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February 2012

Celebrating Education Champions in Our Community

e d u c a t i o n

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Education Works Alliance Special Section

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~ FEBRUARY 2012 ~ education WORKS ALLIANCE


Wow. Are we impressed.When we, the Educa-

tion Works Alliance, called for nominations of people who we’re calling Educa-tion Works Champions, we weren’t sure what to expect

We didn’t know how the community would respond to this first-ever campaign asking for positive role mod-els showing the value of education and training. We didn’t know how many nom-inations we would receive. And we didn’t know what kind of real life stories we would hear.

But we’re impressed. Blown away, in fact.

We got exactly what we hoped for – and more – in the 19 nominations we received: truly inspirational stories about amazing peo-ple, many of whom have beaten the odds to achieve their dreams. Stories about people who show that Edu-cation Works.

Join us in congratulating the 2012 Class of Champions.

Our Champions range in age from 19 to 60. Many of these Champions have had to overcome huge hurdles to achieve their goals: lack of money, job losses, fam-ily issues, personal chal-lenges, lack of confidence, and more.

They didn’t let these things stand in their way.

They showed courage, per-severance, resourcefulness

and sometimes plain stub-bornness to achieve their goals and dreams.

Our Champions show that anything is possible – a theme that runs throughout the sto-ries in the following pages.

It’s never too late to gradu-ate. High school dropouts can finish their diploma; they can even go to college or univer-sity. People are never too old to pursue the career they’ve always dreamed about. You’re also never too old to become an apprentice.

Losing a job doesn’t end a career; it creates a new opportunity. Being the first in your family to finish Grade 12 or go to post-secondary is something to be proud of. Adding new skills through continuing education makes you a better person and can enhance your career. Life-long learning can be fun.

The Champions’ stories also show that there are a lot of helpful, caring people, organizations and educa-tional facilities in our com-munity, ready to assist peo-ple every step of the way to achieve their potential. Help is just a phone call, email or visit away.

We hope the stories in the following pages – sto-ries about our neighbours, co-workers, acquaintances, friends and peers – will inspire people in our com-munity to realize they can do it, too.

Congratulate our ChampionsHere’s a list of the

2012 Education Works C h a m p i o n s y o u ’ l l r e a d a b o u t i n t h e following pages:• Sami Akiki• Chyvonne Evans• Ronnie Gerrard• Bill Isherwood• Angela Knight• Amanda Joseph• Betty Lewis

• Adrian Mezinski• Wendy McIsaac• Kelly Misener• Tracey Mwoyoswiyi• Katey Rego• Kevin Russell• Keith Stephens• Carrie Van Schyndel• Amanda Taylor• Linda Wilson• Amanda Wyles• Terry Yeoman

Our Champions

photo by: Mark Skeffington

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T h e E d u c a t i o n Works Alliance’s goal is to build “prosper-ity through training, education and lifelong learning.”

The Alliance, a broad community partner-ship, is committed to helping raise the edu-cation, literacy and skill levels of adults in Brantford, Brant, Six Nations, New Credit, Haldimand and Nor-folk.

It’s all about helping people achieve their potential.

Why is this our goal?A s t h e s t o r i e s i n

these pages show, edu-cation and training is a key pathway for peo-ple to build success-ful careers and lives. Education and train-ing is also the pathway to build the skilled, resilient workforce the economy of today and tomorrow requires.

We know the vast majority of future jobs will require post-secondary edu-cation of some kind: college, university, trades train-ing, other training. In short, the more the better. More education and training increases a person’s future prospects.

We also know that hav-ing a well-educated and trained workforce is crucial to a community’s success. Successful communities,

businesses and workforces are built on people. It’s all linked.

“We firmly believe we can increase the prosper-ity of our community one person at a time,” says Betty Anne Jackson, co-chair of the Education Works Alli-ance.

The Alliance grew out of an Education Taskforce formed by the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie in 2010, after the com-

munity identified a need for a regional education strat-egy.

This ongoing initiative has been supported by the Min-istry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Alliance members come from education, literacy groups, economic develop-ment, libraries, employment services, business and com-munity organizations across the Grand Erie area.

Education Works Champions sectionThis Special Section was created by the Education Works Alliance.

All stories written by Mark Skeffington, Workforce Planning Board of Grand EriePhotographs: Jaymie Nelson & Mark Skeffington, Workforce Planning Board

Tae McIntosh, Tae PhotographyFor more information on Education Works Alliance and the Education Works Champions campaign, please contact:Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie1100 Clarence St. S., Suite 103B, Box 12, Brantford, ON N3S 7N8519-756-1116admin@workforceplanningboard.orgwww.workforceplanningboard.orgThe Education Works Alliance welcomes new members. Please contact the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie.

Alliance members include:


Education Works: Who we are

The Education Works Alliance and the Education Works Champions campaign has received financial support from these organizations:

• Brant Brantford Roundtable on Poverty• Brant County Economic Development• Brant County Economic Development

Advisory Committee• Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District

School Board • Brant Skills Centre• Brantford Brant Chamber of Commerce• Brantford Public Library• City of Brantford – Economic Development

and Tourism• City of Brantford – Social Services• Community Resource Service (CRS)• County of Brant Public Library• Fanshawe College -- Simcoe• Grand Erie District School Board• Grand Erie Immigration Partnership

• Grand River Community Health Centre

• Grand River Employment and Training (GREAT)

• Grand Valley Educational Society• Haldimand County• Laurier Brantford• Literacy Link South Central

• Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities

• Mohawk College• Norfolk County Tourism and Economic

Development• St. Leonard’s Community Services• School College Work Initiative, Grand River• Six Nations Polytechnic• United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk• Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie

Proud to be a member affiliated with the Education Works Alliance

Congratulations to the EducationWorks ChampionsMayor & CouncilBrant County

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Katey Rego, Amanda Tay-lor and Angela Knight are all taking steps to be role mod-els for their children.

“I want a better life for my children and I want a bet-ter life for me,” says Katey, expressing a common theme for all three women.

The Brantford residents have all participated in the Steps to Success program offered by Ontario Works Brant. The program helps people set goals and take steps to achieve them, offer-ing advice and support all along the way.

