Dream Saba arrived in Canada as a refugee with a dream. Upgrading helped her achieve it.
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ACADEMIC UPGRADING
NEWS FROM
ONTARIO’S COLLEGES
SPRING 2022
living her
dream
Saba arrived in Canada
as a refugee with a dream.
Upgrading helped her
achieve it.
STORY PAGE 3
College sector data demonstrates
our commitment & capacity
Despite the challenges that the pandemic has Watch for a more complete set of college sector
brought to our academic upgrading (AU) learn- AU data and trends in the near future!
ers and programs, there are positive outcomes Although we are not able to meet in person in
too. As always, these are personified in the stu- June for our annual CSC conference (again), I’m
dent success stories in this very rich issue of
looking forward to seeing many of you at our
College Matters. upcoming virtual PD events and at our regional
In addition to celebrating our learners, it’s also one-day ‘mini-conferences’ (to be scheduled for
an opportune time to reflect on some of our Fall 2022).
college sector AU data spanning the past three In the meantime, thank you for your tireless sup-
years (2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21). port of our AU learners and your support of one
We have developed some impactful and impres- another in our many information-sharing meet-
sive charts that clearly demonstrate our contin- ings, workshops, and events.
ued commitment and capacity to support our Have a wonderful and safe summer!
amazing learners across all of our colleges. And
these are just a sample. —Barbara Glass, Executive Director, CSC
100 104
96 94
86
77
Even during the pandemic, colleges have consistently met a higher percentage
of their Learners Served target than the overall provincial percentage
(for all delivery sectors combined).
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 1
42% of our learners are in the 20-29 range.
This trend has been apparent for many years —
not just in the past three years.
23% are in the 30-39 age group, meaning that 23% 42%
65% of our learners are between 20 and 39.
Almost 70% of our learners are on the
postsecondary goal path.
68% We continue to provide an excellent source
of well-prepared domestic students to Ontario
college postsecondary programs.
43% of our learners are employed (full-time,
part-time or under-employed) and are using
our LBS/AU programs to improve their 49% 43%
employment prospects — whether they’re
seeking employment directly upon completion
of their AU programs or by proceeding to post-
secondary to achieve their employment goals.
SOURCE: Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) Dashboard Reports, 2018-19, 2019-20, & 2020-21 (Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training
and Skills Development) and EOIS-CaMS Detailed Service Quality Roll-up Report 64, 2018-19, 2019-20 & 2020-21.
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 2
“I can finally say that I have
accomplished my lifelong dream.”
“Before I left Eritrea, I used to be a volunteer
with the Red Cross and the paramedic service in
Asmara at a crucial time in my country's history,”
says Saba. “Whenever I had to go to the hospitals,
I would see the work of the nurses and dream of
one day working as one myself.”
After fleeing Eritrea for neighbouring Sudan,
Saba arrived in Montréal in 1991 as a refugee and
made her way to Ottawa the following year. Most
of her family remained in Africa, Egypt and Su-
dan and she went to work in order to send them
money. Meanwhile, Saba had a family (her four
children are now 26, 18, 17 and 13) and tucked
her dream away for another day. That day came
SABA in 2015.
“I went back to school and, with the help of my
family, support system and wonderful teachers
As a young person in war-torn Eritrea, Saba at Algonquin College, I finished my nursing pro-
dreamed of becoming a nurse. She realized that gram. I can finally can say that I have accom-
dream through Algonquin College’s Academic plished my lifelong dream,” she says.
Upgrading and Practical Nursing programs.
Saba also wants to do more for the common
In early 2015, Saba joined Academic Upgrading, good. She now dreams of serving others through
starting in the first level of English to work on an organization like Doctors Without Borders.
her reading and writing skills. One year later, she Her experience — her youth as a Red Cross and
completed the core levels of English, Math and paramedic volunteer, her journey as a refugee, her
Sciences built into her learning plan. Her goal of resolute pursuit of her dreams — will, no doubt,
Practical Nursing — always in sight — propelled help her achieve that dream too.
her to gain the prerequisites, complete the inten-
sive Academic Upgrading Preparation for Health —Alana Anderson, Chair, General Arts and Science
Sciences program and achieve her ACE Certifi- and Academic Access Centre
cate.
