Skill Development & Training Opportunities

ESCLM member agencies have many training opportunities for employees and job seekers. These include continuing education programs, goverment funded initiatives to promote skill development, education upgrading, language instruction, and computer training. Please contact individual agencies for further information.

Association Canadienne-Française de l’Ontario (ACFO) London-Sarnia

Conseil régional de London-Sarnia
920 Huron St., London, ON N5Y 4K4
Phone: 519-675-3816
Fax: 519-673-0193
Email: cre@acfo-ls.org

ACFO’s Skills Development Program provides financial support to unemployed eligible individuals in acquiring skills through education and training. Only those who are on Employment Insurance or have been on EI within a specific time period are eligible.

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ATN Access Inc.

141 Dundas Street, Suite 504, London, ON N6A 1G3
Phone: 519-433-7950
Fax: 519-433-0282
Email: info@atn.on.ca

ATN provides services for individuals with injuries or physical, sensory and learning disabilities. ATN offers clients learning opportunities in the following areas: assistive technologies and devices, computers, internet and email, keyboarding with MSWord or WordPerfect, MSExcel for budgeting, and literacy and numeracy upgrading.

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Chippewas of the Thames First Nation

Wiijii Annokeewin Adult Training Centre
300 East River Rd, Muncey, ON
Phone: 519-264-1329

Wiijii Annokeewin Adult Training Centre offers ongoing start dates for First Nations individuals to complete their education.

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City of London

Ontario Works, Market Tower
P O Box 5045, 151 Dundas St. 2nd Floor
London, ON N6A 4L6

General enquiries: 519-661-4520
Employment programs: 519-661-5304
Resource Centre: 519-661-2322

The Ontario Works Program was implemented in London in July 1997. It is a mandatory program whose purpose is to make social assistance clients more employable and to actively support their efforts to prepare for, find and keep employment. It also provides basic financial assistance.

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Collège Boréal of Applied Arts and Technology

Citi Plaza
355 Wellington Street, Suite 279
London, ON N6A 3N7
Phone: 519-451-5194
Toll free: 1-866-445-4003
Fax: 519-451-5303
Email: infocso@borealc.on.ca

Collège Boréal is the only Francophone publicly funded college in Southwestern Ontario. It offers Continuing Education programs and courses approved by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities of Ontario. Most popular courses and programs include various French language classes, Spanish, First Aid and CPR, AZ Truck Diving, Transportation and Heavy Equipment, English Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), Enhanced English Language Training for Immigrants, Early Childhood Educator and Educational Assistant apprenticeships, Academic Upgrading (ACE), and various postsecondary programs leading to a college diploma.

Check out their Continuing Education catalogue in English or visit their website

Fanshawe College

1001 Fanshawe College Boulevard, London, ON N5Y 5R6
Phone: 519-452-4430
Fax: 519-452-4420

Citi Plaza
114-355 Wellington Road, London, ON N6A 3N7
Phone: 519-667-2392
Email: access_studies@fanshawec.ca

Strathroy Centre
10 Metcalfe Place, Unit B-5 Strathroy, ON N7G 3Z1
Phone: 519-245-8432
Fax: 519-245-8545

The local community college offers more than 100 full-time and many more part-time work related training programs at a variety of locations.

Essential Employability Skills
These skills, as identified by HRDC and the Conference Board of Canada are included in all learning activities. These may either be included in the LBS and ACE programs or taught in workshop settings such as: Working with Others, Thinking Skills, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Computer Use, Positive Attitudes or Behaviours and Adaptability.

Workplace Skills Development
Workplace Skills Development provides academic upgrading for adults and internationally-trained professionals. This program is combined with the Essential Skills Resource Centre & Testing of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES) program, to support the development of essential skills of mature workers. The program is designed to benefit any individual who may either be currently employed, unemployed, under-employed, be a job seeker, an adult student or an adult interested in improving their skills or achieving work-related goals. These programs provide the foundation for learning all other skills and enable people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to workplace change.

Literacy & Basic Skills Program – (19 years and over)
This program is learner centered and goal oriented. It is based on learning outcomes in the areas of literacy, numeracy and self-management and self- direction. Training plans are designed to help learners set goals and demonstrate progress towards achieving those goals. Essential Skills workshops also provide Program is funded by MTCU.

ACE Program
Provincially recognized grade 12 equivalency. Pre-requisite to many post-secondary college programs. With a choice of 10 different subjects: Core Math, Technical Math, Apprenticeship Math, Business Math, Communications, Self Management/Self Direction, Computers, Biology, Physics and Chemistry. Program is funded by MTCU.

