The linkages between training programs and the established educational systems, such as school boards, colleges and universities, need to be developed and enhanced. For example, a woman with little educational background should be able to move through the YWCA's Focus on Change program, into an adult high school, through a Women in Trades and ., Technology program, to community college or university, followed by a lifetime of productive labour force participation. Should she need to change occupations later in her life, her positive training experiences will have smoothed the way for a successful transition.

Given the increasing importance to the economy of women as new entrants to the labour market and the ongoing importance of good jobs to ensure economic security for women and families, "best practice" transition models which incorporate the above criteria should be supported, expanded and entrenched in Canada's training system. They should be available to all women who need them, whether these are underemployed, unemployed, social assistance recipients, new immigrants, or women who wish to move into trades, technical and operations work.

Ingrid Wellmeier has been working on equity in training and employment for the past twelve years and has been a trainer and counselor involved in a number of community-based training programs for women. In recent years, she has specialized in employment equity, working first for the Ontario government, then as a free lance researcher, and currently as Manager of Employment Equity for the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton.

1. Marcia Braundy, "Out of the Stream and Into the River," Ottawa: Canadian Vocational Association Occasional Paper No.4, p.20.
2. Canadian Labour Force Development Board, "Impact of CIS Budget Cuts and Policy Changes on Designated Groups," Ottawa, 1992, p.1.
3. Ibid. "Accountability for the achievement of increased designated group participation in programming seems to be lacking," p.4.
4. City of Halifax, Task Force on Approaches to Full Employment, A Critical Review of Income Support Programs in Metro, Halifax, 1988.
5. COPOH, Willing to Work ... Together Winnipeg, 1991.
6. Shelly Gordon, Operation Access: A pre- apprenticeship bridging program for women, ACTEW: Toronto, 1989.
7. Betty Irwin, Brief to the Canada/Yukon Apprenticeship Study Steering Committee, Yukon Status of Women Council, 1987.
8. Marcia Braundy, pp. 7&8.
9. Susan Witter, "Canada's Occupational Training Programs: Three Decades of Deficiencies," in Canadian Vocational Journal, vol.26 no.4 (spring 1991).
10. A Women's Agenda on Training!, a research and information kit developed by the Women's Reference Group on Labour Market Issues.
11. For a discussion of women's learning styles, see the article entitled "Learning Working Knowledge: Implications for Training" in this issue. .