A training centre in Steinbach continues its free programs teaching essential workplace skills.

Program director Diane Stadnyk (photo credit: Facebook)The Steinbach office of Workplace Essential Skills Training or WEST Centre has been open since 2014 and is currently located at the North Hut of 10 Chrysler Gate.

Program Director Diane Stadnyk explains that the centre provides training in document use, oral communication, digital technology, thinking skills, continuous learning, and working with others. In addition to reading, writing and numeracy, she says these additional skills are considered essential in today’s workplace and that employers look for them when screening job applicants.

Stadnyk shares that all classes are free, as WEST Centre is affiliated with Workplace Education Manitoba which receives funding from the provincial and federal levels of government. She goes on to say that the centre has been holding most of its training sessions online even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

For those who lost their jobs due to the economic downturn from the pandemic, Stadnyk says their programs can be helpful."There's been a lot of people who have been laid off or have left positions for various reasons during COVID. So, we'll just help them to understand where they're at, and then if they have a vision for where they want to go in the future, we can help them get there through the essential skills training,” she says.

Stadnyk clarifies that their programs are not meant to train people for a particular profession but are designed to help them gain employment or improve their employability.

"I think it's worth giving us a call and setting up a time where we can kind of talk to them and explain what we offer and how we can help them with their particular career goals,” Stadnyk encourages prospective trainees.

Those interested to know more about the programs of WEST Centre-Steinbach can visit their webpage at https://wem.mb.ca/west-centre-steinbach or call their office at 204-326-2123.