A community college is giving rural communities a chance to help define the education and training needs of southwestern Manitoba.
Based in Brandon, Assiniboine Community College is doing an education survey in several rural towns to narrow down what skills are needed in the region’s labour market. The survey is under way and will continue through July.
“Here’s an opportunity for rural Manitoba to kind of dream of what they really need for education and training within their communities,” said Maureen Bonar, community learning manager at ACC.
Read Also
Nutritious pork packed with vitamins, essential minerals
Recipes for pork
“If they want to keep current and want their businesses to succeed, I think we really need to look at the educational component and how we can keep our young people interested in rural Manitoba and staying within those rural areas.”
The survey began in June with visits by college staff to the towns of Birtle, Deloraine, Killarney, Neepawa, Melita and Virden. Other communities were being surveyed through June and July via telephone.
The information gathered will help the college dovetail its courses to help meet the labour needs of employers. Bonar said there is a focus on continuing education to ensure a high level of competency within the workforce.
“We find a lot of kids coming out of rural areas may not have the money to go to a full fledged program, so continuing ed can be that outlet for them to try something,” she said.
“They can still go and work but they can maybe dabble at a course or two, get their feet wet and keep with the educational process.”
The college attracts young adults training for their first career, but it also caters to people wanting to upgrade their training for career advancement or to retrain for new job opportunities.
At Neepawa, a community in southwestern Manitoba, the need for trained workers is becoming acute, especially when it comes to tradespeople for manufacturing and construction, said economic development officer Clint Mutch.
“To be honest with you, we’re suffering right along with everybody else. The situation in Alberta has stolen away most of the skilled labour.
“In speaking with the (economic development officers) in all of southern Manitoba, everybody’s facing the exact same challenge.”
More information about the education survey is available through the continuing education department of the college at 204-725-8700 ext. 6747 or toll-free 800-862-6307.
The survey can also be completed on-line at www.
assiniboine.net.