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G.A. Wheable Centre for Adult Education

70 Jacqueline St., Room M247F, London, ON N5Z 3P7
Phone: 519-452-2660
Fax: 519-452-2689

Operated by the Thames Valley District School Board, this school is for those 21 yrs and over. It enables adult learners to complete or upgrade OSSD/SSGD tuition-free. Other credit & non credit skills training includes: retail, business, secretarial, computers, communications, technology, and transportation courses. Also offers co-operative education & certificate programs, day, night and self-study options, prior learning assessment, and a career centre.

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Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes

Passport to Employment: 519-660-6888

171 Queens Avenue, Unit 604 London ON N6A 5J7
Phone: 519-675-1113
Fax: 519-675-1215

Goodwill Career Centres helps individuals access the following skills training programs supported by the government of Ontario:

Ontario Skills Development – assists unemployed individuals who are or have recently been eligible to receive Employment Insurance obtain the skills needed for employment.

Second Career Strategy – a program that provides financial support to recently laid-off workers requiring long-term training for employment in high-skill demand occupations in the London area.

Targeted Wage Subsidy – provides on-the-job work experience for unemployed individuals who are experiencing difficulty in finding work.

Job Creation Partnerships – an employment program that provides work experience for unemployed individuals within projects that benefit the community or local economy.

Self Employment Benefit – provides unemployed, eligible individuals with income and entrepreneurial support while they develop and start their business.Visit their website.

Visit their website

Hutton House Association for Persons with Disabilities

Hutton House Learning Centre
Cherryhill Village Mall
301 Oxford St. W, London, ON N6H 1S6
Phone: 519-472-1541
Fax: 519-472-3411
Email: abe@huttonhouse.com

Hutton House’s Adult Education Program provides adults with disabilities with opportunities in lifelong learning. The learning program is flexible so students can choose what and how they study. Areas of study include reading, writing, math and computer skills.

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Labourer’s International Union of North America, Local 1059

56 Firestone Blvd., London, ON N5W 5L4
Phone: 519-455-8083
Fax: 519-455-0712
Email: admin@liuna1059.ca

LIUNA Local 1059 Training Centre actively recruits and trains individuals in the Cement Finisher and Construction Craft Worker trades. Training includes: pre-apprenticeship training, MTCU-approved trade school training, and in-house safety certification training for LIUNA Local 1059 members.

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Leads Employment Services

171 Queens Ave. Ste 410, London, ON N6A 5J7
Phone: 519-439-0352
TTY/TDD: 519-439-0367
Toll free: 866-955-3237
Email: info2@leadsservices.com

Leads is an Employment and Skills Development service for people with disabilities and or barriers to employment, ages 14 – 65+. Along with job planning and placement, Leads offers courses in developing pre-vocational, daily living, and community access skills.

Leads offers services to clients in London and throughout Middlesex County.

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London Cross Cultural Learner Centre

505 Dundas Street, London, Ontario N6B 1W4
Phone: 519-432-1133
Fax: 519-660-6168
Email: assess@lcclc.org

The London Cross Cultural Learner Centre provides settlement services to newcomers and immigrants and runs the only assessment centre in London for the federally funded LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) Program. Eligible participants must be assessed by the CCLC in order to be referred to LINC classes within London-Middlesex.

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London Training Centre

316 Rectory St. 3rd Floor London, ON N5W 3V9
Phone: 519-685 4331
Fax: 519-685 4335

London Training Centre is a not-for-profit employment, training and skills development organization. In addition to government funded programs that assist people with job search, the LTC provides the following training and certifications:

Computer Training
• Introduction to Computers and the Internet
• A full range of MS software programs
• Accounting Software

Foodservice & Hospitality
• Smart Serve – Safe Food Handler Certification – Steps of Service

London Training Centre is a resource for trained, certified employees for the foodservice / hospitality industry.

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Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities

London Office
217 York St, Ste 201, London, N6A 5P9
Phone: 519-675-7788
Toll free: 1-800-265-1050
Fax: 519-675-7795

The Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities is responsible for the administration of laws relating to education and skills training. MTCU operates Employment Ontario, a one-stop source for information and services for students, job seekers and employers. Some of the skills training services overseen by Employment Ontario include: completion of GED and other adult learning opportunities and apprenticeships. Employment Ontario can also provide some financial assistance for individuals wishing to achieve their training goals.

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Nokee Kwe Occupational Skills & Development Inc.

Native Learning Centre
137 Dundas Street, 2nd Floor, London, ON N6A 1E9
Phone: 519-667-7088
Fax: 519-667-4872
Email: literacy@nokeekwe.ca

The Native Learning Centre provides basic educational and literacy services to adult Native learners. The Centre assists adult learners with reading, writing and numeracy, as well as developing basic skills in letter writing, computer literacy, and banking. It also provides basic instruction in the Cree language.

