage Employer

One of our success stories is Bringing Community to Your Door. This meal delivery program was a COVID-friendly initiative, bringing healthy meals to isolated or marginalized individuals within the community as well as providing a wellness check in. We delivered almost 1,800 meals to residents in Trail, Fruitvale, Montrose, Warfield & Rossland.

This training for service providers who work with people living in poverty provides improved access and awareness of the services and supports available in the community. It equips frontline support workers with a wealth of local resources and creates a network of service providers for a more integrated partnership of support workers. We have successfully provided 3 groups with training as well as monthly follow up meetings. 

Navigation Program

- Housing
- Social, health & community services
- Food security
- Learning & development
- Creating a vibrant & inclusive community

We're working with community partners on improving:

Everyone should have equal access to recreational and cultural amenities in the community. The Common Access Card is a simple, streamlined way to offer low-barrier access to recreation, leisure, and cultural activities.

Common Access Card

Community Kitchens invites low income residents to participate in meal preparation once a week, creating an increased sense of community as well as improved food security. Community Kitchens brings isolated, low-income residents together to forge an increased sense of community. 

This program provides an opportunity for a weekly get together where our coordinator helps participants select inexpensive food, focused on what is readily available at the foodbank and on sale at local grocers. It is an opportunity to prepare and enjoy food as a group. 


Community Kitchens

"I sure appreciate the expertise, support and knowledge the staff of the Skills Centre has provided me with.  After recently retiring from long-time full time employment, I knew I was ready to embark on another employment related journey and I was up for it."

Thriving for All

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.

Skills Training

**Allan Pusey** is a Red Seal Carpenter with more than 14 years of hands on work experience in construction, including 5 years operating his own custom woodworking company. He has taught 3 ITA approved Carpentry Red Seal refresher courses and helped over 300 laborers, apprentices and journeypersons prepare for training and new employment in the trades.

“One of the biggest challenges for people entering the trades is knowing what to expect and what is expected of them, and gaining the skills that employers are seeking. We help them overcome these hurdles with Tools for Trades,” Allan says.

Allan has 10+ years of experience working with job seekers and employers across the Kootenays, giving tried and tested advice, assistance and supports. Tools For Trades participants can expect to gain valuable insights into the world of construction, access to funding for foundations training as well as safety courses, work clothing, tools, accurate labour market information, and thorough job search coaching.

Your Tools for Trades Facilitator: Allan Pusey

Allan Pusey

Project Specialist

**Allan Pusey** is a Red Seal Carpenter with more than 14 years of hands on work experience in construction, including 5 years operating his own custom woodworking company. He has taught 3 ITA approved Carpentry Red Seal refresher courses and helped over 300 laborers, apprentices and journeypersons prepare for training and new employment in the trades.

Allan has 10+ years of experience working with job seekers and employers across the Kootenays, giving tried and tested advice, assistance and supports. Tools For Trades participants can expect to gain valuable insights into the world of construction, access to funding for foundations training as well as safety courses, work clothing, tools, accurate labour market information, and thorough job search coaching.

Meet your facilitator

- Career Assessments
- Soft skills + essential skills workshops
- First Aid
- Communication, appearance, habits, diversity, teamwork + conflict
- Foundations Program
- Short term training courses related to trades

We offer workshops covering topics and activities including:

Tools for Trades can help you get into the Trades Foundations program at Selkirk College and cover the costs up to $7,000. Or we can help you find a job placement in the trades.

***We can also provide:***
- Up to $800 in support for tools, equipment & clothing required for training or apprenticeship
- A training wage & a bonus when you finish
- We match you with an employer & provide a wage subsidy

Tools for Trades

**Bethel Torres** has been part of the Skills Centre as admin support and more recently as our new project specialist. Helping guide youth to achieve what they want is an important part of the program, and Bethel says there is so much that we can learn at any point in our lives.

“Young people know they can learn new skills. They’re not always sure what to learn because there are so many options. We’re here to help them focus on what they want,” she says.

“This is just the beginning of their career journey. We help them identify their abilities and match them to their preferences. They often discover many things about themselves that they didn’t know, and that leads them to start to realize their potential,” she says.

Driven by her commitment to make a positive impact on our clients, she takes pride in providing support to our programs for young adults.

Your Skills Training for Youth Facilitator: Bethel Torres

Bethel Torres

Inspiring Wellness & Learning Assistant

**Bethel Torres** has been part of the Skills Centre as admin support and more recently as our new project specialist. Helping guide youth to achieve what they want is an important part of the program, and Bethel says there is so much that we can learn at any point in our lives. 

Driven by her commitment to make a positive impact on our clients, she takes pride in providing support to our programs for young adults.