K a t e y , A m a n d a a n d Angela all identified goals to resume their education, be role models for their children, and put them-selves in a strong position to start careers. Now, they’re achieving those goals, one step at a time.

Amanda TaylorAmanda, 28, feels moti-

vated to achieve at educa-tion, both for her own sake and her 8-year-old daugh-ter.

In the last year, Amanda has completed her Grade 12 – she dropped out earlier at age 16 -- and enrolled in the

Early Childhood Educator (ECE) program at Mohawk College.

“I want to show my daugh-ter that education is impor-tant. I want her to see me as a role model,” she says. “I also wanted to achieve it (Grade 12) for myself. It felt really good to finish.”

Although Amanda has always had dreams and goals, they didn’t seem reachable.

Participating in the Steps to Success program helped Amanda set goals and make their achievable. The pro-gram focuses on goal set-ting, timelines, problem solving and starting to move in the right direction.

Step 1 was completing Grade 12. Step 2 was obtain-ing Second Career fund-ing to pay for her schooling. Step 3 was going to college. Step 4 was completing the first semester. Step 5 will be completing second semes-ter. There are more steps to come.

Steps to Success, fam-ily and friends have kept Amanda moving forward on the right path, helping her overcome barriers along the way, handling financial con-cerns, raising a family, run-

ning a household.Having taken so many

positive steps already on her path to be an ECE and work with children, Amanda feels more positive and self-con-fident.

Angela KnightAfter years of volunteer-

ing at her children’s school, Angela decided it was time for her to resume her own education.

The 36-year-old parent of three has had to over-come many obstacles, but is on the verge of complet-ing the Education Assistant program at Mohawk College this spring. Angela’s deter-mination to achieve her goal has impressed the people around her.

Angela finished second-ary school and completed one year at Toronto’s George Brow n Col l e g e back in 1995. She moved to Brant-ford when family members became ill. Years passed and Angela’s own educa-tional goals got pushed to the background, as she had a family and coped with many challenges.

Continued on next page

Taking steps to succeed

photo by: tae mcintoshamanda taylor (left) and angela Knight see education as a stepping stone to a better life.


from previous page

S t i l l , t h e t h o u g h t o f d o i n g m o re w a s a t t h e back of her mind. “I guess I k n e w I w a n t e d t o d o more than I was doing,” she says.

The principal of her chil-dren’s school, where she had volunteered almost daily for years, told her she could do the same kind of work and get paid for it.

Soon, through Steps to Success, Angela mapped out her goal of becom-ing an Education Assist-ant and obtained Second Career funding to attend Mohawk – returning to education after being away for 16 years.

At t i m e s, A n g e l a f e l t over whelmed by multi-ple challenges: raising her three school-aged children (ages 8, 10 and 13), paying her bills, no car or driv-er’s licence, and personal struggles with self-esteem and self-confidence.

Yet, she has stuck with it, and is achieving high marks.

Angela credits the Steps to Success program, fam-ily, fr iends, classmates and her children’s school for being supportive every step of the way.

No w , f l u s h w i t h n e w self-confidence and a pos-itive attitude, Angela is ready to share her enthu-s i a s m f o r l e a r n i n g t o encourage others to move forward in their lives.

Katey RegoSometimes it takes some-

one believing in you before you believe in yourself.

That’s part of Katey’s story.

Katey, 26, believes in her-self more and more each day as she gets closer to her Grade 12 graduation this June.

Staff at the Steps to Suc-c e s s p ro g ra m b e l i e v e d in Katey and helped her believe in herself. The pro-gram gave Katey someone to talk to and set goals, and now she is putting in the hard work to achieve those goals to have a better life for her and her children, aged 7, 5 and 3.

The difference between going to high school years ago and now is like night and day, Katey says.

Before she never finished a whole semester of school, had marks in the 60s, and never applied herself. Now, she puts in lots of efforts, attends regularly and has a 92% average.

“I’m more motivated now and I’m an adult. I take these things more seriously now. I want to do something more with my life.”

When she does graduate in June, Katey will become the first in her family to get a secondary school diploma.

And she is already eying h e r n e x t o p p o r t u n i t y , reviewing post-secondary programs to see what is the best fit for her.

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Steps to Success a big help Why education matters

photo by: tae mcintoshKatey Rego is motivated to do well in school because she wants to be a role model for her children.


E d u c a t i o n p l a y s a large role in everyone’s life and career.

W h e t h e r y o u w o r k f o r s o m e o n e o r w o r k f o r y o u r s e l f , education will help you find a job, build a career, r u n a b u s i n e s s, e a r n a living, raise a family, and find personal satisfaction.

When hiring, employers look at two main things : previous experience and education. The more you have, usually the better chance you have of being h i r e d . E m p l o y e r s s e e education as an indication of whether a person has the knowledge and ability to do a job.

Education also plays a large role in the success and prosperity of communities.

S o m e f a c t s ab o u t t h e importance of education:• Employment

opportunities are growing for people with post-secondary education (college, university, trades training).

• Employment opportunities are shrinking for people with only Grade 12 or less than Grade 12.

• People with less than Grade 12 have higher unemployment rates than those with more.

• In general, the unemployment rate drops as the education level rises.

• People with higher levels of education generally earn more money.

E d u c a t i o n i s p e r h a p s more important than ever before, as the job market a n d e c o n o m y c h a n g e s in O ntario, Canada and around the world.

F o r e c a s t s s h o w t h a t 7 out of 10 jobs will soon re q u i re p o s t-s e c o n d a r y credentials of some kind: trades certificates, college, university and professional designations.

Employers are looking f o r m o re h ig h l y s k i l l e d and educated employees. In fact, some employers are already having trouble finding the skilled, well-educated employees they need.

Few er and few er j obs require less than Grade 12 or even Grade 12.

T h e E d u c a t i o n Wo r k s Alliance was established to help our residents and community prepare for the changing job market and economy.

We want to help residents achieve their potential , and have the education, training and skills needed to succeed. We want to ensure Brantford, Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk, Six Nations and New Credit prosper and grow.

Everyone has a role to play to help our community s u c c e e d a n d t o e n s u re people have good jobs.