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Ontario March of Dimes

920 Commissioners Rd. E., London, ON N5Z 3J1
Phone: 519-642-3999
Toll free: 1-866-496-8603

The Ontario March of Dimes provides employment services for individuals with employment challenges. Their Skills Training program assists clients with developing essential skills for direct entry occupations. The program includes work placement and job search preparation.

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Pathways Skill Development & Placement Centre

210 Dundas St. 2nd Fl., London, ON N6A 5J3
Phone: 519-667-7795
Fax: 519-667-2256
Email: enquiries@pathways.on.ca

Pathways’ Skills Development Training programs give the participants the tools and training required by employers in London’s leading manufacturing, construction and property maintenance organizations. The programs utilize a combination of theory, hands-on training and co-op placement to ensure that each program provides a practical and rewarding experience for participants.

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Small Business Centre

316 Rectory St., 3rd Floor, London, ON N5W 3V9
Phone: 519-659-2882
Fax: 519-659-7050
Email: info@sbcentre.ca

The Small Business Centre hosts free and low-cost seminars relating to small business start-up and management. It also runs the Self-Employment Benefit Program (although currently on hold due to the high volume of applications) which offers training and support to help eligible individuals launch full-time new businesses in the London region.

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St. John Ambulance

741 King St., London, ON N5W 2X2
Phone: (519) 432-1352
Toll Free: 1-877-726-9928
Fax: (519) 432-8586
Email: london.training@on.sja.ca

St. John Ambulance is Canada's leader in first aid training and products. With state-of-the-art teaching aids and effective classroom instructors, SJA offers the highest quality in first aid, CPR and health-promotion training.

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Strathroy Adult Learning Centre

Kenwick Mall, 51 Front Street East, Strathroy ON N7G 1Y5
Phone: 519-245-3900 ext. 116
Fax: 519-245-5065

Operated by the Thames Valley District School Board, the Strathroy Adult Learning Centre offers credit courses to adult learners at the Grade 9, 10, 11, and 12 levels. Eligible adults may earn their Grade 12 diploma or may upgrade their qualifications. Students can also upgrade their skills in English, mathematics and basic computer through the school’s Gateway to Learning program. The centre also offers a Personal Support Worker course and English as a Second Language courses.

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Thames Valley District School Board

1250 Dundas Street (P.O. Box 5888), London, ON N6A 5L1
Phone: 519-452-2000
Fax: 519-452-2395

The Thames Valley District School Board is one of the largest public boards in Ontario and serves an area over 7,000 square kilometres. The TVDSB oversees the adult learning and continuing education programs at G.A. Wheable Centre for Adult Education and the Strathroy Adult Learning Centre.

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WIL Employment Connections

141 Dundas Street, 4th Floor, London, ON N6A 1G3
Phone: 519-663-0774
Fax: 519-663-5377
Email: careerinformation@wil.ca

WIL’s GED Assessment & Preparation Program assists clients in passing their high school equivalency exams. Once they have completed a pre-test assessment, trained staff is available to help clients develop a personalized study plan. Clients also have access to specialized computer software in their Computer Assisted Learning Centre to help them prepare for their exam.

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WOTCH Community Mental Health Services

534 Queens Avenue, London, ON N6B 1Y6
Phone: 519-668-0624
Fax: 519-668-3641
Email: info@wotch.on.ca

WOTCH Community Mental Health Services is dedicated to serving adults in South Western Ontario who live with serious mental illness. Its Vocational Rehabilitation Services offers pre-vocational training courses such as WHMIS and safe food handling, and provides in-house employment opportunities for skill development.

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Youth Opportunities Unlimited

Main Office
141 Dundas Street, Second Floor, London, ON N6A 1G3
Phone: 519-432-1112
Fax: 519-432-2883

You Made It Retail Outlet
Covent Garden Market, London, ON N6A 1C5
Phone: 519-432-1112
Fax: 519-432-2883

Springbank Employment and Learning Centre
7-360 Springbank Drive, London, ON N6J 1G5
Phone: 519-474-4946
Fax: 519-474-4951

Next Wave Youth Centre
32 Front Street West, Strathroy, ON N7G 1X4
Phone: 519-245-4272
Fax: 519-245-1788

Email: info@you.on.ca

Youth Opportunity Unlimited helps individuals aged 16-29 get ready for their General Educational Development (GED). Employment counsellors are available to help clients figure out and plan how to get their diploma and start working. Counsellors can also help clients who are interested in apprenticeship programs as well as other career development services.

YOU Made It is the enterprise services division of Youth Opportunities Unlimited and provides clients with valuable skills development opportunities. Proceeds from each sale support transition, career development, and enterprise services for youth.

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