TESTIMONIALS
June
19, 2002
I
felt very lucky when I moved to Atikokan to find a Contact
North/Contact Nord office where I was able to upgrade
while I was working as a RPN at the Atikokan Hospital. I
received my Gerontology Diploma from Confederation College.
I felt the need to upgrade so I could make a career change,
and the opportunity to get my B.A. from Lakehead University
was fulfilled while still working and raising a family here
in my hometown. I was able to strike out and start a
business of my own, all thanks to the courses I was able to
take at Contact North/Contact Nord.
Michelle
Sharon Wright
Gerontology Diploma Program
Atikokan
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June
19, 2002
I
believe that Contact North/Contact Nord is invaluable
to most Adult Students who have already embarked on a
lifestyle of family and financial commitments, making it
impossible to move to a centre where a University or College
is situated. My diploma in Gerontology from Confederation
College enhanced my job performance at the Atikokan Hospital
as Health Care Aide.
Gail
Bazinet
Gerontology Diploma Program
Atikokan
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June
20, 2002
As
a single Mom moving from a much larger town to the small
town of Atikokan, I was very pleased to be able to continue
my education in the field of Early Childhood Education from
Confederation College through Contact North/Contact Nord.
The support of my family and friends, and the small
classrooms, has enabled me to enjoy being back in school. I
look forward to my next year to complete my diploma.
Karen
Van Doorne
Early Childhood Education Diploma Program
Atikokan
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June
17, 2002
In
communities across Northern Ontario, thanks to Contact
North/Contact Nord, persons such as myself are able
to access the education, training and professional
development programs that they need to obtain meaningful
employment, to upgrade their skills to be more competitive
in the job market and for the pure joy of continued
learning. In my case, I was able to access the education and
training programs that I needed without having to leave my
home community of Kenora and travel a significant distance
to the nearest education institution. This was very
important to me and made my learning experience even more
meaningful. Not only have I been able to maintain my
employment as a professor at Confederation College without
having to move away from my home community, but I have also
been able to complete my undergraduate and graduate studies
only because we have this valuable service in our community.
Deana
Halonen
Master of Social Work Program
Kenora
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June
24, 2002
In
communities like Kenora, we are unable to receive proper
training in many areas unless you are able to travel to
Thunder Bay or Winnipeg. Many courses are now offered
through Contact North/Contact Nord so I can further
my education as well as have instructors whom I can talk to.
I
have taken two accounting courses as well as many management
courses with Contact North/Contact Nord, and I have
been very happy with the staff and the quality of the
teachers. I work in General Insurance, and with the courses
I have obtained through Contact North/Contact Nord,
in five years I will become a partner in our firm.
Please
continue to make it possible for myself and many others to
receive the training we need.
Contact
North/Contact Nord provides a vital service to our
area.
Shelley
McCool, C.A.I.B.
Registered Insurance Broker
Kenora
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June
21, 2002
I
have been working toward my diploma from the Library and
Information Sciences Program through Lakehead University for
several years now. During this time, I have taken several
courses, that I would have been otherwise unable to obtain,
using the Contact North/Contact Nord Network. I plan
to graduate from this program in the Spring of 2003, and as
a result of these courses, have obtained an excellent
position at the local public library.
As
a single mother with two young children, had I been unable
to access the education that I needed without leaving Kenora,
I would certainly not have qualified for the enjoyable and
satisfying work that I now perform.
Cathy
Peacock
Library and Information Sciences Diploma Program
Kenora
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December
4, 2002
For
anyone who is motivated to learn, but must care for an older
parent or young children at home, distance learning is truly
a godsend. Through Contact North/Contact Nord, I am
currently completing the 3rd semester of a 2-year
Teacher Aide diploma. Without Contact North/Contact Nord,
attaining my educational goals would be next to impossible.
Jenny
Enair
Kirkland Lake
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June
25, 2002
I
have recently completed the first year of the Drug and
Alcohol Counsellor / Social Service Worker program offered
through Northern College, Porcupine Campus. I use the
Contact North/Contact Nord Access Centre in
Manitouwadge to receive my education. I am a mother of two
small children and my husband works away from home. I would
never have had the opportunity to go to college and educate
myself without this invaluable resource. Living in a small
northern community tends to limit ones opportunities, but
through Contact North/Contact Nord, a world of
opportunities is at our fingertips.
Lisa
Jackson
Drug and Alcohol Counsellor / Social Service Worker Diploma
Program
Manitouwadge
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June
17, 2002
Over
the past two years, I used the Contact North/Contact Nord
Access Centre in Marathon to complete my diploma in the
educational assistant program from Confederation College in
Thunder Bay. I feel that having an opportunity to take
courses in our small community is vital. Education through
distance education is our link to the world!
Leila
Comeau
Teacher Aide Diploma Program
Marathon
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June
17, 2002
I
have been attending Lakehead University via distance
education since 1988 (…). Had distance education and
Contact North/Contact Nord not been available, I
would not have been able to obtain the education to be in my
current position of Director of Client Services at our
community hospital.
Jill
P. Pascoe
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
B.A. in Psychology
Marathon
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June
19, 2002
In
1994/95, I used the Contact North/Contact Nord Centre
in Marathon to complete my Office Administration Diploma
from Confederation College. Without this service available,
I could not have obtained my diploma, nor could my
classmates. Currently, I work as an office assistant for
Confederation College (…). As you know, we are closely
linked with Contact North/Contact Nord, and I find
myself referring clients to the Contact North/Contact
Nord office on a daily basis.
