Education and Training Opportunities

This month’s edition of The Grand River Current brings you an exciting lineup of courses and programs to help you explore career opportunities, build essential life skills, and advance in your professional journey. Discover training in workplace safety, health and social services, business communication, technology, and trades. Whether you’re gearing up for your first job, sharpening your entrepreneurial edge, or stepping into a new industry, you’ll find flexible, practical learning options tailored to your goals. Don’t miss out on these empowering resources—select your courses, register, and take the next step toward your future!
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🎯 Career Exploration & Employment Skills

• Life Skills (Sheridan College):  Equip yourself with essential life skills, including financial management, critical thinking, and housing research. Perfect for anyone wanting to feel more prepared for life’s challenges! Contains 10 FREE college-level courses. 🌟 Code: LIFE SKILLS

• Workplace Safety & Prevention Services: Build Your Skills with Free Health & Safety Courses: Are you ready to take the next step toward finding gainful employment? Contact North | Grand River is here to help you access free, non-credit courses through Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)—Ontario’s trusted health and safety advisor. These courses are designed to equip you with valuable knowledge and skills to thrive in safe, healthy workplaces. Whether you’re looking to enter the agricultural, manufacturing, or service sectors, or simply boost your resume, WSPS courses can help you stand out to employers while contributing to safer work environments. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your career prospects and make a meaningful impact on workplace safety. Let us help you get started on your journey! 🌟 Code: WSPS

• Become a Successful Job Hunter (LinkedIn Learning): Maximize your job search efforts with expert advice from career coaches and business professionals. Whether you’re a college graduate or a student looking ahead, learn how to craft a career plan, write a resume, search for a job, and nail the interview. You’ll also get a primer for professional life with courses on business acumen and how to start your job off right. Plan your career path. Discover and identify job opportunities. Learn the most effective interview techniques. 8 courses, 7 hours of content. 🌟 Code: JOB HUNTER________________________________
  

  💙 Health & Social Services

• Diversity and Inclusion (Seneca Polytechnic): In today’s workplace, organizations seek employees who understand the value of equity and diversity. Build your skills and set yourself apart with the Diversity and Inclusion Bundle, a comprehensive program covering essential topics to promote inclusion and equity. This bundle offers critical insights into creating respectful and inclusive environments—skills in high demand across industries. Whether starting your career or advancing to the next level, this training prepares you to contribute meaningfully to any team. Don’t miss this opportunity to grow personally and professionally—enroll today and lead the way in fostering equity and diversity! 🌟 Code: DIVERSITY

• Ontario Caregiver Association: Discover the fundamentals of patient-centred care, family engagement, and effective communication in healthcare environments. 🌟 Code: ADVOCACY

•  Develop Your Skills as a Healthcare Project Manager (LinkedIn Learning): Privacy concerns and regulatory constraints are common roadblocks for healthcare project managers. This learning path will prepare you to meet those challenges, as well as provide you with the foundational knowledge to be an exceptional project manager. Build a strong foundation in project management skills. Identify best practices to overcome stumbling blocks. Increase your efficiency, leadership, and business acumen. 4 courses, 8 hours of content. 🌟 Code: HEALTHCARE MANAGER________________________________
  

  💡 Business & Entrepreneurship

•  Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bundle (Seneca Polytechnic): Take charge of your entrepreneurial journey with this FREE online bundle! These short, college-level courses are designed to give you the tools and knowledge to succeed, whether you’re starting a business, improving your online presence, or sharpening your management skills. The courses are completely free, flexible, and can be completed online at your own pace, with each one taking only about an hour to complete. You’ll gain practical skills in areas like business planning, branding, performance management, and more—all designed to help you take the next step toward success. Start small, dream big, and set yourself up for an exciting entrepreneurial future today!  🌟 Code: ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• Durable Skills (Lite Touch) Training Program (Achieva – Fair Chance Learning): Contact us today for information on 400+ micro-courses designed to give your team the skills they need to excel in their work. The beauty of ‘micro’ is that you won’t need to invest hours to see the benefits. You can dive into actionable learning in just 15 minutes, focusing on: ▪ Microsoft Excel ▪ Performing better ▪ Leading with confidence ▪ Refining communication ▪ Gaming emotional intelligence ▪ Excelling at customer services. 🌟 Code: LITE TOUCH

