Ongoing Support from WorkBC Maple Ridge Leads to Success
March 31, 2025
After arriving in Canada with a background in sewing and customer service, this individual was eager to find meaningful employment. Despite actively seeking opportunities and attending employment workshops to improve her resume and interview skills, she faced persistent challenges in securing a job.
The turning point came when a referral from ISSofBC connected her with the Maple Ridge WorkBC Centre. With encouragement from both her community and family, she registered with WorkBC’s Case Management Services.
The WorkBC Centre in Maple Ridge played a pivotal role in reshaping her career path. Through personalized career planning, she and her Career Coach explored her transferable skills and aligned them with high-demand fields. Recognizing her natural affinity for working with children, she began to explore Early Childhood Education (ECE) as a potential career.
WorkBC supported her every step of the way, starting with funding for a First Aid course and a referral to a free Adult Responsible program. These initial steps opened doors to volunteer opportunities at a Montessori Preschool, where she gained valuable experience and discovered her passion for early childhood education.
Understanding her financial constraints and commitment to building a stable future, WorkBC provided funding for her ECE Certificate at Ridge Meadows College. With ongoing support from her Career Coach, including regular check-ins, she successfully completed her training and immediately took initiative to enroll in a Diverse Needs Certificate program – an additional six courses – that earned her another diploma.
Today, she is officially employed at the same Montessori Preschool where she began as a volunteer. With her ECE Certificate in hand, she is steadily working to obtain the required hours toward her full license. She remains connected to the WorkBC Job Sustainment Team, ensuring continued support as she progresses in her career.
Thanks to the comprehensive services at the Maple Ridge WorkBC Centre—career coaching, training support, financial assistance, and job sustainment—she has found both professional direction and personal confidence. In the client’s words:
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to WorkBC, particularly to Alina, Jessie, and Joe, for their invaluable support and guidance in helping me further my education. A special thanks to Jean from ISSofBC for connecting me with WorkBC and ensuring a smooth referral process.
I wholeheartedly recommend your services to my friends and always encourage them to take full advantage of the resources available. It’s so important to thoroughly research the training and roles we pursue, and with your help, I now have a much clearer understanding of my career journey.”