In 2018, Saba graduated from the Algonquin
College Practical Nursing program. This led to
an honour that will stand in perpetuity: a new
bursary in her name, established to help health
care workers enrolled in the Practical Nursing
program at Algonquin College — the “Saba Kifle
Practical Nursing Bursary.”
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 3
“Learning was easy because every-
thing was so well-planned.”
“When I was younger, I had a lot of trouble going
through school. I ended up dropping out during
my first year of high school. It made me feel like AUSTIN
I had failed at doing anything with my life and
I quickly gave up.
It took over 10 years for me to try my hand at
schooling again. First, I tried to do GED prep.
I struggled through most subjects without any
guidance or structure. Realizing how hard it
would be on my own, I gave up.
A couple of years later, my friend, who had always
tried to push me to be better and help me out,
suggested ACE Distance. I quickly brushed it off,
thinking back at my failed attempts at GED prep.
But, after some time, I came to realize that my life
was not at all going in a direction that I would be
happy with. Because of this, I reconsidered what
do it all online from the comfort of my own
he had told me about ACE Distance. I would be
home. No need to worry about anyone judging
able to do it for free, and one course at a time so
me for not already being where they thought
I wouldn’t be overwhelmed.
I should be academically and professionally.
So I signed up for ACE Distance and, after some
I’m definitely going to continue doing the courses
thought about which course I wanted to begin
I need to in order to get my ACE Certificate.
with, I chose Communications. I had always been
quite sheepish about my writing skills and was I plan on going through college for computer
hoping this course could help me bring them up programming and working in that field. I’ve al-
to snuff. And that it did... and more! ready used some of the knowledge from the ACE
The entire course was well laid out, so I knew Distance courses to get a job and am so proud of
myself. Luckily for me, I was told at the right time
exactly how I would be progressing. Learning was
in my life about this program.
easy because everything was so well-planned and
all the information that I needed was provided. For anyone considering an upgrading program,
The teacher was also extremely nice and helpful I would recommend ACE Distance!” —Austin
during my course. I even began writing on my
own for fun.
The ability to go at my own pace during the
course was, by far, the best part. I could quickly ”
go through multiple sections when I had the drive
to do so — or I could slowly go through it if
I wasn’t feeling that drive for a couple of days or
even weeks. The next best thing was that I could
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 4
“They are there for their students in
every possible way.”
Simitria belongs to a native Mexican group called life, my identity and, ultimately, myself,” Simitria
Mixteco. Her family was marginalized and poor. says. “In addition, I had a big responsibility on my
She and her nine siblings grew up in the moun- shoulders to raise my four sons alone. This was
tains of Guerrero and the family eventually the most difficult time of my life. I often thought
moved to the city of Ometepec. They supported that I couldn’t move forward anymore.”
themselves primarily through the family’s tortilla- Once life stabilized, she started to think about
making business, in which all of the children were going back to school. But, at that time, Simitria
expected to help. could not speak or write much English. She knew
Simitria’s parents valued education highly and re- that she would require upgrading to achieve her
quired all the children to attend school and learn new dream – to become a Registered Practical
to speak proper Spanish. Initially, Simitria didn’t Nurse. On the advice of a friend, she reached out
enjoy school because of the racism she experi- to Niagara College’s Academic Upgrading pro-
enced against native Mexicans. “Eventually, I be- gram at the Welland campus.
came fond of school,” she explains, “not because Simitria undertook a rigorous load of Academic
I liked it but because, for me, it was an escape Upgrading classes and achieved very high marks,
from family difficulties and working in the family supported all the way by the Academic Upgrading
business. School became my comfort zone where team. “They became one of my essential sup-
I could imagine and dream that perhaps, one day, ports,” Simitria explains.