AN EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EXPERIENCEWhether you’re looking to study part-time or full-time, in class or online, Laurier Brantford offersa unique educational experience to help you reach your goals. Since 1999, Laurier Brantford hasalways been proud of our strong academic programs, our relationship to the community andour exceptional student experience.

For more information on studying at Laurier Brantford, please contact Recruitment andAdmissions at chooselaurierbrantford.ca, [email protected] or 519.756.8228 x5777

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Wendy McIsaac is a successful high school teacher with three uni-versity degrees to her name.

But, strangely enough, until a few years ago, W e n d y d i d n ’ t h a v e the secondary school diploma she was encour-aging and helping her own students to get.

“It’s so important to get your Ontario Sec-ondary School Diploma,” says the 56-year-old Eng-lish and drama teacher at North Park Collegiate. “It was one of those things I regretted not getting.”

I n 2 0 0 6 , W e n d y stopped regretting and proudly joined some of her own students in a graduation ceremony.

“ I a c t u a l l y g r a d u -ated with a bunch of my graduates. It was crazy. I got a standing ovation at the Sanderson Centre,” says the Nanticoke resi-dent.

It was kind of a fluke that Wendy ended up a teacher without com-pleting high school.

She started her career as a Registered Nursing Assistant (now known as Registered Practical Nurse or RPN). At the time, she only needed Grade 10 to enter the college program.

Wendy worked at the Haldimand Children’s

Aid Society after grad-uating, but lost her job when it amalgamated with the Norfolk CAS.

With two children to support and newly sep-arated, Wendy needed a n e w c a r e e r. W i t h the encouragement of friends, she entered the University of Waterloo as a mature student. She went to Waterloo full time, worked three jobs, raised her children and got her Bachelor of Arts degree.

Later, when Wendy’s two children went to post-secondary school themselves, she moved to Newfoundland to get her Bachelor of Educa-tion.

She then moved back to Ontario and started working as a teacher. While teaching, she completed her Master of Education degree, work-ing as a night school teacher, summer school teacher and even as a telemarketer to help pay off her student loans.

These days, Wendy continues to encourage her North Park students to work hard, get their Grade 12, further their education and achieve their dreams. And if students want to hear a real-life example of how it can be done, Wendy can tell her own story.

Teacher gets her Grade 12

photo by: tae mcintoshWendy mcisaac is a role model for her students at north Park collegiate.

On behalf of Haldimand County Council, may I take this opportunity to offer our congratulations to this year’s Education Works Alli-ance Champions. This wor-thy campaign promotes the value of education and training to residents in Hald-imand County, and helps to ensure that our workforce is well prepared in order to remain competitive and prosperous in the future.

This is indeed a very spe-cial and happy occasion, and we are pleased to share with Education Works Alliance, family and friends, in con-gratulating 2012 Education Works Champions. These outstanding recipients dem-onstrate that using learning and education as a tool to achieve personal and career goals is possible. Congrat-ulations on your successful efforts!

With special thoughts and wishes,

His Worship,Mayor Ken Hewitt

haldimand mayor offers congratulations

Ken hewitt


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Ontario Scholar, schol-arship winner, award win-ner, college student – these words all describe Chy-vonne Evans.

But it’s Chyvonne’s per-sonal stor y – a stor y of determination -- that make these achievement stand out, especially since she was once a high school dropout.

The 20-year-old single mother of two young daugh-ters had to work incred-ibly hard in a short period of time to earn nine high school credits so she could obtain her Ontario Second-ary School Diploma and get into college.

Chyvonne attended the School Within A College (SWAC) program at Mohawk College. Students earn both high school and college credits through the alterna-tive education program. She credits the SWAC program for changing her life.

“There’s not even a word to describe yow great that program is,” she says. “The teachers believe in you. They treat you like adults.”

She also regained her self-confidence, something she didn’t have much of when she dropped out of Grade 11.

“I definitely didn’t have my confidence,” she says of her high school days. “I gained it back and now I’m good.”

After dropping out of school, Chyvonne tried going back the next year. But she didn’t feel like she fit in,

especially since was the only pregnant student in school. She tried one alternative school but that didn’t work out either. Then she learned about SWAC.

Chyvonne gave it her all and completed her nine high school credits in one

semester. And she didn’t just pass – she aced it, being named an Ontario Scholar and receiving three awards: one as top overall student, to business class student and a scholarship award from the Grand Erie District School Board.

She also made the grade while raising her two daugh-ters, now aged 3 and 18 months, and dealing with other issues.

She has recently started the two-year Office Admin-istration Legal program at Mohawk.

From dropout to award winner

photo by: tae mcintoshchyvonne evans is now motivated to succeed in school after earlier being a high school dropout.

A d r i a n Me z i n s k i h a s become hooked on educa-tion just a couple years after struggling in high school.

Mezinski, 19, is in his fourth semester of a Compu-ter Sciences Software Devel-opment program at Mohawk College. And he’s already thinking ahead to his next education options: a univer-sity degree in digital design or courses in video game design, music production, maybe even art.

“I’m going to be a stu-dent for a long time,” he says, laughing.

T h e B ra n t f o rd ma n ’s enthusiasm is surprising con-sidering he was floundering in secondary school not too long ago. He was skipping classes, lacked motivation and focus, and didn’t appear like he would graduate. He was seven credits short.

He found a new sense of direction when he enrolled in the SWAC program, which offers both secondary school credits and college credits. He gradually went from sim-ply attending classes to par-ticipating, and then working hard to get high grades and sharing his enthusiasm with other students.

He especially enjoyed the college courses and decided that’s where he wanted to be – in college.

“Without the SWAC pro-gram I’m not sure how I would have got to college,” says Mezinski, now a strong advocate for the alternative education pathway.

He has suggested SWAC to s everal people, who have signed up themselves. “SWAC offers a different out-look and has a chance to help a lot of people.”

sWac success story

photo by: mark skeffingtonadrian mezinski credits the sWac program for getting him to college.


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At age 59, Terry Yeo-man is living proof it’s never too late to gradu-ate.

Terr y recently com-pleted the College and Career Preparation pro-gram at Mohawk Col-lege’s Brantford campus, earning marks of 94 and 83 in his two courses. That earned him class valedictorian honours.

Terry decided to go a step further and get his Grade 12 equivalency by passing his GED (General Educational Develop-ment) test. He even com-pleted a post-secondary course with a 90% mark.

