The 12-week (480-hour) Georgian College course prepares students for employment in the field of emergency communications and is designed to assist them in becoming proficient in call taking, dispatching, 911 and computer aided dispatch (CAD) duties.

Successful completion of the program will prepare students for a career in police, fire or ambulance dispatching, and will also be beneficial in all areas of call centre employment.

“Public safety communications is a fast-growing, financially rewarding and ever-changing career,” says Ron Welbourn, program co-ordinator. “Agencies are constantly seeking hard working, qualified people to fill vacant positions. Our program is designed to assist students as well as meet industry demand.”

The program is a great way to fast track into a new career; other similar programs can take up to two years to complete. And all subjects are 100 per cent job-related. Students also have the opportunity to take calls in a simulated environment, so they can gain the skills and confidence they need to be job-ready right after graduation.

The College also offers other one-day professional development courses designed to offer current communicators opportunities to expand on their knowledge of public safety communications. These include, but are not limited to, stress mastery, taking suicide calls, hostage negotiation, domestic violence, police incident command and fire incident command. These critical call management days are included within this course.

Students also benefit from a career day with fire, police and ambulance personnel, who will talk with candidates and review their resumés, etc.

Public Safety Communications Professional is being offered in conjunction with Proven Ways. More than 10,000 students have received training through the Georgian and Proven Ways partnership since 2001. A Georgian College certificate is awarded upon successful completion. Course cost is $8,593.54. The next intake runs Nov. 8 to Dec. 16, 2010 and restarts Jan. 10 to Feb. 18, 2011.

For more information, contact Ron Welbourn at (705) 325-2740, ext. 3088, 1-800-525-2705, by e-mail at info@provenways.ca or visit www.provenways.ca .

This program is eligible for Second Career Strategy funding.

The 12-week (480 hour) Georgian College course prepares students for employment in the field of emergency communications and is designed to assist them in becoming proficient in call taking, dispatching, 911 and computer aided dispatch (CAD) duties.

Successful completion of the program will prepare students for a career in police, fire or ambulance dispatching, and will also be beneficial in all areas of call centre employment.

“Public safety communications is a fast-growing, financially rewarding and ever-changing career,” says Ron Welbourn, program co-ordinator.

“Agencies are constantly seeking hard working, qualified people to fill vacant positions. Our program is designed to assist students as well as meet industry demand.”

The program is a great way to fast-track into a new career; other courses can take up to two years to complete. And all subjects are 100 per cent job-related. Students also have the opportunity to take calls in a simulated environment, so they can gain the skills and confidence they need to be job-ready right after graduation.

The College also offers other one-day professional development courses designed to offer current communicators opportunities to expand on their knowledge of public safety communications. These include, but are not limited to, stress mastery, taking suicide calls, hostage negotiation, domestic violence, police incident command and fire incident command.

Students also benefit from a career day with fire, police and ambulance personnel, who will talk with candidates and review their resumés, etc.

Public Safety Communications Professional is being offered in conjunction with Proven Ways. More than 10,000 students have received training through the Georgian and Proven Ways partnership since 2001. The next intake starts April 2010.

For more information, contact Ron Welbourn, (705) 325-2740, ext. 3088, e-mail info@provenways.ca or visit www.provenways.ca or www.georgianct.com.

This program is available for Second Career Strategy funding.

Berriault’s rapid turnaround is due in large part to the Province of Ontario‘s Second Career Strategy, a government initiative to help unemployed and underemployed workers make the transition to new careers in growing areas of the economy.

He first heard about the program on the radio and decided to return to school after reading more information about the Second Career Strategy. Berriault says he chose the Mechanical Techniques – Small Engine Mechanic program for its reputation and high graduate-into-work ratio.

“I already had experience in small engine repair and welding, so I was looking for a program that offered practical hands-on training and a chance to upgrade my existing skills,” he said. “I’ve long dreamed of owning my own shop, so the program’s customer service and field placement helped me realize my dream of becoming an entrepreneur.”

Berriault adds that the program offered numerous opportunities to network with industry professionals ahead of graduation and build contacts within the community.

Initially worried about juggling the responsibilities of home life (he’s married with two young children), Berriault says Georgian’s professors offer great support both inside and outside the classroom.

“The instructors understand that you’re a mature student and have to juggle multiple priorities,” he says. “It was definitely a challenge managing homework assignments and family life, but they really helped guide me through the year and the College’s Student Services were a big help too!”

