Lloydminster, AB - November 18, 2009 - Lloydminster is a city where hometown students want to stay and where students from afar want to be.
Educational opportunities abound in the Border City offering training at all levels.
Smaller training facilities offer professional driving, occupational and technology-based instruction, and two local colleges, Reeves and Lakeland College, also offer a variety of diplomas and degrees.
Reeves College has focused on employability and individualized instruction. The Lloydminster campus of Reeves College, which serves about 100 students annually, offers eight business-related diploma programs including accounting and payroll administrator, accounting technician, legal administrative assistant, medical office assistant and several others.
"The courses we offer are in direct response to what local employers have told us they look for in potential employees, " says Rhonda Yaskow, campus director with Reeves College in Lloydminster. "Our aim is to graduate students who will become valuable employees and fill the needs of the employers in our community."
Reeves College was originally established as Reeves Business College in 1961 by C.J. Reeves, and his influence echoes through the campus today, says Yaskow.
"Our success is based on his vision, and is still incorporated in our program today," says Yaskow. "To ensure student success we provide smaller classroom sizes where an instructor is able to provide personal assistance and guidance. We focus on student employability skills. So when our students graduate, they have practical skills to take with them to their new career."
The college is now looking at introducing a new program for its Lloydminster branch - addictions counseling.
"Currently, it's being offered in our larger urban cities, but with the demand for the program in the past, I imagine a future launch of Addictions Counselling in Lloydminster would be a success and a benefit to our community," says Yaskow.
At Reeves College students in all programs have the opportunity to complete a work placement practicum at a local business.
"This offers our students the opportunity to enhance their classroom skills with practical on the job work experience," she says. "We are in constant discussion with the employers in our area and they provide insight into what they are looking for in potential employees. Working with local industry we strive to incorporate these requirements into our curriculum."
Other local educators working alongside the business community include 3A Academy & Consulting Ltd. which assists employers and job seekers with employment services, workplace training services and computer training services.
It helps unemployed Albertans find and retain employment and assists employers with a variety of training services for employees.
All of these organizations contribute to creating a well-educated workforce in Lloydminster.
About one-quarter of the total residents in Lloydminster have an apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma, a college certificate or diploma or a university degree.
Even residents who are not directly involved with any of these institutions and organizations, however, benefit from their services and contribution s to the local economy.