Northwest Community College Connections

NWCC staff co-author guide for literacy practitioners

HOUSTON – Two Northwest Community College (NWCC) employees, both tireless champions of learning and literacy in the Bulkley Valley and beyond, have been instrumental in creating a new tool for literacy practitioners.

Houston-based Sandi Lavallie, Career & College Prep Instructor and Coordinator, and Dee McRae, Regional Literacy Coordinator, teamed with Anne Docherty of the Storytellers' Foundation in Hazelton to create The ACME Guide to Literacy Practice in Community: A Conversation for Literacy Practitioners.

The result is an interesting and provocative look at those complexities and what it means to engage in meaningful literacy practice. Written in an innovative and engaging comic book style and addressed directly to literacy practitioners, it is an accessible and highly engaging conversation for practitioners and tutors in adult literacy settings.

"This guide is about the nature of literacy and the implications for practice," said Lavallie. "It is intended as a professional development tool that will spark dialogue, debate, ideas and reflection about how we define literacy, how we define literacy progress, and other 'big picture' questions.
 
"While it was originally intended to be a fun, informal introduction to measurement, we found that as we wrote, we kept going back to the essence of literacy practice. We first need to look closely at literacy and learning in community to really see the complexities.”

Lianne Gagnon, NWCC's Dean of Student Development and Instruction has read the guide, finding it to be both informative and fun.

"I'm very pleased that Northwest Community College—through the effort, skill and passion of Sandi and Dee—has played a significant part in creating this great new literacy resource," said Gagnon. "Sandi, Dee and Anne possess a wealth of literacy experience and it is reflected in this book for practitioners. These three individuals are well known for their expertise in literacy and their successful grassroots initiatives. The Northwest region is a more literate place because of their endeavours. I recommend the guide to anyone in the field of literacy."

The guide is a product of the project From the Ground Up: A Research-in-Practice Approach to Outcome-Oriented Program Evaluation managed by RiPAL-BC (Research in Practice in Adult Literacy–BC) in partnership with Literacy BC and funded by the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

In addition to viewing it here in PDF format, the College has six copies available at its campus libraries in Hazelton, Houston, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Smithers and Terrace.

NWCC is a valuable community asset, impacting the lives of students and our communities. Through its nine campuses, 500-plus employees and an annual injection of over $30 million into the local economy, NWCC is an economic engine supporting the many communities that look to us to provide innovative programs and services.

Maggie de Vries Shares Her Sister's Story

Author Maggie de Vries captivated an audience of 40 with the stories and struggles of her sister, as written in her book Missing Sarah.  Maggie spoke of Sarah's disappearance, the discovery of her DNA on Robert Pickton's property in 2002, the trial, as well as the current public inquiry.

   

These touching and difficult stories were of particular interest to the students in the Women in Criminology class, where Missing Sarah is used as required reading, as well as to students who have connections to the missing women along Highway 16.  Maggie will also be presenting on April 4 on the Hazelton Campus.

Many thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts, North Coast Library Federation and Northwest Community College for sponsoring this event.

 

 

NWCC celebrates Family Literacy Day

TERRACE – Northwest Community College (NWCC) is a strong promoter of literacy and every year, NWCC staff takes part in Family Literacy Day events throughout the region.

The Prince Rupert Public Library held weeklong events to mark Family Literacy Day, with storytelling, displays, and prizes. The library handed out free replacements of lost library cards, hosted an e-book demonstration and held a Family Story Hour with special guests Carolina de Ryk of CBC Daybreak North and Prince Rupert Councillor Jennifer Rice.

On Jan. 27 in the afternoon, NWCC Prince Rupert Campus staff had the floor and entertained families with storytelling, games, refreshments and prizes.

Also on Jan. 27, NWCC Houston Campus hosted an event to celebrate Family Literacy Day in the Bulkley Valley. Success By 6’s Duane Jackson, a certified Early Childhood Educator, read to parents and talked about strategies for reading to children; this was followed by a Q & A session.

The following day, Family Literacy Day was hosted at Suwilaawks Community School in Terrace. Over 100 families braved the snow and slush to attend and were kept busy with a number of different activities.

