Services and Governance
Services
Our focus is the delivery of literacy and basic skills in an environment that is conducive to learning and sharing ideas and information. Along with our dedicated volunteers, we work with adults wishing to improve their literacy, numeracy and life skills or looking to obtain specific work skills. Our learners come from varied backgrounds and educational levels, and each receives instruction geared specifically to them. All services to individual learners are free.
Our catchment area is a large geographical region known as South Temiskaming, located in Northern Ontario, 500 km north of Toronto. There are a number of small towns in the area, and distance and winter weather pose problems for our learners and volunteers.
Learners are referred from many agencies: Ontario Works, Service Canada, Community Living, Workers' Compensation Board, Temiskaming Health Unit, to name a few. Others have heard about our services on the radio or from friends or have visited our booths at local fairs, and made the decision to register with us.
Governance and Funding
Through input from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and attendance at professional development seminars, conferences and courses, we are able to provide a professional, competent service for our students and tutors. We are a "community-based" literacy deliverer, i.e. we receive transfer payments from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, but we are governed by our own, independent Board of Directors. We seek funding from other non-government sources, and offer programming on a fee-for-service basis to other agencies. To help keep us as independent as possible, we fundraise extensively and have established a number of annual events.
We are offering a free ongoing computer based course called Essential Skills for Employment. The student works at their own pace through a series of seven workbooks that examines today’s trends in various occupations and teaches students what requirements and skills are needed for them to be a successful job seeker. All students will create a cover letter and resume which they will use to apply for jobs. An instructor is onsite to assist the students with the books and the resume.
The class runs each Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00-12:00. Call 705 672-4232 to register.
Last Updated on: February 5, 2013