I would have a better life.”
“I remember the words of encouragement from
After graduating from high school, Simitria faced the amazing professors and staff. My respect and
another roadblock. Family finances did not allow love to all of them. Because they are not just edu-
her to pursue her dream of studying law. Instead, cating people. They are there for their students in
she started working full-time for the family. “Our every possible way.
tortilla business was the main source of income to
support the rest of the children, two of my older Doing academic upgrading was hard. However,
brothers in university and one sister who was at- with their support, I was able to complete it and
tending college,” she says. “So, I found comfort apply for my next big step. Now, I have no doubt
in knowing that I was contributing to their stud- that I will be able to serve our community as a
ies.” Registered Practical Nurse. If I can do this, you
too can do it.” —Rebecca Nicholls, Niagara College
When a family of Canadian missionaries moved
into her neighbourhood, her life changed forever.
She and one of the family’s friends fell in love.
She moved to Canada, married the love of her life
and soon had a beautiful family of four sons.
Tragedy struck eight years later when Simitria’s
husband died by suicide. This was the darkest pe-
riod of her life. “After that shocking experience, it
took me years of really hard work to reinvent my
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 5
Upgrading supporting apprentices
@ Humber College
Humber College has developed an effective part- “Students often need to be encouraged to at-
nership between its Faculty of Applied Sciences tend,” says Sandy Faria, Acting Academic Up-
and Technology (FAST) and the college’s Aca- grading Manager at Humber College. “They usu-
demic Upgrading program to increase the success ally believe that their math skills are better than
rate of students in two apprenticeship programs they are. And it is not until they do poorly on a
at the college — Electrical Apprentices (ELAP) test that they decide to attend.”
and Plumbing Apprentices (PLAP). This upgrading is offered outside of the regular
The goal of the partnership is to provide math in-school portion of apprenticeship training. Par-
support for apprenticeship students in the ELAP ticipating students are considered AU learners and
and PLAP programs to prepare them for success attend two hours per week for eight to ten weeks,
in their math examination. in addition to their regular curriculum hours. Dur-
ing the year, this partnership works with two co-
All apprentices at the college begin with the
horts for ELAP and one for PLAP.
online assessment OCMT (Ontario College Math
Test). The results show learners which areas — And the results are encouraging.
measurement, basic algebra, fractions, etc. —
they need to work on. Approximately 300 students have
Humber hopes that these assessment results en- taken advantage of these up-
courage students to take advantage of the math grading services (240 in the ELAP
upgrading offered through the FAST/AU part- program and 60 in the PLAP pro-
nership to improve their math skills and their
chances of doing better on their final examina- gram) — and their math skills have
tion. improved by 80%.
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 6
“Because I took upgrading, I feel like
I have an advantage.”
off-site safely and efficiently in remote learning
spaces. Online learning was an adjustment for
MIKE
everyone. But Mike made the best of it while jug-
SORAYA gling at-home learning for his 2 young children at
the same time.
“After joining the program’s online platform, it
was clear what I needed to complete and I really
enjoyed being able to go at my own pace. Online
was great. The teachers were there for me when I
needed them.”
Mike completed all the courses that he needed to
qualify for the postsecondary program he wanted
most.
“I am currently enrolled in the Social Services
Worker program at Northern College and hope to
gain employment in the child and family services
sector.
After serving 13 years in the Canadian Armed Because I took upgrading before starting this pro-
Forces, Mike retired and moved back to his home gram, I feel like I have an advantage over the oth-
town of Haileybury, ON. He worked in the weld- er students,” he says. “For example, other stu-
ing industry for 2 years until Veterans Affairs dents struggled with APA formatting. But I had
deemed him physically unfit for manual labor, due just learned it in the ACE Communications
to service-related injuries. course.”