No t b a d , e s p e c i a l l y considering the Brantford resident only had one high school credit to his name when he started.

Terry had a long career as a printer before things went off the rails in 2008. He lost the job he had held for 22 years, he lost his mother, and got into financial straits, forcing him onto Ontario Works to get by.

B u t h i s m i s f o r t u n e also created an opportu-nity. He met people who wanted to help him.

Terry was referred to the Brant Skills Centre (then known as the Liter-acy Council of Brantford and District), where staff suggested he take the college and career prepa-ration program.

“It was a very intimi-

dating prospect,” he says n o w l o o k i n g b a c k . “ I hadn’t been in school for 40 years. But it is one of the best decisions I ever made.”

Te r r y f a c e d nu m e r-ous challenges along the way. With money tight, he had trouble paying rent, buying food and getting to school without a car. Then there was the stigma of being the oldest student in class – some-thing he was able to get used to.

Terr y is thankful he had family, friends, class-mates, teachers, the Brant Skills Centre and Ontario Works he could rely on for continuous encour-agement.

While having a Grade 12 education wasn’t so important when he was young, Terry realizes it is a must in today’s world. “Now you need a mini-mum of high school for absolutely everything,” he says.

These days, with his new education and new self-confidence, Terry is looking for a job. He is attending workshops on resume writing and job interview skills. He hopes potential employers will be impressed by the hard work and determination he’s put in to become better educated.

A n d Te r r y ’s a f i r m believer that if he can do it at his age, anyone can.

Learning has no age limit

photo by: tae mcintoshterry Yeoman believes you’re never too old to complete Grade 12.

Sami Akiki hasn’t let chal-lenges with reading and writing stop him from pur-suing his dreams.

The Brantford man has worked incredibly hard on improving his skills, bringing his reading and writing up to a level to enter the Child and Youth Worker diploma program at Mohawk College last September.

“I was never that great at reading and writing in high school. You’ve just got to keep practicing,” he says. “Never give up, keep going

and be patient.”It’s advice that Sami, 22,

has taken to heart himself. He has put in a lot of prac-tice time, attending classes three times a week at the Brant Skills Centre (formerly called the Literacy Council of Brantford and District), which helps adults improve their literacy and essential skills. He also put in tremen-dous amounts of time at home to study and improve further.


Practice paying off

photo by: mark skeffinGtonsami akiki has put in hard word to improve his reading and writing.


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The Employment Ontario project, program, or service is fundedin part by the Government of Canada.

When Bill Isherwood lost his job in 2008 he was dev-astated.

But then, after a little while, the 53-year-old real-ized it was an opportunity to change careers and pur-sue something that had always been at the back of his mind.

“Even though I didn’t see it as an opportunity at first, losing my job allowed me to return to school to update my skills and pursue a career that I had always wanted,” Bill says now. “I have noth-ing but good things to say about my learning experi-ence.”

The Brantford man was working as a service tech-nician for printers and pho-tocopy machines, when the recession hit and he lost his job.

Because of his layoff, Bill was able to obtain Sec-ond Career funding to go to Mohawk College, where he obtained his CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufac-turing) Automated Machin-

ing and Design Certificate in 2010. Mechanical drafting had been a subject he had enjoyed back in high school but had never pursued.

Bill graduated with top honours in his Mohawk pro-gram, with an average of 97% -- no doubt proof it was meant to be.

Now, Bill works in his new field as a CAD Technician at Matrixx Specialized Trailer in Brantford.

Bill knows he was more fortunate than many others who lost their jobs. His wife, Sharon, worked full-time and he received a severance package from his previous employer.

Still, it wasn’t easy. Bill’s young son started elemen-tary school at the same time as he started college, and he had to juggle taking care of his son with his own stud-ies. Bill credits the support of his family for helping him achieve his dream of a new career.

“I am proud of myself. Now I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do.”

SecondCareer

means second chance

photo by: tae mcintoshBill isherwood used the second career program to start the career he always dreamed of.

Practice paying offfrom previous page

Sami completed vocabu-lary booster books, learned strategies to improve his grammar and writing, and was introduced to essay writing. He also learned how to write essays and reports on a computer – a skill he needed for his course -- using Microsoft Word.

Sami has put in the extra t ime while juggling his course work and working at his family’s gas station and convenience store in Brantford.

All along the way, Sami has been able to rely on the staff at the Brant Skills Centre to help him over-come any difficulties that have popped up. His sup-portive parents have also b e e n c h e e r l e a d e r s a l l along.

S a m i w a n t s t o e v e n -tual ly b e come a p ol ice officer. He earlier took the Law Enforcement Founda-tions program at Everest College, a private career college. Taking the Child and Youth Worker pro -gram gives Sami, who also c o a c h e s f o r t h e B ra n t-ford Bisons youth football program, another career option.


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~ FEBRUARY 2012 ~ Page 13 education WORKS ALLIANCE

A m a n d a J o s e p h c e l e b r a t e d h e r 3 0 t h b i r t h d a y l a s t y e a r b y becoming the first of 14 siblings in her family to get their Grade 12 diploma.

“It makes me feel pretty awesome,” Amanda says of graduating.

Si n c e t h e n , A ma n d a’s h a p p y t h a t o n e o f h e r b r o t h e r s h a s f o l l o w e d her example and is now working to finish his Grade 12. “It was really nice to be a leader, to get the ball rolling,” she says.

The Six Nations woman graduated from Grand Erie Learning Alternatives - City Centre Campus, Adult Education as valedictorian, as voted by her classmates.

Amanda had impressed h e r f e l l o w s t u d e n t s s o much, that the y picked her for the honour, which usually goes to the top student in a school. She felt “gobsmacked” to be chosen.

It was a well-deser ved honour for Amanda, whose ha rd w o rk, at t e n d a n c e, leadership, high marks and classroom involvement also impressed her teachers.

A m a n d a s h o w e d h e r courage by signing up for adult education after being away from the classroom for almost 15 years. The mother of two boys, aged 10 and 13, started with only four credits towards her Ontario Secondary School Diploma, so had lots of

ground to make up.I n i t i a l l y , s h e j u g g l e d

night school and day-time courses, and added more and more courses as she w e n t a l o n g , i n c l u d i n g some university-level ones. Amanda succeeded in all of them, even as she devoted time to being a wife and mother.

