Collaborating Organizations

The Alberta Workforce Essential Skills (AWES) committee, working with the Alberta Restaurant and Foodservices Association (ARFA) and Alberta's Training for Excellence Corporation (ATEC), initiated this research project to investigate the impact of the implementation of the food safety and sanitation certification.

Alberta Workforce Essential Skills Steering Committee (AWES)

The AWES Steering Committee [http://www.nald.ca/AWES/] was formed in 1998 to build upon and support the work of established networks, organizations and individuals active in the field of workforce essential skills in Alberta. AWES has an ongoing commitment to providing a forum in which to foster partnerships, facilitate networking opportunities and promote collaboration by undertaking activities that demonstrate the value of workforce literacy and language training and development. It is a non-profit group dedicated to promoting and facilitating essential skills training projects and increasing the awareness of the importance of essential skills training for workers.

Alberta Restaurant and Foodservices Association (ARFA)

The Alberta Restaurant and Foodservices Association (ARFA) [http://www.arfa.net/] services the hospitality industry and Alberta consumers by representing the industry on various councils and committees to ensure that the quality of products and service standards in Alberta are maintained at a high level. ARFA represents 1200 members from hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars, food distributors and equipment companies. The Association works closely with Alberta Health and Wellness, Alberta Liquor Industry Roundtable, Alberta's Training for Excellence Corporation (ATEC), Alberta Gaming Industry Association, Coalition of Tourism Associations, and Alberta Human Resources and Employment, to mention some of the partnerships. The association focuses on maintaining and enhancing a positive business environment for the restaurant and foodservices industry in Alberta. They do this through:

• monitoring government activities, both provincial and municipal.
• lobbying for legislative and regulatory change.
• negotiating for and providing savings and benefits to members.
• establishing standards of excellence.
• promoting education and training.
• networking through social functions and meetings.
• gathering suppliers of goods and services together at the annual ARFEX trade show for industry members to preview and sample.
• informing members of issues and 'hot concerns' and providing office and support services.

Alberta's Training for Excellence Corporation

Alberta's Training for Excellence Corporation (ATEC) [http://www.atec.ca/] is a service-oriented, customer driven training and consulting company that was created in 1988. It is a not-for-profit corporation and is the Tourism Education Council in Alberta. Since 1996 it has been delivering internationally recognized and award winning programs in customer service, management and team effectiveness to all levels of business. ATEC consults with clients to identify their needs and connect them with the products or services that best meet their needs. ATEC is also the national certifying body for tourism occupations in Alberta and the agent for tourism youth employment and career awareness initiatives. They are well-known for the SERVICE BEST™ training program now delivered to many different sectors nationally and internationally.