Workplace Education in Canada: A Listing of Non-Profit Providers

National Organization Summary Frontier College Since 1899, Frontier College has been actively assisting people to upgrade their literacy skills in workplace environments. Labourer Teachers, working long hours in remote lumber camps and rail gangs, tutored workers in basic reading, writing and math skills. Today, the Labourer Teachers program and Learning in the Workplace continue to provide innovative learning opportunities for Canadians at work. Laubach Literacy of Canada Laubach Literacy of Canada is a national non-profit volunteer organization committed to raising the literacy level of Canadian society. Laubach-trained tutors work with people to improve their basic and functional skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, numeracy and other life skills. Laubach programs are adapted to the goals of the student. Materials and organizational support are available through local Laubach councils. United Food and Commercial Workers National Training Program The National Training Program consists of three major components: Basic Skills Training, Occupational Skills Training and Labour Adjustment. The National Training Program offers both financial and program supports to assist local unions to be able to deliver an integrated training program to their members. Northern Canada Department of Education, Culture and Employment of the Northwest The National Training Program consists of three major components: Basic Skills Training, Occupational Skills Training and Labour Adjustment. The National Training Program offers both financial and program supports to assist local unions to be able to deliver an integrated training program to their members. Yukon LEARN There is no specific organization that coordinates workplace education efforts in the Yukon. However, Yukon LEARN, which is the provincial literacy coalition may be able to assist. British Columbia Literacy B.C. Literacy B.C. acts as a broker for workplace education information in British Columbia. They provide resources, consultation, and referrals to interested businesses, labour educators, government and individuals. B.C. Construction Industry Skills Improvement Council: SkillPlan SkillPlan is a joint labour-management initiative representing 16 international building trades unions, about 45,000 workers and approximately 600 companies that employ them. Its role is to develop strategies to improve the basic skills of people working in the unionized construction industry in BC and the Yukon Territory. SkillPlan is not a program. It is a variety of resources, some of which are programs, aimed at providing basic skills support for a highly mobile workforce in an increasingly technical industry. Workplace Training Systems - A service of the Open Learning Agency Workplace Training Systems (WTS) provides workplace performance enhancement solutions, including training for both corporate clients and the general public seeking technical re-entry training, as well as numerous basic adult educational upgrading programs. WTS also operates Skills Centres throughout BC. These centres provide numerous computer training programs, career assessment, planning and guidance workshops, English improvement as well as Job Club for professionals with English as a Second Language. These programs are offered to the general public, government departments, and corporations. Alberta Alberta Learning The contact person acts as a facilitator of workplace literacy activities in Alberta to: Promote the need for and opportunities to initiate workplace literacy education Encourage the development of a network in Alberta Meet specific needs through individual projects which benefit the province, for example, marketing activities Develop information and materials Respond to inquiries and refer business and labour to appropriate resources These activities are undertaken in conjunction with the Alberta Workforce Essential Skills Steering Committee. Bow Valley College - Calgary The mandate of the College is to provide adult upgrading, ESL programs and entry level career training to adult Albertans. In addition the Bow Valley College provides an extensive array of value added services to the business community. Calgary Learning Centre The Calgary Learning Centre has several years experience offering literacy and learning difficulties awareness and assessment services to employers in Calgary. These services include workshops, assessment and consultation with regard to literacy, learning and attention difficulties in the workplace. Grant MacEwan Community College The College offers literacy programming relevant to the workplace for a variety of adult learners. Special needs populations have included English as a Second Language learners, learners with developmental disabilities and hearing impaired or deaf learners. Keyano College Keyano College has offered the Effective Reading in Context (ERIC) program to Syncrude Canada employees since 1988, and to other employers across Alberta since 1990. They