- Super Host
- WHMIS
- Emergency First Aid
- Food Safe
- Serving it Right
- Fall Protection
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods
- Forklift Operator

We offer job specific certificates such as:

***Complete the program at your own pace or join a small group of other like-minded learners and work with us over four to five weeks to get the skills and certifications you need to be competitive in the labour market.***

- Workshops on job searches, writing & updating your resume, and interview skills
- Workshops on soft skills including communication, team work, interpersonal skills, meeting employer expectations, customer service, problem solving, coping skills (such as stress, shift work), health and wellness, mental health & self-care, and safety on the job
- Job placement support including wage subsidies and matching you with an employer
- Funding for transportation, childcare, up to $225 for work clothing or gear, and more.

"I was very impressed with the level of service provided by the Skills Centre. I was able to find full-time employment in my field within a month of completion of my courses. I highly recommend taking advantage of what the Skills Centre has to offer."

Skills Training for Youth

**Bethel Torres** has been part of the Skills Centre as admin support and more recently as our new project specialist. Using her professional expertise, especially with languages, and her experience moving to Canada and finding a rewarding job, she knows how to help clients who are new to the country.

“Brave Beginnings is really a unique opportunity for people to adjust to life in Canada and get help finding a job. I am from Mexico, and I have lived in Canada for more than 10 years. I remember how challenging it was to get a job. I would have been so happy to have help like this,” she says.

“It helps so much to be able to talk with someone in the language you are most comfortable speaking. I really encourage people to come in and speak to us and see how we can help them gain the skills they want.”

Driven by her commitment to make a positive impact on our clients, Bethel takes pride in providing support to our programs for newcomers.

**Harshil Patel** works at the Skills Centre as a program facilitator and placement coordinator. He is fluent in Gujarati, Hindi and English.

“When I came to Canada, I found it very hard to find a job for the first six months that I was here. We know people sometimes have language barriers to learning a new skill or getting a new job. That’s why Bethel and I are excited to offer Brave Beginnings for Newcomers in all of these languages,” he says.

Learning new skills and applying for a job in a new country can be challenging. Helping people build their confidence to take these steps is one of the most important parts of working with clients, Harshil says.

“Brave Beginnings supports participants with individualized employment assistance services, skills training, and financial supports. I am passionate to support newcomers and help them to settle into their new life in Canada,” he says.

Meet Our Multi-lingual Facilitators: Bethel Torres & Harshil Patel

**Bethel Torres** has been part of the Skills Centre as admin support and more recently as our new project specialist. Using her professional expertise, especially with languages, and her experience moving to Canada and finding a rewarding job, she knows how to help clients who are new to the country.

**Harshil Patel** works at the Skills Centre as a program facilitator and placement coordinator. He is fluent in Gujarati, Hindi and English.



Meet your facilitators

Harshil Patel

Administrative Support & Placement Coordinator

- Career Assessments
- Soft skills + essential skills workshops
- Mental Health First Aid
- Communication, appearance, habits, diversity, teamwork + conflict
- Creativity & problem solving

Workshops on topics such as:

You can work together in a small group or one on one. We will help with childcare & transportation costs, we can pay for work gear or equipment, and you get a training wage and a bonus when you complete the program.

We’re thrilled that our diverse staff are able to serve you in English and 4 other languages. Check out Brave Beginnings for Newcomers to help you learn new skills, gain confidence & find the job you want.

"Brave Beginners is a great program that is helping me and my daughter to improve our personal and working skills in addition with financial support for training. Bethel and Harshil have been very kind, patient and supportive. We are so much grateful to them and the program."

Brave Beginnings for Newcomers

- The Medical Lab Assistant training will allow participants to obtain stable employment, earn a living wage, and fill essential job vacancies in our region.
- We’ll also provide soft skills and essential skills workshops to help participants prepare for job interviews and starting a new job.
- The program consists of five online theory courses, a five-day in-person workshop, and an 8 week clinical practicum in a hospital or laboratory. These components provide the theory, skills and certification required for participants to work as a Medical Lab Assistant.

The Skills Centre is partnering with Interior Health and Thompson Rivers University to offer this training.

To be eligible for this program, you must:
- be a woman 19 – 29 years old
- be a Canadian Citizen; or a Permanent Resident; or Protected person entitled to work in Canada
- be living in B.C. 
- have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) 
- be unemployed, or employed part time, seasonally, casually, or precariously employed and seeking training to find a new job, prepare for changing job requirements or new job opportunities 
- Participants cannot be enrolled in another federally or provincially funded training program at the same time.
- Participants currently receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, and those on Income Assistance (IA), are eligible to participate.