Mike was offered the opportunity to take a new —Kate Glover, Professor, Academic Upgrading,
career path. He hadn't finished high school and Northern College
realized that he needed to take the Academic Up-
grading program before anything else. “I started
the program in the fall and completed it by the
end of that school year in the spring.”
Learning during a pandemic is no easy task. But
Mike joined our online MS Teams classroom,
learned where to access all the learning resources
and discovered how he could proceed with his
studies while remaining at home.
Like all other Ontario College Upgrading pro-
grams, Northern shifted its program delivery so
that students and instructors could operate
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 7
“The Academic Upgrading program
has better prepared me for college.”
“I decided to go to college at 46 years old to fulfill
my dream of becoming a nurse. I applied as a ma- KIM
ture student and was assigned a student advisor to
set me up with an academic upgrading program to
meet my individual needs, as there were a few
credits I did not have to meet the Practical Nurs-
ing program requirements.
Since I work full-time hours and have 3 children
at home, it was convenient to do my upgrading
online, at my own pace, with the support of some
pretty fantastic teachers.
Each course provides online modules for every
unit; there are practice quizzes, assignments, and
videos to watch online to support your learning.
If you learn better by reading or learn better with a
more hands-on approach, this program can be tai-
lored to your needs as it offers either option.
You study and work on each quiz or assignment at
your own pace with no pressure. And, when you
feel you are ready to write the end unit exam, the
teachers provide their in-class schedules and you I feel that the Academic Upgrading Program has
schedule the exam based on your availability. better prepared me for college.
The professors in the Academic Upgrading pro- Thank you to all my teachers for your help, your
gram are your biggest cheerleaders. And they are patience, and your support. I could not have done
just an email away to answer any questions or to this without you. I am excited to begin this new
provide further explanation of the work. You also chapter in my life and to finally fulfil my dream of
have the option to log in to their WebEx classes if becoming a nurse.” —Kim
you feel you need a more personal connection.
I now have the prerequisite courses and marks
that I need to qualify for my postsecondary pro-
gram. I am so proud of myself for this accom-
plishment and for getting accepted into the Practi-
cal Nursing program.
And I am so grateful that Fleming College has this
program to offer students of all ages and at all
stages of life.
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 8
The picture of perseverance:
Fatimah’s inspirational journey
She completed two English courses, Computer
Skills, Success Strategies and Math (a difficult sub-
FATIMAH ject for her).
SORAYA
To each class, she brought her optimistic spirit,
determination and hard work. She succeeded with
excellent marks and completed her ACE Certifi-
cate. She began PHS in January 2022 and hopes
to start PN next year.
Fatimah continues to work full-time nights while
attending classes. She is fearless in admitting
when she needs help and continues to work hard
to achieve her goals. Fatimah often talks about
how the ACElinks program made a difference in
her life, especially the encouragement of caring
faculty.
Fatimah is an inspiration. She faces both personal
and academic challenges with courage, faith, per-
severance and gratitude. And she wants to achieve
Fatimah has accomplished great things since im- her future goals with excellence and professional-
migrating to Canada from Nigeria in January, ism.
2018.
She is a role model for her children, demonstrat-
She started her studies as a Personal Support ing that it is possible to succeed, even when life is
Worker within weeks of arriving in Montreal, not easy. Her eldest daughter will be starting uni-
often rising at 4:30 am and returning home versity this fall and asks, “How did you do it?”
around 7:30 pm. Fatimah answers that you must be dedicated no
Along with caring for her five children, she be- matter what you face.
came a foster mom to a teenaged girl and volun- —Angela McCanny and Roxanne Hickey, Algonquin
teered with the YMCA. College, Academic Upgrading
Fatimah completed her diploma in six months
and moved with her family to Ottawa to take the
Practical Nursing (PN) program at Algonquin
College. But she needed to take the prerequisite
sciences through Preparation for Health Sciences
(PHS).
