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Wednesday, August 16, 2000 - North Shore News - 23

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Know yourself first, then seek employment

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fizes discussion groups, body Movement. exercises, imagery and lectures to help the unem- ployed find new work.

Compass Centre employ- ment coordinator Susan Petrina calls ICS the most innovative tool she’s seen in a long Gme.

“I've been in this field for ten years and it’s the most exciting thing I’ve seen (in that time),” she said.

Funded by Human Resources Development Canada (H RDC), the program is open to all interested people looking for a hand in securing steady employment.

Petrina satd the key to the

prograny’s success lies in its mis- sion tO help people better understand their own selves and desires before secking employment.

“The reason people can’t figure out what to do with their work lives is because they don’t know themselves,” said Petrina. “If you really knew yourself well, you'd be able to pick a job.”

To help people embark on this journey of self-awareness, ICS employs three tools: truth, choice and discarding outmod- ed defensive behaviours.

“We think we tell the truth but I know for myself unal [ did this work if ] thought I was going to hurt someone’s feel- ings I wouldn't tell the truth,”

she said. “We get se used to Iving thar pretty soon we're lying to ourselves and soon... We completely cover over who we really are and then we can’t understand why we can’t make a career choice.”

Petrina, who — instructs groups of 11 in the month- long, sessions at the Compass Centre, strives to instill in her charges a sense of confidence and self-knowledge when seck- ing employment.

When she gets her members involved in a group discussion, it becomes easier for each per- son to discover their strengths and weaknesses, she said. It also helps people escape a “victim mentality.”

“A lot of people that end up

unemployed oor chronically unemployed have a victim mentality and people in this

program. start to shift out of

that and become more empow- ered,” she said. “They don't necessarily walk out of this pro- gram knowing what sort of job they should be getting but what they do have are some tools that, if they start to use them in their lives, clarity will come to them. It gives people a different way of looking at their life.” .

The Compass Centre opened its doors in April of last year with a mandate to help speed the return of the unem- ployed back into the workforce or assisting them in securing specialized training.

Job search programs can help

Following. is a listing of several job search services and career exploration programs offered on the North Shore:

Career . Services; Professional Sear mets .. Program; Jo! - Wo:

» °., Wise; The Works!; One Stop Career Shop for Youth; . Choices

These programs are all offered. by the. YWCA of North Vancouver, 113-255 West “Ist Avenue, North “-; Vancouver. Contact Lynn. or

Karen at 984-7630 for more

Job Scarch Program 40+; Job Finding Club; The Employment Program; ACE Resource Centre

These programs are all offered by North Shore Continuing Education’s Employment Training Division, Capilano Mall, 935 Marine Drive, North Vancouver. Contact 903- 4660 or 903-4825 for more information.

Canora Club

This program for adults challenged by mental illness offers computer and lifeskills training, workplace

practicums and a weekly sup- port group. Contact the Canadian Mental Health Association’s North and West Vancouver branch at 1075A Marine: rive, Upper North Vancouver, 987-2111.

Career development and employment services ¢ North Shore Compass Centre offers a four-week course on subjects such as career action planning, cogni- tive development skills and employment readiness skills. Priority is given to El/mutual clients but the centre is open

to ali. Located at 311 - 255

Pomc, ‘assistance may.be availabl ‘© those who quali

West Ist Street in North Vancouver, phone 984-4567 for more information. (See story above for more informa- tion on the Compass Centre) — This listing is not intended to be a complete guide to all the e mplonment Services offered an the North Shore, merely a sampling of some of the options that are availaéle.

The centre — which is Jocated at #311 - 255 West Ist Street in North Vancouver — has five staff members on hand to assist. people and is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The next ICS component

course will start on September 18.

For more information on ICS and other. North Shore Compass Centre initiatives, contact Susan Petrina at 984- 4567, fax 984-2224 or <nscompass@uniserve.com>.

The Career Development

oe Facilitator Pro

ram

8 weeks October 2 to November 28 ” Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. At Capilano College (Part-time evening program also avaitabie)

This program is beneficial for anyone with expe- lence in jobs such as:job search : trainer, case manager, cateer coach, employment placement specialist, or other relat-

- ed education and/or experience.

Priority registration is given to qualified El recipients. Sponsored by MAETT.

Call Cacilda at (604) 984-4909 Email: ctang@capcollege.bc.ca

Capilano College Continuing Education 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver, V7 3H5 wew.capcollege.be.ca/contirruinged/courses

COUNSELLOR TRAINING INSTITUTE

ACCREDITED

We are pleased to announce the Counsellor Training Institute has received accreditation from the

Private Post Secondary } Education Commission effective August 1, 2000.

The month of August is ; also the 15th anniversary of the beginning of the Counsellor Training Institute.

We wish to extend congratulations to the students, faculty, and administrative staff who have . contributed to this significant achievement in a positive, constructive way. :

Accreditation will pave the way to further establish CTI in the professional and academic community. It--

is expecied that new campus locations will be established, new programs will be developed, and placement and career opportunities will increase to fulfill our shared vision of making counselling

skills public knowledge for a therapeutic community.

Certificate of Professional Counselling begins Aug. 28 Certificate of Counselling Science begins Sept. 18

For a free catalogue call 687-2882 (local) or 1-800-665-7044 Counsellor Training Institute

ACCRLOTLD

405-510 Ww. Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. VB 118 @. www.counselortraining.« com:

Quality "No Cost” Services since 1985 "The best. most comprehensive facility on the North Shore”

Autobody Collision Training

Professional Job Firding Programs

Computer Training ACE Resource Centre

http:/Awww.employment-training.net

EMPLOYMENT TRAINING DIVISION

Registered with PPSEt

' School District #44, North Shore Continuing Education Sponsored by: Human Resource Development Canada and theMinistry of Social Development & Econom Seouniy' .

Self Employment Programs

Women's Bridging Program