Planning for the future

After the hard work of gaining support, setting up the committee, and offering a first cycle of courses, Debbie gave her committee work to other colleagues in 2006. The JEED committee is now reorganizing and getting ready to offer another cycle of courses. The current members are inviting new people to join the committee and they are reviewing their original needs assessment so they can offer more learning opportunities to employees in the fall of 2008.

Learner: Rob Snyder

Rob Snyder had a good reason to revamp his resume in 2007: he earned his Grade 12 diploma and won a Learner Achievement award from CAMA. With his diploma and his new resume, Rob is ready to think about new possibilities for work and life. "I feel complete now. I'm more confident. I don't feel like I have to look up to people."

Rob has worked with the City of Kingston for almost 22 years as a bus driver/ operator. He enjoys the job and the people. "I learn a lot from the people I meet and I get to help them out" along the way, Rob says. "It's satisfying-working for the public. They know you are working for them as well as with them."

Achieving that big goal

Rob left high school to go to work. Then he got married, had children and somehow, "I never got back to education." Not in the formal sense, but he "always stayed active in education mostly through union courses and committee work. I always wanted to finish my education. My two brothers got their Grade 12 and I was the only one who didn't." Then, in 2006, the opportunity arose to get his high school diploma through a unique program set up by the City's Joint Employee Education and Development GEED) Committee and the Limestone Board of Education. The program gives adults special credits called "maturity credits" for the skills, training, and work experience they bring to their high school equivalency work. Rob was the first proud graduate of this partnership program.

Earning the credits required determination, intensive study, and sacrifices. First, Rob found out he had to get double the number of credits because his last year was not counted or on file when he left school. Then, he taught himself the computer skills he needed to do research on the Internet and prepare his assignments. This time around he was able to use his knowledge and experience gained from life and work. For example, in one assignment, he created a brochure and newsletter to inform the public about the City's transit system. He worked full-time days and went to school and studied at night, and on the weekends. No time for fun. But with the strong support of his family, he completed all the required credits in 10 months.

"I'm so glad I did it. The jump wasn't that big. It was really only a baby step."