NWCC Head Librarian Melanie Wilke attended, along with colleagues Pat Stone, Solveig Adair, Jessica Hrechka Fee and a few Early Childhood Education students. Wilke said the event had several information and activity tables set up in the gym and library and families were invited to participate in several literacy activities. The tables ranged from card making, play dough, poetry making at the NWCC table, puzzles and more. There was also a healthy lunch of soup and raw veggies served.

“Reading is all about fun and when we make it fun for both kids and their families, it’s a great start to a lifelong connection to books and literacy,” said Wilke. “Family Literacy Day is a wonderful event and NWCC is happy to be a part of it each year.”

NWCC Hazelton Campus will tie-in Family Literacy Day with Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14. The campus will celebrate the event from 10am to 2pm, with snacks to be served at lunchtime. The public is invited to attend.


  

Author Vivien Lougheed presented excerpts from Sidetracked: The Struggle for BC's Fossils

Prince George author Vivien Lougheed presented from her book Sidetracked : The Struggle for BC's Fossils over lunch in the Terrace Campus Library on October 13.  Thirty students and faculty listened as she discussed the ethics of fossil hunting and the debate on the use of amateur versus professional fossil hunters.  If anyone is interested in further reading, her book is available at the NWCC Library.

Steer straight to your career with computer program at NWCC

PRINCE RUPERT – Northwest Community College (NWCC) offers post-secondary training for a number of potential careers, but for some students or would-be students, the hardest decision is which one of those to pursue.

What has made that decision easier is a user-friendly computer program used by the NWCC Student Services team with a number of activities to assist students and community members determine career options. Because of this, the Bridges Career and Education Explorer software has been renewed for another year.

“One portion of the program matches individuals’ skills and interests with specific careers,” says Sherry Beal, NWCC Educational Advisor in Prince Rupert. “Once these are matched, people can research the careers, accessing information relating to required education, potential wages, and employment outlook. Additionally there are interviews with people already in these types of jobs, which give people more personal information about the work, including the pros and cons of this type of career.”

If people have an idea of the field in which they would like to be employed, another Bridges activity allows users to research by career clusters, finding the specific area of interest. The same research information will be available as in the previous activities. An additional activity bases one’s areas or subjects of interest (i.e. biology, history) to match potential careers, enabling individuals to research the career profile and interviews with students who are in those specific programs.

Beal says the program is a winner. “Bridges gives students and community members a great opportunity to explore education and career options that they may have not have considered in the past. In many cases, people tend to consider your typical and traditional careers, but this program broadens minds to look at all the opportunities that are out there. The wealth of information the program provides can give individuals a clear sense of what specific jobs entail, along with outlook for employment, which I find is always a concern for people making career decisions or making that all-important career change.”

As an Educational Advisor, Beal knows all too well the obstacles students can face. The idea of starting post-secondary education can be a daunting task, but when students have a clear goal in mind, the idea of heading back to school is embraced as the beginning of an exciting new journey, she says.

Prospective students interested in using the Bridges program simply have to make an appointment with an NWCC Educational Advisor to get started. They are then recommended to do further research in the College library computer lab, after which they can make appointments with an Educational Advisor to discuss their findings and start educational plans to reach their employment/career goals. Along with educational planning, Educational Advisors are able to direct people to financial aid options to help pay for their education.

Beal cites one student, who was struggling with what type of career she wanted. The student said she was drawn toward studying history, but she didn’t think there would be any jobs for people with a degree in history other than teaching – Bridges provided many other options. Contact an NWCC Educational Advisor for more information!

Author Allan Stratton Joins Via Skype

Author and playwrite Allan Stratton joined the NorthWords Writing Camp at the NWCC Library tonight via a Skype connection.  Allan began in acting and that certainly comes out in his presentation.  Excited about seeing the movie Life Above All - the film adaptation of his novel Chanda's Secrets.  It just opened in theatres.  Check out Allan's website http://www.allanstratton.com/.

 

Test Drive NWCC on July 12-14!

Are you entering grade 11 or grade 12 and wondering what it would be like to attend NWCC? Well, here's your chance!

We're excited to announce our new Test Drive event taking place on July 12-14. Test Drive NWCC allows students from Terrace and the surrounding areas to experience campus life by living in the dorms for two nights and taking part in classes and events on campus.

Students will be introduced to a variety of academic and technical subjects by taking part in 1-2 hour classes.

Classes may include: Ecology, Trades, Anthropology, Business Administration, University Writing, Geology, and Health Sciences. This will introduce students to different programs and career paths available at NWCC.