Amanda also explored her opportunities with GELA staff. She worked at GELA as part of a co-operative e d u c a t i o n p l a c e m e n t , helping the administrative team.

M e a n w h i l e , s h e w a s a model student for her peers, starting a homework and tutorial group to help other students study and succeed.

GELA staff saw Amanda m o v e f r o m a q u i e t , introspective adult student t o a m o t i vat e d s u c c e s s story: a positive role model for her own children and to others, someone who has beaten the odds to graduate secondary school.

These days, Amanda is working on her art work and a book, but would like to go to university to study philosophy.

She believes other people can achieve the same goal she did, especially if they are willing to work hard and persevere. “Don’t give up,” she advises. “No matter how hard it is, no matter how hard you feel it is, just keep on going.”

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Vibrant, prosperous, welcoming communities. — This is our vision.

www.workforceplanningboard.org/immigration

Working together to supportnewcomers in Grand Erie.

Trailblazer for her family

photo by: tae mcintoshamanda Joseph feels “pretty awesome” after completing her Grade 12.

As Mayor of the City of Brantford, and on behalf of my Council colleagues, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the outstanding people in our community who have been nominated for Education Works Champions.

We want to publicly re c o g n i ze each and every one of you who have used learning and education as a pathway to achieve p e r s o n a l and career success. We are proud to acknowledge that we have 15 nominees who are being profiled as Champions in the City of Brantford.

I would also like to extend my thanks to the Education Works Alliance for your on-going commitment to our community. You have demonstrated a commitment to raising the education, literacy and skill levels of adults in Brantford, Brant, Six Nations, New Credit, Haldimand and Norfolk to broaden opportunities for employment and build prosperity.

A g a i n , m y s i n c e r e a p p r e c i a t i o n a n d congratulations to all the nominees.

Sincerely,

Chris Friel

Congratulations from the Mayor

chris Friel

~ FEBRUARY 2012 ~ Page 14education WORKS ALLIANCE

Research & Academic CentreWestWing, 150 Dalhousie Street,

Brantford, Ontario. N3T 2J4

T: 519.756.8034F: 519.751.7299

E: [email protected]

General BooksSpecial Order Book ServiceGiftwareStationeryComputer Accessories

Since coming to a Can-ada as a refugee 10 years ago, Tracey Mwoyoswiyi has made education one of her top goals.

Tracey’s desire to improve herself has remained stead-fast, even as she’s struggled juggling full-time work and classes, money issues, being an adult student and Eng-lish being her second lan-guage.

When she first came here from Zimbabwe, Tracey didn’t have documents showing her high school education, so she had to complete her Grade 12 equivalency.

Soon after, she completed a 6-month Personal Sup-port Worker Certificate. Then in 2010, Tracey earned her Social Services Diploma from Mohawk College. She works as a personal support worker at the Park Lane Ter-race in Paris.

Now 57, Tracey isn’t done with her education. She has a new education goal.

“Sometimes people laugh at me and wonder why I don’t just enjoy my life, but I have a goal. Now one of my goals is to get my under-graduate degree,” says the Brantford resident.

Tracey has always been interested in social work and then, once she moved to Canada, she learned of the many educational opportu-nities here.

“I knew that if I had a chance to study in Canada, I would educate myself and be able to help other peo-ple.”

Since Tracey needed to work full time to support herself, she didn’t qual-ify for student loans. She was able to use bursaries to help cover some expenses. She also found it hard as a mature student. “Going back to school at my age was a challenge. It was all new. I had to learn everything,

including computers.”Along the way, there were

times when Tracey felt like quitting, such as when she had tough assignments. But she studied hard and wasn’t afraid to ask teachers and fellow students for help.

Another personal chal-lenge for Tracey was she sometimes felt isolated, since she only had two fam-ily members in Canada; she has four daughters: one in Montreal, two in the United States, and one in Egypt.

Tracey is thankful she was able to draw support from other Zimbabwe immi-grants in Brantford and her church, who have acted like her extended family.

Now, as she looks at start-ing a university degree, Tracey is proud that young people she knows look up to her and ask her for help when studying.

Her advice is simple: “No matter what age you are, you can achieve what you want to be in life – achieve high.”

Achieving her goals Education crucial for newcomers

Education and work is important to everyone, but newcomers face some unique challenges.

Newcomers in Grand Erie have identified access to edu-cational upgrading, train-ing and English language resources as key to their suc-cess.

Why? Because upgrad-ing their skills and education, along with improving their English, is essential for new-comers to find employment.

Immigrants represent about 12% of the total popula-tion of Grand Erie. From 2000 to 2010, about 3,200 immi-grants from around the world have made Grand Erie home. Almost half of all immigrants who come here are in the prime working ages of 25-44.

Generally speaking, new-comers are also well educated. In Brantford – Brant, 67% of recent immigrants have post-secondary education (trade school, college, university, etc.).

Although many immigrants come here already well edu-cated, their educational cre-dentials – their post-second-ary diplomas, degrees, certif-icates – aren’t always recog-nized in Canada. Newcomers must frequently take jobs that are unrelated to their field of study or their trained profes-sion.

More than half of recent immigrants are not work-ing in their fields of study or

expertise, compared to just one quarter of Canadians as a whole.

Upgrading and resuming educational studies to meet the needs of the local labour market and achieve provin-cial/national standards – part of the accreditation process -- is a reality for newcomers. Sometimes it takes years for a newcomer to gain the creden-tials to work in their fields.

The need to better under-stand the accreditation proc-ess and identify educational supports and resources in the community is important to have newcomers participate fully in the labour market.

The inability of newcomers to use their skills, experiences and expertise impacts the prosperity of our community.

The Grand Erie Immigra-tion Partnership is a project designed to strengthen our community and make new-comers feel welcome. It is one of 35 projects in Ontario funded through Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

The Partnership’s vision is achieving “vibrant, prosper-ous, welcoming communi-ties” for all.