Not discouraged that she needed English to enter,
Fatimah started Academic Upgrading at the
ACElinks satellite classroom.
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 9“I was able to find that academic
confidence again.”
“When I was preparing my application materials to
return to college, I discovered that I was missing a BRENDA
couple of classes. I wasn’t sure where someone
who was already out of high school for a long time
could go to get these additional credits, so I was
pretty overwhelmed. HOUCINE
I was so relieved when my friend talked to me
about ACE Distance. He and I were both balanc-
ing full-time jobs, so to know that he could do it at
his own pace without the intimidation of live test-
ing and taking time away from work was sounding
more and more like a dream!
It was amazing to know there was a program that
worked with your life and routine to help you
achieve your goals.
The biggest thing has been finding my intellectual
confidence again. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be as I think ACE Distance is the best academic upgrad-
good as I was or that I had lost those strong skills. ing choice out there. You work at your own pace,
ACE Distance helped me to get back into that stu- have an AMAZING support system and have no
dious headspace and to really challenge myself by pressures of live testing and video classes.
creating my own study timeline and goals. I had If you are feeling the way I was — unsure if you
the best professors — the kindest, most under- have the same academic strength as before, unsure
standing teachers I’ve ever had. They really cared if academic upgrading can fit into your lifestyle or
about my success and well-being. that you’ll have the support that you need, ACE
With their help, I was able to find that academic Distance is 1000 times the perfect fit for you.
confidence again, apply to my program and receive It seems intimidating at first; but I promise that
an offer. I will be starting my postsecondary pro- once you start, you’ll feel a huge weight off of your
gram this fall! chest when you realize you CAN do it after all!
I can’t say enough positive things about my experi- Thank you from the bottom of my heart to every-
ence with ACE Distance. I felt more supported one at ACE Distance! —Brenda
than I ever have. I want to say a huge thank you to
Barb, Patricia and Agnes. I can’t express my grati-
tude for these amazing individuals who helped me
through a tough time and made sure I could meet
my goals.
I will absolutely continue to recommend ACE
Distance to anybody who is in a similar situation.
In fact, I already have!
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 10Creative new tools for adult educators
now available online
New podcast tackles
topics of interest
Good Learning Anywhere has launched a new
podcast for sharing adult education information.
In this episode, Diane Altinbilek and Warren But-
ler spend some time with Evelyn Diebel, Professor
of Adult Literacy at Cambrian College’s Espanola
Campus, to chat about the magnificence of blend-
ed learning.
Check out Pathways to Partnership: Blended
Learning here:
https://anchor.fm/glapluggedin/episodes/
Plugged-In-with-Di-and-Warren---S02Ep03---I-
Cambrian--I-Learned--I-Conquered-e1fj0vu
Cambrian College and Collège Boréal have teamed
up to create an innovative new e-book — a unique
ecampus Ontario perspective course to assist other
adult education instructors to help their students
with the challenges of no technology skills or low
technology access.
Find it here:
https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/
thenotechchallengeteachingadultlearnerswithlow-
techaccess/
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 11« Il ne faut pas s’arrêter face aux diffi-
cultés de la vie, il faut les affronter. »
Je m’appelle Gabriella et je suis née et j’ai grandi
en Italie dans la petite ville de Chioggia qui est si- GABRIELLA
tuée près de la magnifique ville de Venise.
J’ai déménagé au Canada en 2000 à l’âge de 26 ans,
laissant derrière moi ma famille, mes amis et mon
travail. Je suis devenue citoyenne canadienne en HOUCINE
2007.
Mon anglais était médiocre au début. Grâce aux
divers cours (privés et en ligne), au bénévolat et à
la lecture, j’ai pu l’améliorer. Cette langue m’a per-
mis d’aider mes enfants, qui étaient encore jeunes,
à avancer dans les études. En 2013, j’ai commencé
à chercher du travail mais l’exigence du bilin-
guisme dans le marché de l’emploi ne m’a pas per-
mis de trouver un emploi permanent et stable.