SMALL ENGINES, BIG CAREER

Berriault received his training at the Recreational Boating Centre of Excellence, a state-of-the-art skilled trades facility at the Robbert Hartog Midland Campus that features equipment used in the industry and educational resources to help prepare students to move on to a career in the recreational boating industry.

“Mechanical Techniques – Small Engine Mechanic is a comprehensive program that teaches students more than just how to fix an engine or turn a wrench,” says program co-ordinator Kevin Janes. “Boats and boating accessories are becoming more sophisticated and our students and graduates gain the skills and the on-the-job training needed to succeed in the industry.”

Berriault and his fellow graduates will have many opportunities to excel. It’s estimated there are three jobs available for every graduate of the program and there will be more than 15,000 additional jobs created in the recreational boating industry in the next five years.

As the population of Simcoe County grows substantially over the next decade, so too will demand for workers in skilled trades. While these programs are open to all applicants, they are also part of the Ontario government’s Second Career Strategy to help laid off workers find new employment. Students who apply for these programs through Second Career Strategy may receive funding for tuition, books, travel expenses and other training-related costs.

The Gas Technician program at the Barrie Campus provides students with the required skills to obtain the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) Gas Technician III and Gas Technician II certifications. By the end of the program, students are prepared to write their TSSA exams to become fully qualified and licensed technicians. Graduates earn an Ontario College Certificate and may find careers not only as gas technicians but also in areas of technical support and sales within the industry.

The Welding Techniques program at the Robbert Hartog Midland Campus provides students with the theoretical and practical training to perform most basic welding techniques. At the completion of the program, students will be eligible to test for welding tickets based on their level of expertise.

Graduates earn an Ontario College Certificate and may find a range of occupations in the welding field, including manufacturing and fabricating, automotive and heavy equipment production, automation, construction or self-employment.

Both programs start May 11. The Gas Technician program runs until April 2010, the Welding Techniques program wraps up in December 2009.

Georgian College has developed a reputation as a leader in skilled trades training in the central Ontario region. More than 90 per cent of Georgian College graduates find employment within six months of graduating, and 94 per cent of employers are satisfied or highly satisfied with these new employees.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

• For more information about the Gas Technician program or about Second Career Strategy, please contact Suzanne Morton, Georgian College, at (705) 722-1575.
• For more information about the Welding Techniques program, please call the Robbert Hartog Midland Campus at (705) 526-3666.

While looking for new employment at a local resource centre, Scott heard about the Province of Ontario’s Second Career Strategy, a government initiative to help unemployed and underemployed workers  make the transition to new careers in growing areas of the economy.

Scott had a few conditions: the program couldn’t take more than two years to complete, it had to be close to home and had to have a high graduate employment rate.

“I was looking for a program that wouldn’t compromise my family life and wasn’t any longer than two years in length,” says Scott.

“I also wanted to use my existing skills in customer service in an area that would allow for upward mobility.”

Georgian College’s two-year Opticianry program met all of his requirements. The program’s fast-track option will see him graduate into the workforce within 20 months. Through two co-operative work placements, Scott will also gain on-the-job experience with local employers. He started the program at the Barrie Campus last January.

“I was a little worried about re-entering the classroom after a 25-year hiatus, but I have a good support system here at the school,” says Scott.

“My professors are great and there’s a nice mix of secondary, college and university graduates and other mature students, which makes for a dynamic learning environment.”

When Scott graduates from the Opticianry program he plans to pursue a career in sales or education, or work in a store.

While working as an employment consultant in an in-house employment program, Phil heard about the Province of Ontario’s Second Career Strategy, a government initiative to help unemployed and underemployed workers make the transition to new careers in growing areas of the economy.

With plenty of experience researching the local job market and specific areas where workers were needed, Phil quickly got to work developing an action plan for his own future.

A 16-year sideline as a freelance photographer, and a more than 30-year love affair with the camera, convinced Phil that the Digital Photography and Imaging program at Georgian College’s Barrie Campus would ease him into a career behind the lens.

“I’ve always loved capturing life through the camera lens, but I never thought it could be a viable full-time career,” says Phil.

“Through my research I’ve found that there are many options for employment in the field and I’m confident that I’ll have a great career when I graduate.”

The married father of two college-aged children currently rooms with a family in Barrie and travels home to Chesley on the weekends. The mature student is juggling family duties with schoolwork and easing back into the classroom with the help of his professors and classmates.