Contributing to the vision is the availability of training, education and opportunities for lifelong learning. Also con-tributing to the achievement of this vision is the desire of new-comers in Grand Erie to work and contribute to the commu-nities in which they live.

photo by: taE mcintoshtracey mwoyoswiyi believes learning is a life-long affair.


Brant Skills Centre has been helping adults and older youthimprove the following literacy and essential skills since 1984:

LearningOpportunities & Events

• Computer workshops• Ninth AnnualAdult Spelling Bee– April 4, 2012www.brantskillscentre.org

Are you looking for a rewardingvolunteer position?

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E-mail: [email protected] Fairview Drive, Brantford, ON

• Reading• Writing

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Brant Skills CentreLiteracy for Life

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Apprenticeship just the ticket

Submitted Photo

Education and an apprenticeship have helped Kevin Russell get back on his feet after a layoff.

For Keith Stephens, tak-ing a college millwright pro-gram has given him a new lease on life.

A f t e r f i n i s h i n g h i g h school, Keith worked at var-ious jobs at local factories and in construction but, as luck would have it, layoffs or plant closures followed almost every step of the way. He realized it was time for a change.

“I didn’t want to eke out a living anymore,” says Keith, looking back. “You start to realize how important edu-cation is.”

The 31-year-old recently graduated at the top of his class in the two-year Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship Millwright program from Fanshawe College’s James N. Allan campus in Sim-coe. He is working as a mill-wright apprentice at Nuts and Volts Inc. in Guelph and will next write his Certificate of Qualification to become a licensed millwright.

The Brantford resident first had to complete an aca-demic upgrading course to enrol in the millwright pro-gram.

It was a “scary transi-tion” for Keith to go back to school. “It’s not an easy thing to do go back. There are so many fears. It’s a big adjustment.”

After being out of school for more than 10 years, he wasn’t confident in his abil-ity to learn. It was a chal-

lenge to commit to a full-time, two-year college pro-gram.

H e a l s o h a d w o r r i e s about paying the bills while a student, even though he received funding from the Second Career program, which provides laid off workers a chance to go back to school to learn a new

career. Keith also didn’t have a car, which meant he had to rely on a fellow student and his family to get to classes in Simcoe from Brantford.

The millwright program itself was a challenge, since it is demanding and has a heavy course load.

Keith credits the emo-tional support, positive rein-

forcement and encourage-ment of family, friends and Fanshawe’s teaching staff with keeping him on track over his two years of study.

“I always kind of doubted myself, whether I could do college or university. But I was able to graduate with honours. Going in, I didn’t think that was possible.”

Forging a new career

photo by: MARK SKEffingtonKeith Stephens overcame self-doubts to achieve honours in college.

Kevin Russell sees his apprenticeship as a mill-wright as a ticket to a better life for him and his family.

“This experience has given me new confidence and the drive to keep on learning,” Kevin says of his experi-ence.

After being laid off from his job in the automotive industry in 2008, the Jarvis resident got a rude wake-up call. There he was in his 40s,

with a wife and kids and few job prospects, especially without his Grade 12 (like many people, he left second-ary school early to work).

After facing this new real-ity, Kevin decided it was time to stop feeling sorry for himself and act. He realized he needed a new career and knew he needed more edu-cation to get one.



BF65224161

Carrie Van Schyndel is a model for perseverance.

After dropping out of Grade 11 at age 16 and overcoming many barri-ers, the Simcoe resident is on the verge of achiev-ing her goal of becoming a qualified Early Child Edu-cator.

Carrie, now 34, will grad-uate from the ECE program a t Fa n s h aw e C o l l e g e ’s James N. Allan campus in Simcoe this April.

It’s been a long, tough road for Carrie to attend college, and there were many detours along the way.

Growing up, her fam-ily didn’t value education. As a teen, she lived on her own, making ends meet on social assistance. Car-rie didn’t believe she was smart enough to complete high school. She took sev-eral stabs at getting her Grade 12, attending night school, tr ying distance education and even going back into the classroom, but nothing quite worked.

In 2 0 0 9 , Ca r r i e t r i e d again. Overcoming lack o f s e l f- c o n f i d e n c e a n d

through lots of hard work, she completed the second-ary school courses needed to enrol in Fanshawe’s fast track, one-year ECE pro-gram. Carrie’s the first per-son in her family to attend college.

W h y w a s s h e a b l e t o succeed this time? Carrie credits her new support system.

“I have a lot of good peo-ple backing me up, good people rooting for me,” she says. “My husband and his family are all about educa-tion. They inspired me to pursue my dreams.”

Over the last year, Car-rie has coped with a heavy course load at the same time as dealing with family responsibilities and stress. As the mother of a sev-en-year-old girl, there was childcare, class trips and music lessons to spend time on.

Then, Carrie found out h e r hu s b a n d’s j o b w a s being transferred to King-ston. He’s moving there in March and she’ll join him when she graduates in April . The job trans-fer sparked the couple to

remo del their home to get it ready to sell. That’s meant Carrie was some-times doing homework at

home with dry wall dust floating all around her.

But having travelled so far already – from high

school drop out to soon-to-be college grad – this next move should be rela-tively easy for Carrie.

Going back to school a good move

Submitted photo

Carrie Van Schyndel and daughter Harmony. Carrie credits her family for helping her finish Grade 12 and go to college.

from previous page

Becaus e he had been laid off and was receiv-ing unemployment insur-ance – for the first time in his life – Kevin quali-fied for government aid to go back to school. After hearing about the Second Career program through the Return to Work Action Centre in Simcoe, Kevin investigated new career options. He saw the best prospect as a millwright.

His first job was to get h i s s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l d i p l o m a . H e d i s c o v -ered that Fanshawe Col-lege’s James N. Allan cam-pus in Simcoe offered the Grade 12 equivalency cer-tificate (known as GED) online. This allowed him to work at his own pace and get used to learning again. Once a week he also attended class, where he found he wasn’t the only mature student.

K e v i n t h e n e n r o l l e d i n t h e t w o - y e a r C o - o p Diploma Apprenticeship millwright program at Fan-shawe.

After doing well in the classroom portion of the program, Kevin found his own co-op placement at Cargill Value Added Meats Canada near his Haldi-mand home. The place-ment allowed him to work part time while complet-ing his coursework. Cargill has now taken Kevin on as an apprentice.