Je n’avais qu’un seul choix : apprendre le français
comme troisième langue et m’inscrire au Collège Je remercie l’équipe du Collège Boréal, en particu-
Boréal dans le programme de la petite enfance. Je lier mon professeur M. Richard Makitu Ndolomin-
ne voulais pas emprunter la voie la plus simple go, pour avoir partagé sa sagesse et ses connais-
vers mes études postsecondaires. Il fallait quelque sances approfondies de la langue française, mes
chose de compliqué et stimulant. professeurs pour le partage de leurs expériences et
enseignements, mes camarades de classe pour l’es-
Ainsi, je serai accueillie par l’excellent programme prit de collaboration, mon copain et mes enfants
ACE pour améliorer mon français. C’était parfois pour le soutien moral, patience et compréhension
fatigant, mais en même temps je l’ai apprécié, par- pendant mes études.
fois amusant. Le cours m’a donné la chance de
rencontrer de nouvelles personnes, de connaître Cette expérience positive m’enseigne qu’il n’est
de nouvelles cultures et mon professeur qui m’a jamais trop tard pour apprendre une nouvelle
aidé et soutenu dans ce voyage de ne jamais aban- langue et surtout pour entreprendre un nouveau
donner et de croire en moi. chemin et qu’il ne faut pas s’arrêter face aux diffi-
cultés de la vie, il faut les affronter.
Je suis actuellement inscrite à la deuxième année
dans un cours d’éducation à la petite enfance au
Collège Boréal de Windsor. Déjà les fruits de mes
études sont arrivés après ma première année des
études. J’ai eu l’opportunité de travailler pour le
Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence. C’était
une expérience formidable et constructive.
Comme vous pouvez l’imaginer, le travail a été
exécuté en français.
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 12“I finally felt like I had someone in my
corner, fighting with me.”
Starting my courses was overwhelming in the
beginning; but the support from the Academic
RAVEN Upgrading professors was incredible.
SORAYA
I finally felt like I had someone in my corner,
fighting with me.
There were many speed bumps along the way and
my time line changed quite a few times. But there
was one constant – the support and encourage-
ment from my professors.
I am now just days away from starting Day 1,
Semester 1, of the RPN program at Fleming.
I have never felt pride in myself the way I do right
now. I know my fight isn’t over; but I also know
I’m not fighting alone.
Thank you to the Work and Academic Upgrading
department at Fleming — and especially Lea
Roque for fighting with me every step of the way.
I will be forever grateful to you.” —Raven
“I’ve always had a passion for medicine. But it
wasn’t until I got pregnant and had my twins
prematurely that I considered going into the
nursing field.
When I finally made my decision to apply to
postsecondary, it seemed like everything was
against me. I needed 4 course credits even to be
considered for the RPN program.
I was working full- time in the community during
the pandemic and was a single mom to twin tod-
dlers.
I had no idea how I was going to manage it all.
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 13“The most important thing you need to
reach your dream is determination.”
Originally from Nigeria, Temitope relocated
to Canada in 2018. She had a lifelong dream of TEMITOPE
pursuing a career in the health field. But, due to
numerous factors including work and raising
a family, her dream was put on hold — until
recently. HOUCINE
Temitope started her journey towards reaching her
dream by attending a Goal Orientation session in
Academic Upgrading at Algonquin College in
June, 2020. She excelled while she was in Academ-
ic Upgrading; not only did she achieve her ACE
Certificate, she also completed Preparation for
Health Science (PHS).
Students who complete ACE (grade 12 equivalent)
Chemistry, Biology, Math, and Success Strategies
in PHS with high standings are accepted into the
Practical Nursing program. Temitope achieved
this while adding a third child to her family! How-
ever, she does admit that it has been challenging
to attend classes online while also managing her
childrens’ online classes.
