September 20/96

guidelines to help facilitate better
understanding of the employment
transition process.

“This guide is intended to help
people plan for these changes and to
make them as smooth as possible,”
Colleen says. “It has a collection of
tools, ideas and suggestions for what
works, things to avoid, and some of
the lessons learned by others who
have travelled that road before.”

In 1993, Colleen was hired by
Louise Krohn, former director of
Contract Services and Extension
Programs at Capilano College, to
deliver the Options Labour Market
Transition Program. Funded by the
Canadian Job Strategy Program,
Colleen provided the transition
program to the Squamish and Sechelt
areas when B.C. forest districts’
annual allowable cuts were reduced.
At that time, the assumption was that
forest workers would be moved out
of the industry, or they would have to
adjust to new occupational
requirements within the industry.

“The government is providing
funds to assist companies going
through major industrial
adjustments,” she says. “Capilano
College offers assessment, training,
transitional and labour market
information. I do the actual transition
process. I work cooperatively with
people to explain what’s happening
and assist them in developing
individual strategic plans. We use
both group and individual
approaches. Assistance could take
from three days up to 12 weeks, and
we could also add modules such as
literacy, computers, or ABE
components.

“It’s very flexible and constantly
changing,” Colleen adds. “A lot of
graduates of the program in
Squamish continue on with Capilano
College.”

Nancy Nowlan, training
consultant in the College’s Contract
Services and Extension Programs,
works with companies and unions
involved in restructuring. She
coordinates training and re-
employment programs, calling upon
the College’s expertise. Recent

Job Restructurin
What Really Works:

m@ Someone to talk to who
really cares

@ ~~ Building relationships
with the people who are
coordinating the
employment process

m Listening

= = Group sessions

For Best Results:

m = Have personal
counselling available

m@ = People must have
support to deal with their
emotional response to
job change or job loss

What Doesn’t Work:

@ Ignoring the emotional
impact

@ Providing no outlet for
the pent-up feelings that
accompany job change
and loss
Short-term “quick-fix”
training

programs have included: Interfor’s
Flavelle Cedar Division in Port Moody,
which is upgrading 200 plant workers’
skills; Jantzen Sportswear, where
recently laid off garment workers are
involved in career exploration; and a
B.C. Packers operation, where workers
explored career options and undertook
assessment.

“When transition occurs, people
usually don’t have adequate
information,” Nancy says. “Employees
go through a grieving process or get
angry. We have all kinds of participants
in our programs, from different
educational backgrounds and
occupational areas.”

One essential element in the
employment transition process is to
understand the notion that workers
must assume responsibility for their
own future, for the decisions they
must eventually make, and for the
actions and directions they will
pursue.

“The issue is that the social safety
net is disappearing,” Colleen says.
“We have to take responsibility for
our personal strategic plan and figure
out how to be self-sufficient.”

The Ministry of Education, Skills
and Training recently approved a
proposal submitted by Colleen and
Liz Morton, former publicist with
Contract Services and Extension
Programs. They will develop a career
and education transition manual in
conjunction with Kwantlen University
College and Douglas College for use
in college and university continuing
education programs, school districts,
labour organizations and community
associations. The manuals will be
appropriate for use in individual and
group career education: workshops,
courses, seminars, community-based
training programs, industrial
adjustment programs and transitions
services.

“The career education manual will
meet the needs of an entire range of
issues faced by students, workers and
career practitioners in a single
product,” says Lynn Jest, director of
Contract Services and Extension
Programs at Capilano College. This
and other proposed manuals will
provide a comprehensive and useful
framework for understanding the
process and integrating the
information and resources available —
— but not always accessible — to
individuals in transition.”