Apprenticeship just the ticket


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Now that Betty Lewis has a college diploma to her name, she’s passion-ate about learning.

Betty, 42, is also pas-sionate about sharing her own experiences to help and inspire others.

The Waterford resident received her Social Serv-ice Worker diploma from Fanshawe College’s James N. Allan Simcoe campus in the fall of 2010.

The diploma landed Betty a job at St. Leon-ard’s Community Serv-ices, where she helps people who are unem-ployed.

S h e h a s f i r s t- h a n d knowledge of what it’s l ike to lose a job. She knows what it’s like to take the plunge, go back to school and learn a new career as an adult. Betty knows how scary it can be, how difficult it can be – and how rewarding it can be.

“I believe I am a posi-tive example for others, whether they are return-ing to school after many years or seeking a new career,” Betty says. “I can help my clients find the confidence needed to overcome the obstacles they will face throughout their journey.”

A few years ago, Betty was a single parent strug-gling to earn a living at jobs she didn’t particu-

larly enjoy. It was a big step for Betty to go to col-lege – she was the first in her family to do so.

It was tough to live on employment insurance of about $1,000 a month, attend school full time and raise a teenage son. There were sacrifices that

had to be made. Spend-ing long hours doing assignments also meant less time for her son and other activities.

But it was all worth it, she says.

Since being hired at St. Leonard’s, she has continued her educa-

tional journey, expand-ing her knowledge and adding credentials. Betty h a s r e c e i v e d c e r t i f i -cates in Prevention and Management of Aggres-s i v e B e h a v i o u r a n d Child Adolescent Needs Assessment. Future goals include pursuing Career

D e v e l o p m e nt P ra c t i -tioner status.

“I now know that learn-ing is a lifelong pursuit,” Betty says. “I am eager to maintain my professional status by applying myself in as many different pur-suits as possible, educa-tion being a priority.”

Learning a new passion

photo by: Jaymie NelsoNBetty lewis is passionate about sharing her own story to help others succeed.

On behalf of the Council of Nor-folk County, I extend sincere con-gratulations to the many Education Works Champions who are cele-brated and profiled in the local and regional media.

As elected representatives, we recognize the value of education and training, and having a well-educated and trained workforce allows Norfolk to remain competi-tive and prosperous.

I also extend congratulations to those resi-dents of Brant and Haldimand Counties, Brant-ford, and the ter-ritories of the Six Nations of the Grand and the Mississaugas of New Credit who have taken and are taking actions that will raise their education and literacy levels.

These skills are needed for a healthy community. Regional growth is as important as local growth and jointly we must do whatever we can to broaden the opportunities for employment.

Education and improved liter-acy help to lay a foundation upon which economic development opportunities can abound, and a culture that values education and learning is building a pathway to prosperity.

The people who are profiled are outstanding people in our commu-nity who have used learning and education to achieve personal and career goals. Their achievements are to be celebrated by all.

Sincerely, Dennis Travale

Building a pathway to prosperity

Dennis Travale


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“ S c h o o l , s c h o o l , school: that’s the most important thing.”

Amanda Wyles offers that one line of advice to people.

T h e 2 3 - y e a r - o l d d i d n ’ t a l w a y s s e e education as impor-tant. Giving birth to a d a u g h t e r i n 2 0 1 0 changed that.

Amanda wanted to set a positive exam-ple for her child, even t h o u g h – o r m a y b e because -- she grew up with few positive examples herself.

T h e B r a n t f o r d woman is currently in her second semester in the Child and Youth Wo r k e r p r o g r a m a t Mohawk College – the first in her family to attend post-secondary school. Amanda’s goal is to work as a chil-dren’s worker at the Children’s Aid Society to help others who are in the same dark space she once was in.

She had a troubled, unstable chi ldhood growing up in Windsor. A ma n d a e v e nt u a l l y became a Children’s A i d S o c i e t y C r o w n ward at the age of 15, living in a series of fos-

ter and group homes.A m a n d a a l s o

became involved in a lifestyle of alcohol and drug abuse. She dropped out of high school but then went back and completed her Grade 12 in 2007, receiving honours and an award in travel and hospitality studies.

A f t e r m o v i n g t o Brantford at age 20, Amanda lived briefly with a friend who was in college. The friend encouraged her to fol-low her example and enrol, but it would still be a couple of years before Amanda would do this.

A m a n d a w a s s t i l l struggling with sub-stance abuse, but was able to admit she had a problem and quit.

In 2009, she found herself pregnant and w i t h o u t a p l a c e t o live. Amanda turned to Nova Vita in Brant-ford for help, while the father of her child also supported her. After giving birth in 2010, she moved into a sub-sidized co-op unit and began creating a stable home for her daughter.

A m a n d a h a s

received support from N o v a V i t a , O n t a r i o W o r k s , t h e B r a n t County Health Unit a n d t h e B r a n t f o r d Pu b l i c L i b ra r y . Sh e took part in the Health Unit’s Healthy Babies P r o g r a m , r e c e i v -ing regular home vis-its to ensure her and h e r b a b y w e r e O K . A m a n d a w a s a l s o a re g u l a r v i s i t o r t o t h e l i b r a r y ’s Fa m -ily Drop-In Program, receiving support from the public health nurse and the library’s child and youth worker.

It was Susan O ld-royd, the library’s child and youth worker, who nominated Amanda as an Education Works Champion, impressed by how far Amanda has come as a parent and role model for her daughter (now aged 16 months).

“Amanda has strug-gled through trauma that many could not even begin to imag-i n e ,” S u s a n w r o t e o n t h e n o m i n a t i o n form. “However, she has risen above this. . . . Amanda is a true example of the value of education.”

Beating the odds

photo by: Mark Skeffingtonamanda Wyles has overcome many barriers to be a role model to her daughter, emily, and others.


Keep on learning & growing.Congratulations Education Champions.

Connecting you to knowledge, literacyand a lifetime of learning.brantford.library.on.ca B

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Ronnie Gerrard’s mantra is life-long learning.

She even says so on her Twitter description.

Ronnie, who is also known as Veronica, is an educational assistant with the Brant Haldi-mand Norfolk Catholic District School Board. And she practices what she preaches -- or teaches.