• Essential Business Communication Skills Professional Certificate (LinkedIn Learning): Regardless of your role or industry, strong communication skills are essential to advance your career and work more effectively. This learning path will help you to develop your communication skills to build trusting relationships, resolve conflicts, and share your ideas with clarity and confidence. Tune in, pass the final exam, and earn your certificate. Develop effective interpersonal communication skills. Learn communication skills to navigate conflict. Learn skills to influence and communicate with confidence. 9 courses, 8 hours of content.  🌟 Code: COMMUNICATION SKILLS________________________________
  

  📸 Technology & Digital Skills

• CareersNOW! Job Ready Skills Training (Food and Beverage Ontario): Launch Your Career in Ontario’s Food & Beverage Processing Industry – For Free!
  Looking for a flexible way to gain industry-recognized skills? Contact North | Contact Nord is partnering with CareersNOW! to offer 15 self-paced online courses through Food Processing Skills Canada—at no cost to you!
  • ✔ Learn at your own pace, anytime, anywhere
    ✔ Earn certificates for each completed course
    ✔ Complete all 15 courses to receive a special graduation package with digital credentials
    ✔ Access free employment and educational resources
    ✔ Connect with employers through online and in-person job fairs
    Start your journey today! 🌟 Code: Food

• Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital (ICTC|CTIC): Gain Skills and Get Paid: WIL Digital Program Looking to gain meaningful work experience while developing technical, business, and work-ready skills? ICTC’s WIL Digital Program connects post-secondary students like you with work-integrated learning opportunities in Canada’s growing digital economy. WIL Digital not only helps you gain valuable on-the-job experience but also gives you access to exclusive e-learning courses to sharpen your foundational tech, business, and entrepreneurship skills. Employers benefit too, with wage subsidies to hire students, making this a win-win opportunity. The Winter 2025 application period is now open, but funding is limited, and applications are being waitlisted. To be eligible, you must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person, enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary institution, and legally entitled to work in Canada. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to kick-start your career!🌟 Code: WIL Digital

• Become an Ethical Hacker (LinkedIn Learning): Ethical hacking is the ability to identify vulnerabilities in an organization’s network or infrastructure, and then address the issues to prevent incidents or attacks. Learn how to perform penetration testing and gain the knowledge and skills you need for a career in information security. Learn about common and emerging threats to systems. Practice using tools to test networks and identify risks. Prepare for the Certified Ethical Hacker (312-50) exam. 19 courses, 38 hours of content. 🌟 Code: ETHICAL HACKING________________________________
  

  🚂 Trades & Technical Skills

• Future In Trades (Six Nations Polytechnic): Six Nations Polytechnic’s Future in Trades is a 7-week, hands-on program designed for those eager to explore skilled trades. Available at the Brantford campus (in-person only), it covers shop safety, welding basics, woodworking, 3D printing, and more. Two intakes are available: February 10 – March 28, 2025, and June 30 – August 14, 2025 (Monday to Thursday). Eligible participants must be 16 or older, able to attend full-time, and equipped with CSA-approved steel-toed boots. Open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners. Don’t miss this opportunity—reply with the code word to register or for more details! 🌟 Code: FUTURE TRADES

• Merit Ontario for Training (formerly Construction Ontario): Set yourself up to be a success in the trades by getting critical training in WHMIS, Job Application Skills, Fire Prevention and more — 24 FREE online courses that deliver fundamental training for construction workers, supervisors, managers and contractors! 🌟 Code: MERIT ONTARIO

• Procore Construction Management Professional Certificate (LinkedIn Learning): Learn the foundations, best practices, and techniques for career development in construction management. Whether you’re a construction industry veteran or a new construction manager trying to get your bearings, these courses can help. Tune in, pass the final exam, and earn your professional certificate. This certificate is endorsed by Procore Technologies. Obtain a solid understanding of building science and design. Explore best practices for construction managers. Understand the role of technology in construction. 9 courses, 12 hours of content. 🌟 Code: PROCURE MANAGEMENT

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How to Register:

1.  Choose the courses or series that excite you.
2.  Email us at GrandRiver@ContactNorth.ca
3.  Start learning and transforming your future!

📩 Register TODAY!