Taime
Laroche
Office Administration Diploma Program
Marathon
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July
9, 2002
As
an employer at The Mattawa Child Care Centre, we’ve had
the opportunity to employ several workers that have and
still continue to be enrolled in the ECE Contact North/Contact
Nord courses.
One
staff in particular did all the available courses through
your program and only returned to college for her last year
of practical. Being able to continue her education in her
hometown was the only option for the person at the time.
Money is always a factor, with the high cost of tuition fee
these days, not many people can afford to leave Mattawa to
join a College of their choice. Contact North/Contact
Nord not only provides the individuals with staying in
their hometown but also is able to pursue their dream of
having a diploma with a lesser cost attached and still be
able to obtain meaningful employment.
There
is no doubt in my mind that your organization has and will
keep having a significant contribution to the overall
quality of life and provides a vital service to communities
like mine across Northern Ontario.
Nicole
MacDonald
Mattawa
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June
17, 2002
I
am currently employed with Tembec in Mattawa, Ontario. As
Tembec is a bilingual company and has other mills throughout
Canada, I thought it very important to obtain a second
language. Through Contact North/Contact Nord, I was
able to obtain a French course from College Boreal. As you
are probably aware, this college is located in Sudbury,
Ont., 2 hours away from where I live. Having the Contact
North/Contact Nord system available in my community
has made it possible for me to look forward to advancement
with my company and enabling me to achieve future goals.
I
am looking forward to taking my next course using the
Contact North/Contact Nord Network!
Chad
Belanger
Operations Superintendent, Central Ontario Forestry, Tembec
Mattawa
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July
18, 2002
I
am currently working as resource person for teachers of
children with special needs at F.J. McElligott Secondary
School in Mattawa. I can confidently state that I owe my
present position to the Contact North/Contact Nord
Centre in Mattawa that allowed me to take the 3 specialist
courses in Exceptional Children at Laurentian University
during the school year. Again this year, thanks to Contact
North/Contact Nord Mattawa I am continuing my professional
development by taking a graduate course in Additional Basic
Qualifications so that I can register for the Principal’s
Training Course in the future. In a word, I truly appreciate
being able to continue my professional training at home,
without having to take a leave from classroom teaching, nor
having to be away from my family. Also, in financial terms,
I save considerable travel and boarding expenses by availing
myself of distance education services.
I
am very satisfied with the quality of the services provided
by Contact North/Contact Nord.
Jill
Huot
Program for Children with Special Needs
Mattawa
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September
10, 2002
Education,
training and upgrading are challenging issues for Northern
residents and businesses. Accessibility is often the
greatest obstacle. The Contact North/Contact Nord
Network of audioconferencing, videoconferencing and Internet
capabilities allows my staff to meet the educational
requirements needed in their field. With this technology,
our nursing home, and our community at large, is the richer.
Vala
Monestime Belter,
Director of Nursing/Assistant Administrator of the Algonquin
Nursing Home
Mattawa
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December
4, 2002
Living
in a remote area was a significant obstacle to realizing my
educational goals. Completing my diploma through distance
education was the best option for me. It was a wonderful
experience that I will never forget. Thank you Contact
North/Contact Nord.
Yvonne
Davis
Red Lake
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June
20, 2002
Over
the past 10 years, I have obtained many (about 20) courses
through Contact North/Contact Nord. I work full-time
and also have a family. I feel that educating myself is very
important. I like the fact that Contact North/Contact
Nord offers a great variety of courses and at flexible
times, convenient to my busy life schedule.
Beverly
Osterberg
South Porcupine
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June
17, 2002
I
am currently taking a small business bookkeeping course
through Contact North/Contact Nord in Terrace Bay,
ON. I am thankful that this course is offered in my
community as I am just starting out in my small business and
I was in need of some training. I would not have been able
to go out of town to take this course as I have a family in
Terrace Bay. I am finding the course very informative and my
teacher is wonderful.
Contact
North/Contact Nord will help me to better my small
business by allowing me to receive training that I otherwise
would not have been able to receive if I had to go out of
town to receive it.
Jennifer
Merkley
Terrace Bay
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July
2, 2002
The
quality of the service provided at the Access Centre by the
staff has always impressed me. As we so often say, it’s
the small things that count; often the staff make coffee,
leave us a bowl of goodies and give their personal attention
to the learners. That’s what’s so special about the
education Access Centres in the North.
In
the communities of Northern Ontario, thanks to Contact
North/Contact Nord, people like me, who want to have
access to programs in professional development can embark on
a second career such as Pastoral Assistant, and all this
without leaving my hometown.
Marie-Paule
Guénette
Theology Diploma Program
Timmins
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June
19, 2002
I
have been teaching through Contact North/Contact Nord
for nearly 10 years, reaching students who might not
otherwise obtain a professional education (Nursing and
Paramedicine). The remote communities that we reach are
often the hardest hit when it comes to staffing shortages in
these key professional areas. Educating local people is a
proven way to retain staff in the long-term.
Throughout
my experience, I was always impressed by the quality of
service provided by Contact North/Contact Nord and
its staff. They go above and beyond in a very professional
manner.
Barb
Reid
School of Health Sciences and Emergency Services
Northern College
Timmins
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Last
Updated: 03/07/2003