“I tell my own students that I, too, am a student and that I always will be a student,” says Ronnie, who works in a job skills classroom at St. John’s College in Brantford.

Ronnie, who is in her 50s, was feeling especially proud in late 2010, when she gradu-ated from Fanshawe College’s James N. Allan campus in Sim-coe with a Leadership Manage-ment Diploma from the continu-ing education department.

Her family was on hand to cel-ebrate her achievement.

The Paris resident got the itch to add to her education many years ago, after taking a training course sponsored by the Brant-ford & District Labour Coun-cil, an organization she has long been active in.

So in 2002, Ronnie signed up for a course called Leadership Train-ing in the Workplace at Fanshawe. For eight straight years, she took another course each September in the leadership program.

Her studies have been a stable force in Ronnie’s life.

Back in 2002, she was newly separated, with little money and her two daughters were attend-ing university. Yet, she found the

money and had the determina-tion to begin her diploma. Over the next eight years, she took part-time jobs to help pay the bills. She still works part time at a second job.

Ronnie is thankful for the sup-

port she has received along the way, from co-workers, her school’s administration, friends and family (whom she calls her “rock.”)

When Ronnie graduated from Fanshawe, her high school class

surprised her with cards and a cake, which made her proud to be a positive role model. She believes more people should look at taking courses to enrich themselves.

“You can take something away from any course you take.”

Leaning a lifelong affair

photo by: tae mcintoshRonnie Gerrard is a big believer in the value of lifelong learning.

The Council of the County of Brant congratulates the Edu-cation Works Champions and expresses sincere appreciation to the Education Works Alli-ance for promoting the value of education and training to our residents, and for proving that we need a well-educated and trained workforce to be com-petitive and prosperous.

Our citizens can solve the problems of the present and the future through education!

Ron Eddy

Mayor, County of Brant

Well-educated and trained workforce

necessary

Ron eddy


Learning a lifelong affair

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Congratulations to our Education Champions

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Congratulations to all theEducation Champions!

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Congratulations to all theEducation Works Champions!

www.llsc.on.ca

Kelly Misener gave herself the 50th birthday present she had long dreamed of: becoming a Chiropractic doctor.

One day before her birth-day, Kelly wrote her final exam to fulfill her requirements to receive her Doctor of Chiroprac-tic Degree. She now runs a suc-cessful practice on Brantford’s George Street, called Brantford DOCS - Doctors of Chiropractic Services.

“I was looking for a career that would ground me and bring me back to Brantford,” she says.

The Brantford woman has been a Chiropractic doctor for four years.

Her friend, Debra Mallen, has seen Kelly come a long way in the 35 years she’s known her. Back in 1977, they worked together on the assembly line at the former TRW plant in Brant-ford.

Later, Kelly graduated from Ryerson in Toronto with a com-puter sciences degree. She went on to work as a computer con-sultant for 15 years, 10 of which she ran her own company. She lived in the United States and

did work in the U.S., India and Canada.

But an interest in natural health and healing took Kelly in a different direction.

Kelly eventually enrolled at the Palmer College of Chiro-practic in Davenport, Iowa, spending five years studying. She graduated at the top of her class.

Over those 5 years, she faced many crises that didn’t derail her dream. Her father became ill and died, while her mother developed lung cancer. Kelly sometimes drove all night from Iowa and back – an 18-hour round trip – to be with her ill parents.

Kelly, meanwhile, needed shoulder surgery. When she heard the news, she was devas-tated, since she was warned she couldn’t work as a chiropractor with a weak shoulder, because of the physical nature of the work.

Kelly overcame that hurdle and eventually moved back to Brantford to start her own prac-tice. She hasn’t looked back since.

Fulfilling a dream

photo by: Mark Skeffingtonkelly Misener used education to change careers and hasn’t looked back since.


After being out of the workforce for years, Linda Wilson has armed herself with new computer skills to succeed in today’s workplace.

Linda is a recent grad from the Business Computer Applications Certificate program offered by the Diskovery Training Centre, oper-ated by the March of Dimes Can-ada branch in Brantford. The adult education courses are offered in conjunction with Mohawk Col-lege.

The Brantford resident is now trained in a long list of work-related computer programs and applica-tions: Word, Excel, Access and Sim-ply Accounting.

“I would never have thought I would go back to school like I did,” says Linda, 60. “I proved myself.”

She is now eager to get back into the workforce and apply her new skills in an office setting. “I would really like to get out to work.” She is already doing some volunteer work at the Brantwood Centre and at a local church.

Linda always liked working in an office. After finishing high school, she worked for a business machines company in Toronto, fill-ing a number of roles, including running the sales analysis depart-ment for a number of years.

Later, Linda moved to Brant-ford. She provided homecare to a woman with Multiple Sclerosis for years. She was also raising and car-ing for two special needs daughters, now aged 19 and 21.

She thought of becoming a per-sonal support worker (PSW) and being paid for doing the same kind of work she had been doing for years. Linda would have needed to go back to school to get her PSW

certificate, but then she had a bet-ter idea.

“I always liked working in an office. I felt I would rather go back to school and do something I enjoy doing.”

Linda was referred to the 28-week Business Computer Applications

Certificate program and was able to obtain Second Career funding from the Ministry of Training, Col-leges and Universities.

There were many challenges. First of all, Linda was a mature

student and going back into a class-room filled with computers was a

bit intimidating. Although she had basic computer skills, the complex-ity of today’s business software and tools was also scary.

Linda still had responsibilities at home, caring for her two spe-cial needs daughters, and manag-ing their travel, school and health

schedules.But she pulled it all off, scoring

an average above 80% and earn-ing two specialist certificates in courses. She became adept at prob-lem solving when facing technical challenges and even helped fellow students learn to problem solve.

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photo by: tae mcintoshLinda Wilson shows you’re never too old to learn new skills and update your education.


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Hiring? Looking forWork?Need Information?

• Job Postings• Resume Collection• Candidate Screening• Employer Resources• Training Placements• Summer Student Incentive Programs

• Fully equipped resource centres includingcomputers, internet, faxing, and copying

• Plenty of resources to help you on your path• Assisted job search with trained staff• Education and training information• Referrals to Second Career and Ontario SelfEmployment Benefit

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