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Wetaskiwin Community Learning Program holds grand opening

Community Learning Council, Community Literacy Program merged to create new organization
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The Wetaskiwin Community Learning Program celebrated its grand opening on Nov. 23, but board members and staff are already well immersed in their duties and serving the community.

The non-profit society and registered charity was introduced to the City of Wetaskiwin on July 1, 2017.

“We’re very happy to be at this point in our community,” said executive director Colleen Thiessen to the crowd who attended the grand opening.

The Wetaskiwin Community Learning Program is an amalgamation of the Community Learning Council, which was founded in 1973, and the Wetaskiwin Community Literacy Program, which was established in 1988.

Both organizations were given key funding by Advanced Education; and two years ago, the mandate for the two organizations from Advanced Education synced.

This started the conversation between the organizations that a merger in the community would better meet the needs of the learners.

Featured guest speaker Bill Elliot says many of the goals of the organization includes but is not limited to: increasing literacy and foundation skills in adults, enhancing access to learning to under-represented learning groups, increasing collaboration and partnerships.

The organization offers a variety of adult learning, family literacy and ESL programs. For more information visit the Wetaskiwin Community Learning Program website at https://www.wetaskiwinlearning.ca or on-site at 5010 50th Avenue.

The drop-in learning centre was created to meet the demands of learners who can’t attend classes or who need one-on-one instruction. Programs, specifically basic computer courses, have also been extended into the areas of Millet, Pigeon Lake, Mulhurst and Lone Ridge – with more county locations in the works.

“Collaboration and co-operation and coming together, that’s really important for community spirit,” said Wetaskiwin-Camrose MLA Bruce Hinkley. “I want to say congratulations for this.”

amelia.naismith@pipestoneflyer.ca