LEARNING CENTRE

Women who have identified a goal, but do not have the prerequisites necessary to enroll in the relevant course, can fill in gaps in their schooling or brush up on rusty academic skills in the Learning Centre. The Centre is operated on an individual basis, with instructors available as needed. Women can use provincial correspondence courses to attain the high school equivalents they need for the technical institutes. This is not necessary for the local university, which has an open admission policy. The Centre addresses many needs: women have also used it to prepare for high school equivalency exams, public service commission exams, and language training.

EMPLOYMENT-RELATED COMPONENTS:
JOB READINESS TRAINING, JOB
FINDING CLUB, WORK PLACEMENT

Women who want to move directly into the workforce can enter one or more of the Employment Related Components, to practice and perfect the skills necessary to land a job. Each woman undertakes an actual job search, with the support of a facilitator and a group. If the search is not successful, a work placement of about three months is arranged in a job similar to the one sought. This not only provides valuable work experience, but can lead to permanent work; often a current work reference will make the difference to a potential employer.

ENTREPRENEURIAL/BUSINESS SKILLS

This course, which has been offered in both day and evening formats, is for women who want to explore the possibility of starting their own businesses.

Participants begin by examining their own interests and temperaments and the rigorous demands on a self-employed woman. Those who are undaunted cary on with the course. By the time it wraps up, each has a business plan to support an application for a bank loan.

Because of funding difficulties, future participants in this course will be charged a fee. While the committee would ideally like to offer all courses for free, evaluation has shown that most women interested in entrepreneurship are employed, and are thus the group most able to pay. We hope that sponsors can be found for low income women who choose this course.

SPECIAL INTEREST COURSES

In addition to regularly-scheduled courses, courses offered from time to time have included assertiveness training, how to leave a destructive relationship, and using video to counsel women. These courses are offered for a fee, but five spaces are reserved in each for participants who cannot afford to pay. Program staff make every effort to provide courses requested by BPW participants.

SUPPORT ASPECTS OF THE B.P.W.

The educational components of the B.P.W. are important, but are not enough to ensure women's equitable participation in the labour force. It is the support built into the B.P.W. that sets it apart from other educational programs.

COUNSELLING/REFERRAL

While staff members are available to students to discuss their plans and concerns, women who need intense personal counselling are referred to community agencies that deal with their particular concerns. This policy integrates the B.P.W. into the community and avoids duplication of services. Women who are referred are always told that a place awaits them once they have dealt with their more immediate concerns.