She is currently in her second semester with only
one more year remaining to complete her dream.
She recognizes the importance of her clinical
placement in a nursing home, especially during the
current pandemic.
“The most important thing you need to reach your
dreams is determination. Aside from determina-
tion, you also need to be hard-working, diligent,
and stay focused,” Temitope says.
Algonquin College’s Mission is ‘To transform
hopes and dreams into lifelong success’ — and we
are pleased to share Temitope’s achievements, her
dedication to learning, and the strong example she
sets for other Academic Upgrading students with
similar dreams.
—Karen Carr, Professor, Academic Upgrading,
Algonquin College
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 14“Take your time and go target
your dreams.”
My experience with ACE Distance was tremen-
dous and outstanding. It was also a bit challenging
to do the self-teaching while learning. But having
SORAYA the online book for ACE Distance Biology really
helped me out in obtaining an awesome final
grade in my course.
Thanks to ACE Distance, I have achieved my
first step towards realizing my dream. Now, I
await the next Pre-Service Firefighting Course
intake to take my second step in pursuing my
goal.
My third step will be becoming an actual firefight-
er to serve, protect and also fend for my family.
I want to give a big thanks to everyone who be-
lieved in me. If there is any out there wanting to
take their first step towards their dream but is
afraid to proceed, I hope that reading my story
KEFASH will help you to become motivated and go for it.
I appreciate the entire ACE Distance team for the
opportunity they gave me to become a better per-
“I immigrated from Jamaica about a year ago. son of tomorrow.
It was a bit of a rough start for me due to the In the future, if I know anyone who wants to do
pandemic. It was hard for me to find a job know- any courses, I will surely recommend this pro-
ing that a lot of people were being, or had been, gram.
laid off. Plus, I had graduated over ten years ago
and didn’t have any educational background in My advice to anyone who maybe considering
Canada. ACE Distance is: take your time and go target
your dreams.
I got a factory job through an agency and, after
working for around five months on probation, In other words, find it, do it, and achieve it.”
I was not hired full-time as I had hoped. And —Kefash
that’s when I decided to go back to school.
My goal was to get back into college to obtain the
requirements for the Pre–Service Firefighting
course — and become a firefighter to save lives
and to serve my new country.
But to meet those requirements, I needed a few
courses. And that’s where ACE Distance came in.
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 15Perseverance, positivity, creativity…
and a podcast
When Carmelle describes her learning journey in
the form of a creative short story, she relates learn- CARMELLE
ing to a dream come true.
Carmelle realized this dream when she graduated
with her Grade 12 equivalent ACE certificate at
the age of 67 from Cambrian College Espanola HOUCINE
Campus Academic Upgrading. Since then, life-
long learning is as absorbing and welcoming to her
as the flowers in her beautiful gardens or the com-
ings and goings in her everyday life.
Now, at the age of 71, she takes it all in and appre-
ciates every day as a gift — and sees challenges as
an opportunity to learn and to write.
The past two years were was no exception. The
pandemic nudged her to become more comforta-
ble with technology and invite all of us in the
Adult Literacy Program into her living room with Carmelle writes with such depth and precision.
BJ (her little dog by her side) — and occasionally a Her words will transport you to wherever she is.
grandchild or two that had a sleepover at She has a gift and, other students say, “a way with
grandma’s house the night before. words,” inspiring the lifelong learner in all of us.
Carmelle rarely misses a class unless it is beyond —Evelyn Diebel, Professor, Adult Literacy Program,
her control. Even then, she will drive to another Cambrian College, Espanola Campus
student’s house, or the Tim Horton’s on the high-
way, to catch the last bit of the lesson on Zoom.
She is a true living model of how to invite blended
learning into the scope of adult education.
She has been featured, along with other poets and
writers in a the Good Learning Anywhere, 10th
Anniversary Creative Writing booklet. You can
find her work here.
