Josy Burrough

If you're just getting started, Dave and Josy offer this advice:

• Be patient and keep at it. Setting up workplace learning doesn't happen overnight. Dave had to approach the City twice to get the go-ahead for the committee and its programs
• Start with a group of people who are keen to open up learning opportunities and make sure you do an organizational needs assessment.
• Get started, no matter how small. Keep moving and "don't worry about scoring a home run," says Dave. Small projects grow and you can make a difference in a lot of people's lives.
• Recognize and celebrate learning.

What about the future?

The Grande Prairie workplace learning committee, with two highly successful years to celebrate, is looking for new ways to attract and engage employees. The committee plans to expand the way it works with regional colleges, to offer more variety and higher level courses. For example, Northern Lakes College is helping the City develop a program on leadership. The planned Leadership Certificate Program is the brainchild of a committee member and is meant for employees who wish to move into leadership roles. As well, the committee is hoping to create a cost-benefit analysis of literacy and workplace essential skills which keeps "the human aspect in it." For Josy, "our future is exciting and we don't see anything slowing down."

Dave retired on March 14th, 2008. He looks back with great satisfaction on the way workplace learning and literacy developed in Grande Prairie. "Its emergence is one of the best things I've taken away from CAMA." Thanks for your contribution, Dave, and we wish you all the best.