have also been involved in a variety of other workplace literacy initiatives. Medicine Hat College Medicine Hat College is actively involved in all areas of literacy delivery. Workplace literacy programs are initiated at the request of local employers. Norquest College - Edmonton Norquest College - Edmonton primarily serves adults whose basic education is deficient and who may be financially and/or socially disadvantaged in some way. We have established ourselves as leaders in the field of workforce development in Edmonton, and continue to expand and develop our workplace programming expertise. Red Deer College Workplace literacy is currently offered in the following programs: Skills Training Enhancement Effective Business Writing Course ERIC Effective Reading in Context Saskatchewan Northlands College (La Ronge) A provincial community college. Worker Education for Skills Training (WEST) WEST is a union-run program that provides learner-centred courses to union members. Courses are led by worker-instructors trained by WEST staff, a project of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Manitoba Manitoba Basic Education in the Workplace Manitoba Workplace Education is an initiative of the provincial Literacy and Continuing Education Branch. This initiative has two distinct components: Workplace Education Manitoba Steering Committee - which guides and oversees workplace literacy sectoral initiatives (curriculum development, practitioner training), and Coordinates the direct delivery of workplace literacy programs. Ontario Metro Labour Education Centre (MLEC) Metro Labour Education Centre (MLEC) is a project of the Labour Council of Metro Toronto and York Region. It is an integrated worker education centre which provides education and training services to employed and unemployed workers. Ontario Federation of Labour - Basic Education for Skills Training (BEST) Basic Education for Skills Training (BEST) is a labour education project of the Ontario Federation of Labour and its affiliates unions. BEST programs are open to workers in unionized workplaces across Ontario. Worker Education Centre of Hamilton Founded in 1987, the Worker Education Centre of Hamilton (WECH) provides basic skills upgrading and labour adjustment services. The focus of our work is unionized workplaces in Greater Hamilton. Workplace Training & Services (WTS) Workplace Training & Services (WTS) is a program of the Toronto District School Board. WTS provides language, literacy, and math training to companies in the Greater Toronto Area. Québec EMPLOI-QuÈbec On January 1st 1998, EMPLOI-QUŠBEC replaces la SociÈtÈ quÈbÈcoise de dÈveloppement de la main-d'oeuvre. EMPLOI-EMPLOI-QUŠBEC, part of the QuÈbec ministËre de l'Emploi et de la SolidaritÈ, offers services and programs related to manpower and employment. Centre de ressources Èducatives et pÈdagogiques On January 1st 1998, The Centre (CREP) is an adult education centre of the Montreal School Commission. It specializes in offering education in the community, insitutional and workplace contexts. Increasingly, the Centre is playing a consultative role in the development of workplace education projects. FÈdÈration des travailleurs et travailleuses du QuÈbec The Quebec Federation of Labour assists unions interested in setting up all kinds of workplace education and training programs, including basic skills programs. Maritimes College of the North Atlantic College of the North Atlantic is a public, post-secondary college with 18 campuses throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. College of the North Atlantic: Eastern College Eastern College is a public, post-secondary institution which is part of the regional college system in Newfoundland and Labrador. It has been involved in adult basic education for 32 years. The College has five campuses, in Clarenville, Bonavista, Burin, Carbonear and Placentia. Teachers on Wheels Teachers on Wheels is a not-for-profit organization that provides adult learners with one-to-one tutoring through the use of volunteers. Nova Scotia Department of Education and Culture The Learning Development and Resources Section is involved in the development of most workplace education programs in the province. Its role is to initiate, develop, broker and generate funding assistance to promote sustainable workplace education in Nova Scotia. Workplace Education - PEI Workplace Education PEI is responsible for workplace education in the province. This committee is a partnership of business, labour, federal and provincial governments and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities agency. Literacy New Brunswick Inc Literacy New Brunswick Inc. designs, markets, promotes and delivers workplace literacy programs in partnership with Literacy Coordinators working out of the nine campuses of the New Brunswick Community College (NBCC). Saint John Learning Exchange Saint John, NB The Saint John Learning Exchange is a community-based, not-for-profit organization providing adult basic education

Page last updated: 30 May 2005