All students will attend 1 hour workshops on Student Success and Financial Aid. Student life is also part of this experience so students will be able to take part in interactive and social activities and events on campus.

This program includes 1 Continuing Education certificate course and students will be able to select from: Resumé Writing, Employment First Aid Kit, or Young Workers Safety.

 Space is limited so download this information package and application form and register today!

Student success: focus on the Social Service Worker program

Northwest Community College students have great stories to tell. Get to know the future of the Northwest's workforce now.

Lawrence Sankey, Social Service Worker (SSW) diploma student.

I was a fisherman from 1974 up until 1994, when I returned to school to complete my grades 11 and 12 at the North Coast Community Skills Centre in Prince Rupert. I graduated through Charles Hays Senior Secondary School in 1998, then enrolled at Northwest Community College in 1998 for my Business Administration diploma. I completed and obtained my certificate and diploma in April 2001 and then worked at Kitkatla band as the payroll clerk and as the band administrator for two years.

I returned to NWCC, and in 2005, I obtained my Associate of Arts Degree. But I wasn't finished studying. That fall, I enrolled in NWCC's SSW program, which started in Prince Rupert and completed at NWCC Terrace Campus.

Social work seemed the right fit. I was looking for a career that would keep me in the Northwest, which also offered job and material security; a career where I would have the freedom and autonomy to work unsupervised, where I would be rewarded for loyalty and reliability and where I could advance within the field.

I chose NWCC because of its great, hands-on instructors and I loved the flexibility the program offered. While working for TDCSS’s (Terrace & District Community Services Society) Choices program at nights, I was able to continue my education at the College. During the second year, after obtaining my SSW certificate, I was hired on in July 2010 at Kermode Friendship Society in Terrace as a family skills worker.

After I earn my SSW diploma, I plan to continue in this job with the hope of making a difference in children’s lives by helping those that require the help and assistance that is offered by Kermode Friendship Society Family Skills Program.

Finally, I credit my supporting family and friends for directing me on this path and giving me the inspiration to not only succeed, but to continue on in the social work field.

 

Laura Letourneau, Social Service Worker (SSW) certificate student.

Thanks to Northwest Community College's Social Service Worker program, I plan to stay and work in Terrace.

My journey to the SSW program is a long one. I attended Caledonia Senior Secondary School in Terrace and fell two credits short of graduating with my class in 1994. I had started working in the restaurant industry in high school, a job I kept doing for 20 years.

A mother of two girls, I was suddenly unemployed when the restaurant I had worked for closed. Sounds pretty dismal right? No, I immediately went after what I wanted so passionately, to be able to go back to school.

I dove right in and passed the CAT III English Assessment test and then earned the two credits I needed for my Grade 12!

I knew I wanted to attend Northwest Community College because I had heard they offered an excellent Social Service Work program under the instruction of Karen Chrysler.

Currently, I'm enrolled in the  SSW certificate program – with plans to continue on to the diploma program – and have come to know that Karen is a remarkable instructor; I hope that I can take the skills that she has taught me and continue to advance them. All my instructors are very supportive and they take pride in helping us succeed. I appreciate the education they have received in order to provide superb instruction.

And it's not just the program that I enjoy. After almost 20 years away from the classroom, I didn't know what to expect of college life, but the College atmosphere is friendly and welcoming, with activities for students, and a supportive, helpful administration. You feel welcome here, everywhere from the office to the library. I love the librarians, they are so helpful when you are tackling papers and need material.

Right now, I am working with children in a Grade 3 class as part of one of my courses. I love working with children and hope to continue to do so – things may change by the time I get my diploma. It is hard to choose what exactly I want to do. I can say that in the end, the only thing that stands out in my mind is to be able to help, encourage, and at least touch one person's life. To be able to make a difference in someone's life is the reward. 

When I enrolled in the SSW program, I did not really know what I was getting into. I learned within a very short time that there were endless possibilities for a career in this field. When one door closes, another opens. This one opened with the best of things yet to come!

 

GIVE THE GIFT OF LEARNING –
Please consider donating to the NWCC Social Service Worker Bursary. It's as easy as clicking this link! Fill in the one-page donation form and you'll be contacted to confirm your donation information and payment method. A valid income tax receipt will be issued to acknowledge contributions.