Whether it鈥檚 academic, skills-based, or hands-on learning, Jasper has numerous options for furthering education.
In terms of building on academics and employability skills, the Jasper Adult Learning Centre (JALC) is an ideal resource to consult.
Programming at the JALC picks up in October and much of it is 鈥渇ocused on employability enhancement,鈥� said Executive Director Ginette Marcoux-Frigon.
鈥淲e鈥檙e launching a new program called Skills for Success. It鈥檚 a program that is designed to help people work on the nine essential skills that are needed for any occupation.鈥� The nine essential skills include reading, writing, numeracy, oral communication, document use, computer use, continuous learning, working with others and thinking skills.
Skills for Success will also be accessible and available to non-Canadians. There will be a small fee for people to work on their competencies in Skills for Success, said Marcoux-Frigon.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really hoping to work with employers to identify people that do need some of those supports,鈥� said Marcoux-Frigon.
Other upcoming programs include courses on Windows 8, WordPress and social media.
The Learning Centre is looking for teachers and instructors, said Marcoux-Frigon. 鈥淓ven if people don鈥檛 have teaching experience, but have the skills and knowledge to teach something and show people how to use something, we鈥檙e keen to talk to those people as well.鈥�
More information on the Jasper Adult Learning Centre can be found at www.jaspercalc.ca
The Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) has a learning centre in Jasper, which is located in the same building as the Jasper Adult Learning Centre. Courses like the administrative assistant program can be taken in town. Students can also take their first two years of university transfer courses without leaving the community, through video conferencing. More information about courses and programs is available at www.gprc.ab.ca.
As shown by Jasper Life, a program run by Community Outreach Services, learning isn鈥檛 restricted to academics and the classroom.
鈥淪eason-to-season we try and meet our target audience鈥攜oung adults鈥攁nd figure out things that they are interested in,鈥� said Ryan Verge, Jasper Life program coordinator. 鈥淲e try to adapt the best we can to make those programs happen.鈥�
The Mountain Adventure Club is run through JasperLife and offers hands-on and guided experiences like scrambling, mountaineering, rock climbing, biking, kayaking and wilderness survival skills.
JasperLife recently began offering a supervisor skills workshop, which helps build effective communication, problem solving and conflict resolution. 鈥淲e are surprised with the overwhelming sign-up response that we鈥檝e had with that one,鈥� said Verge.
The best way to stay updated on Jasper Life happenings and provide input is to drop in at their office at 627 Patricia St., or check out the JasperLife Facebook page.
Sarah Makowsky
[email protected]
