The nearly three-decade old Work Skills Training program at the Williams Lake Thompson Rivers University location is undergoing a slight shift in the upcoming school year, but new program co-ordinator, Jeremy Biffert, wants the community to understand that the program will still foster an environment for those looking to further their education.
“The re-branded program is going to be very similar to the Work Skills Training program,” said Biffert. “There won’t be any change in when the program is delivered and who is eligible for it. I’m hoping that the community will start to see the program as an opportunity of advancement to further post-secondary education as well. “
Now being dubbed the Education and Skills Training program, or ESTR, Biffert, who was born and raised in Williams Lake, explains that the name change is mostly there to communicate a message of education, rather than just work skills.
“That’s the reason for the name change to Education and Skills Training,” said Biffert. “That education piece is just so the community knows that if a young person doesn’t quite qualify for university prep courses and maybe needs some more support than they would find, then the Education and Skills Training program is an awesome fit for them.”
With no age limit on the program, Biffert is encouraging anyone who may be interested to reach out, regardless if they are just coming out of high school, or they are an adult learner.
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“The program is very flexible to the needs of the individual,” said Biffert. “The grant that covers the cost of the tuition can be applied at any time during the school year. We take people as and when they are ready.”
Karen Moberg, the former program co-ordinator for the Work Skills Training program states that she is fully on board with the changes as she enters retirement.
“I’ve been working with the Work Skills Training program for 29 years,” said Moberg. “People in the community know of and respect the program. I just want to say that I’m fully supportive of the minor changes that are being made. I just want the students, parents and caregivers to understand that the program is still available.”
Moberg, who will be acting as a mentor for Biffert as the program gets underway, explained she is feeling nothing but positivity with how the program is shaping up also mentioned the hard work and dedication of some of the instructors of the program.
“Jay Goddard, Alice Stoddard and Traci Lisetto have worked so hard to keep this program going through the years,” said Moberg. “The community has been very supportive of the program as well, but they deserve to be mentioned because of their outstanding commitment.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of the job for Moberg was going out into the community and seeing the success of former students of the program.
“It is an incredibly great feeling to see some of the former students having great success in their jobs,” said Moberg. “It kind of affirms the importance of this program and it shows that it has made a great impact on many individuals.”
One of the benefits of the program, per Biffert, is that no student is forced along any path, and that they will be given the tools and the resources to pursue what they want to.
“As the co-ordinator, I like to seek out opportunities for the students based on their interests and abilities,” said Biffert. “If we have a young man who is interested in pursuing a career in the trades, I’ll do my best to find work experience for him, that gets him into a shop and gets him seeing the attitudes he needs to have to pursue that career. I’ll help the students build the skills they need so that they can successfully work towards what they want to do.”
With five students registered for September and three additional seats open, Biffert is hoping that members of the community will reach out and get a feel for what the program is truly about.
“I’m really encouraging the agencies in town, families and individuals, if they have inkling that the program might be a good fit for them or the person that is in their care, to reach out to me, come in for an interview, and find out if the program can meet that family and that individual’s needs,” said Biffert.
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