“I was a little worried about re-entering the classroom after being out of school for more than 20 years,” says Phil. “However, with my existing technical and visual communication skills in digital photography, and help from my

professors and tech-savvy classmates, I’m mastering MAC (computers) and am already up-to-snuff on related software.”

The compressed format of the two-year Digital Photography and Imaging program will allow Phil to build his professional portfolio and graduate into the workforce in just 18 months.

After taking care of an elderly neighbour in his teenage years, Rob initially wanted to pursue a career in health care. At the time, nursing wasn’t considered a traditional male career, so he ended up on the road instead.

Rob spent the next 20 years driving across Ontario as a travelling salesman, which he says provided him with a comfortable living but not the personal contact he craved.

“I literally felt handcuffed to my ‘desk’ and out-of-touch with those around me,” says Rob. “I wanted to return to school, but the constant travel limited opportunities to pursue professional development or retraining.”

Rob spent his downtime on the road researching changes in the nursing and health care industry and related part-time programs. He found that most courses were four years in length and required a full-time commitment, so he put his dream on the backburner.

Shortly after he received his layoff notice, the Province of Ontario introduced the Second Career Strategy, a government initiative to help unemployed and underemployed workers make the transition to new careers in growing areas of the economy.

Rob delved into research and found that the health care industry had many promising job prospects close to home. A compressed format of a two-year Practical Nursing program available at Georgian College’s Barrie Campus, convinced him that the timing was finally right for him to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a nurse.

“When I was conducting research for my Second Career Strategy action plan, I found that there was a specific need for registered practical nurses in the local health care industry,” says Rob.

“An employer I contacted while investigating job opportunities in Simcoe County said that male nurses were needed and asked me to submit my resumé ahead of graduation.”

After being out of the classroom for 25 years, Rob enrolled in Academic Upgrading to improve his chemistry and biology skills. He started the Practical Nursing program in January, and says additional access to Student Services such as counselling and time management have given him the confidence to succeed in the classroom.

“The professors at Georgian are just amazing and really go above and beyond to help you succeed,” says Rob.

“Additional supports at the College have helped me with time management, information comprehension and test strategies; I feel like the stars have aligned to help me pursue a career in the health care industry.”

Now focused on achieving a dream he’s held off for 25 years, Rob is looking forward to finally starting a career in nursing in January 2011.

Downturn in the local market had affected the number of hours he was getting on the job as a truck driver. Worried about how he was going to support his family, Frank turned to performing odd jobs to get by.

He was actively searching for a more stable job when he heard about Second Career Strategy, an Ontario government initiative to help unemployed and underemployed workers make the transition to new careers in growing areas of the economy.

With four years as a volunteer firefighter, Frank looked into opportunities at Georgian College and found the school’s Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training program at the Barrie Campus fit the bill.

But returning to school after a 15-year hiatus was a daunting task. After completing research on the program and his chosen career, he needed to brush up on some basic skills first.

Frank was accepted into the College’s Academic Upgrading program last fall. Through Second Career, he took courses in English, biology and chemistry at the Muskoka Campus in Bracebridge and math at a Huntsville location. He recently completed the requirements of the program and is now in the Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training program.

“Juggling family responsibilities and returning to school was a little scary,” said Frank. “The alternative was worse. I wasn’t getting enough hours driving a truck and the odd jobs I turned to, to shore the balance were becoming fewer and farther between. I was really at a crossroads.”

The 32-year-old eased back into the classroom with the help of his professors at the close-knit Muskoka Campus.

“The instructors here understand your plight and know you’re in a tough situation,” said Frank. “They really go above and beyond to help you succeed.”

Unable to find a comparable job in her field, she grew anxious about providing for her family and finding a suitable job in the local marketplace.

While looking for new employment at a local resource centre, Sherry heard about the Province of Ontario’s Second Career Strategy, a government initiative to help unemployed and underemployed workers make the transition to new careers in growing areas of the economy.

She conducted local labour market research and completed a training plan with help from an employment counsellor. After looking at her work history, education, training, skills and areas of interest, Sherry decided to pursue a high-demand career in practical nursing.

“I decided to study at Georgian because of its reputation and graduate employment and satisfaction rates,” said Sherry. “It’s close to home, so I’ll be able to balance work and home life and shifting priorities with schoolwork.”

Sherry completed Academic Upgrading courses in chemistry, biology and math last December and is now in the Practical Nursing program at the Barrie Campus.