She has also been featured in Good Learning Any-
where’s very first Literacy and Basic Skills pod-
cast.: Plugged In with Di and Warren - Ep8 - Cre-
ative Writing: a Decade in the Making at GLA.
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 16“ACE Distance professors really do
care about student success.”
a spot in the Practical Nursing program at Loyal-
JESSICA ist College.
SORAYA
Throughout the process, I was guided and assist-
ed by my Professor in ACE Distance Chemistry.
She played a pivotal role in my success, cheering
me on and helping where I needed it.
ACE Distance professors really do care about
student success. She understood my goals and
encouraged me to achieve them. She was fast to
respond to my needs and the delivery of the
course was incredibly thorough and simple, being
entirely online.
I enjoyed the organization of the course and, alt-
hough challenging, it was well done and provided
me with the learning I needed to be successful for
my future goals.
I would encourage anyone in need of a credit to
“When I decided to pursue my dream of nursing, consider the ACE Distance program and engage
I had hit the upper limit in my current position as in their offerings. They are wonderful and truly
a medical administrator for a specialist physician. committed to their students' success.
The doctor I was working for inspired me to Without the ACE Distance Chemistry course,
achieve so much more. She showed me that I was I would not be starting the Practical Nursing
capable of things beyond that position (for which program this fall. As a mature student, I wasn't
I am grateful!). sure where to begin but the ACE Distance pro-
So I leapt from my comfort zone and decided to gram made it all easy.
follow my dreams. I am forever grateful for ACE and the opportuni-
I was quickly halted when I learned that I needed ty they provided in assisting me towards my great-
a Chemistry credit to meet the entrance require- er goal of nursing!” —Jessica
ments for the program — even though I already
had an honours college diploma. I did everything
I could to find a way to achieve it.
That was when I was connected to ACE Dis-
tance. I enrolled in the ACE Distance Chemistry
course in May, completing the course in July.
I am proud to share that I achieved a 96% grade
overall in the Chemistry course and have secured
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 17Upcoming online keynotes & workshops
Allan Kehler Dr. Pamela Toulouse
counsellor | educator | mental health ad- consultant in Indigenous education,
vocate training & cultural safety | member of
Sagamok First Nation
LIFE-CHANGING MENTAL HEALTH
CONVERSATIONS INTEGRATING INDIGENOUS WAYS
In this empowering keynote, participants will
OF KNOWING, DOING & BEING IN
gain an increased understanding of topics in- THE COLLEGE SECTOR
cluding mental illness, self-harm, suicide, sub- This highly engaging session is built around
stance abuse and wellness. specific Calls to Action from the Truth and
Allan will share how to talk to learners about Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report.
mental health and understand how to make Topics related to contributions, treaties, residen-
them feel seen, heard and supported. tial schools and sacred circle teachings will be
Drawing on his own experience overcoming foundational. Participants will explore strategies
mental health struggles — and as a college edu- and resources to use in adult education settings
cator and author — Allan’s presentations are and will learn to apply these wise practices to
engaging, inspiring, emotional and empowering. connect all learners. Each individual will leave
this session with a renewed sense of community
Find out more at allankehler.com. and a commitment to furthering equity and
inclusion.
ONLINE WORKSHOP THURSDAY, MAY 5 3—4 PM EST
Walk-through of the revised EOIS CaMS User Guide for New LBS Staff
COLLEGEMATTERS | SPRING 2022 | PAGE 18Collegematters is a publication of the College Sector
Committee for Adult Upgrading (CSC), the support
organization representing academic upgrading pro-
grams and staff in Ontario’s 24 public colleges.
The CSC created and administers the Academic
and Career Entrance program (ACE), a recognized
grade 12 equivalent certificate program provided
on campus and online.
CSCAU | 130 QUEENS QUAY EAST, SUITE 606 | TORONTO ON M5A 0P6 | CSCAU.COM | ACEDISTANCEDELIVERY.CAYou can also read
