A British ex-pat is hoping Bow Valley College can help her get the training she needs to find employment in Okotoks.
Tina Tulloch attended the Bow Valley College community information evening at D’Arcy Ranch on April 27 and she said she found the evening beneficial.
“I am looking at different options that might be available here in town in regards to further education,” said Tulloch. “I have education assistant’s qualifications. I want to see what I can take here to add to my development rather than go to Calgary.
“They were able to tell me the different options they have, some on-line courses,” Tulloch added. “I haven’t decided exactly what I am going to do yet; I am interested to see what happens when Bow Valley College has a bigger presence in town.”
Bow Valley College held two information meeting last week, one closed meeting with Okotoks area stakeholders on April 26, such as Literacy for Life and Okotoks town council, and the other open to the public to discuss how Bow Valley College can meet the needs in the community.
“We discussed what are some of the priorities in the community,” said Corinne Finnie, Bow Valley’s Okotoks area education representative. “Also we discussed some of the barriers in place that some students may face, such as finances, transportation, day care.”
Finnie stressed they are not intending to compete with existing education facilities.
“We are here to enhance (education) in the community,” Finnie said. “In order to do that we have to work with the well established programs in the area and just fill in the gaps.”
She said, for example, if someone was interested in English as a Second Language program, they would be directed to Literacy for Life in High River or Okotoks.
If needed, classes, which may go beyond what is offered by Literacy for Life, could be provided by Bow Valley College.
Finnie said another example is with a new hospital being built in south Calgary and a long-term care facility in the foothills, there is an opportunity to offer courses for those interested in a career in health career services.
Another possibility is offering business development courses for those wanting to start their own businesses.
She said expanding opportunities for adults to complete their GED (high school equivalency test) is another avenue for Bow Valley College.
“Right now, Literacy for Life is offering GED but the testing is done at Bow Valley in Calgary,” Finnie said. “We are working with St. Luke’s Outreach Centre (in Okotoks) to make that a testing site.
“Transportation can be one of the barriers for GED students.”
She said both the Foothills School Division and Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools have indicated they wish to work closely with Bow Valley College, including offering classroom space.
Finnie added Olds College and the Alberta College of Arts and Design have also expressed interest in offering courses through Bow Valley College.
Okotoks Costco was one of the local businesses which participated in the April 26 meeting.
Paul Tenbroek, Okotoks Costco administration manager, said employees taking courses through Bow Valley College is a win-win situation.
“If we have an opening, let’s say in payroll or office administration, and we have an employee who is interested and has taken these courses after work or willing to take them, yes it would be a factor,” said Tenbroek.
He said because the person has experience with the workings of Costco it would cut down on the amount of training needed.
Tenbroek said more importantly it is a commitment to a valued Costco employee.
He said Bow Valley College courses would complement those being offered in-house at Costco.
For more information call Corinne Finnie of Bow Valley College at 403-603-0009.