Are you eligible for the Medical Lab Assistant training?

Medical Lab Assistant Training

Certification exams for companies like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco, HP, and CompTIA are available at the Skills Centre.

From the [Pearson Vue Test Takers web page](https://home.pearsonvue.com/test-taker.aspx), you can search for designated exams and register online to come in and write the required exams.

The Pearson Vue Testing Facility offers:

***Pearson Vue offers proctored, online testing and certification for hundreds of credentialed organizations in a variety of sectors, including:***
- Academic entrance and admissions to various institutions
- Information Technology
- Financial and related services
- Government
- Health Care

Online testing and certification

"Through this program I was able to get certifications with WHIMIS, Serving It Right, and Food Safe. I have been supported through my entire journey by everyone I met through these programs! I now have my confidence and self esteem that had slipped out from me due to my age. Everyone has been patient, flexible, and kind!"

Pearson Vue Test Facility

- Career Assessments, Personality Dimensions
- Soft skills + essential skills workshops
- Psychological First Aid
- Business
- Communication, appearance, habits, diversity, teamwork, business etiquette

Our workshops will cover topics and activities including:

- $1,000 in short term training courses
- Childcare & transportation supports
- Support for required work gear or equipment

And we offer a training wage for 12 hours a week for 12 weeks as well as a bonus when you complete your work. At the end, you’ll be ready to take the next step in bringing your business idea to reality.

Working together in a small group or one on one, you’ll have access to:

Spark your Start-up

**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.

“There are many reasons why people over 55 are looking for a different job. We understand those reasons, and I will work with them to help them make that change,” she says.

“Many of our clients haven’t written a resume in 25 or more years. The last time they looked for a job, it was a very different experience. We’re here to give people the tools to get through those challenges and start a new phase of their life.”

“I often say to people I practiced being unemployed before starting my career as an employment counsellor, and learned that finding the right employer is as important as finding the right job!”

Your Mature Workers Facilitator: Karina Allis

Karina Allis

**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.

- Food Safe
- WHMIS
- Super Host
- First Aid training
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
- Naloxone
- Mental Health First Aid
- Basic Security Training Certification

- 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.

We offer workshops such as:

"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

We offer gentle & effective programs for survivors of violence and abuse. Join us in a safe space and learn the tools to help you in healing the past and looking towards the future.

Heal your body, mind & spirit before you begin your job search

Healing & Wellness

Did you know our logo represents diverse people connecting and supporting each other? We're here to help you.

Our program facilitators have your best interests in mind. They are caring, capable & trained to help you succeed. We know you have questions. Contact our office today to find out how we can help you.

Meet Your Facilitators

Equine-assisted learning uses horses to promote physical, occupational and emotional growth in people. It can help you build confidence, trust, and self-efficiency, improve communication and social skills, learn boundary setting and control triggers.

Yoga & mindfulness allow participants to slow down and lean into their bodies, to feel the areas that may be holding onto trauma without our knowing. They allow for the practice of breathing techniques and guided, gentle stretching to encourage awareness and calm within ourselves.

Art therapy uses combines the creative process and psychotherapy, facilitating self-exploration and understanding. Using imagery, colour and shape as part of this creative therapeutic process, thoughts and feelings can be expressed that would otherwise be difficult to articulate.

HEART offers workshops on topics such as:

- Explore and learn about the impact of trauma
- Learn new coping strategies to challenge unhelpful thoughts and manage difficult emotions
- Better understand patterns in relationships and learn to negotiate boundaries
- Set goals for self and improve self-care

Group workshops allow participants to

"At HEART, I was validated and valued in a way myself and experiences have never been. I was able to shed some of the guilt and shame I carried, and while it will take further daily practice, I feel a sense of strength and hope within me that I have never felt before."

HEART: Healing through Equine Assistance & Resiliency Training

- Workshops on setting boundaries, healthy communication, self-care, impacts of abuse and shame, stress and anger management, self-esteem, self-awareness, yoga and mindfulness
- Access to free short and long term certificates and upgrades
- Workshops on job searches, resume writing, and interview skills
- Job placement support including wage subsidies and matching you with an employer
- Funding for transportation and childcare, refreshments on workshop days, required work clothing or gear, and a small weekly stipend

We offer:

We will work with you individually or you can join a small group of other participants who have also survived trauma and work with us over three months to get or refresh the skills and certifications you need to be competitive in the labour market.

"The skills and insights that I gained has positively changed every aspect of my life and reshaped my future. The kind, compassionate and knowledgeable facilitators created a safe, pleasant, and supportive environment to discover the kind of future that I have always dreamed about, but not had the skills nor confidence to pursue."

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