Creating a vibrant community

Times Reporter  

 

On Nov. 21 the Wheatland Further Education Society (WFES) hosted a Community Dialogue: Creating a Vibrant Learning Community workshop at the Royal Canadian Legion, Strathmore. 

The goal of the workshop was to gain community input to identify and prioritizing the challenges, barriers and unmet needs that currently impact adult learners, employers, agencies and other in our community.

Representatives from the AB Government, Golden Hills School Division, Wheatland County, Bow Valley College, McBride Career Group, Gregory & Harriman & Associates, Strathmore & District Chamber of Commerce, Strathmore Municipal Library and many other community members gathered to discuss different ways to create a vibrant learning community.

A round table discussion took place regarding the following:

1. What do you see as the needs of adult learners in our community?

2. What does a Vibrant Learning Community look like to you?

3. What are the challenges and/or barriers to meeting those needs?

4. How can you contribute to this vibrant learning community?

Individual questionnaires were also completed referencing the core activities and future direction, as well as the challenges, barriers and unmet needs of adult learners in the community.

What are the priorities for our community?  The needs of adult learners in the community, for example leadership development, employee directed programs, access to technology, ESL/ELL and much more.

Joyce Bazant, Executive Director for WFES, said it was a very informative meeting. “WFES can be involved in almost all aspects of education regardless of what age.  We’re try to best visualize how we can best partner with different organization and/or groups to make that happen,” said Bazant.