Rebecca joined the Neil Squire Society’s Employ-Ability Program (now known as the Working Together Program) with the goal of finding a new career. She learned of the program through a friend who had completed it and had shared her success in finding employment.  Rebecca, who had previously held a variety of different positions, was looking for a career that she would be passionate about and one that utilized her skills and abilities. She was specifically interested in working with people in active addiction. In order to pursue a career in this field, Rebecca knew she’d need more education and training.

With the tools she learned in the Employ-Ability Program, Rebecca was able to complete a detailed 60 page application for financial assistance for her education and was accepted into the 2 year Community Counselling Skills Certificate Program (new window) at Vancouver Community College (new window) (VCC).  On top of starting her training at VCC, another of Rebecca’s goals was to complete grade 12 English, which she has just achieved.  On top of this, Rebecca has recently completed her certification training for the Chronic Pain Self-Management Program (new window) from the University of Victoria (new window), and she’s back at the Neil Squire Society delivering workshops to clients who are living with chronic pain. Rebecca is well on her way to completing the Counselling Course at VCC and is hoping to graduate by the end of 2015, after which she will begin to seek employment in her new profession with the help of Neil Squire Staff.

Last week we received the following email from Rebecca:

Hello Fraser,

So I just wanted to let you know that after what feels like forever , I have finally tackled and completed the English Upgrading class  at VCC ,(insert a sigh of relief here). I just wanted to say a big thank you to you and the staff at Neil Squire for encouraging me to keep moving forward and helping me envision a brighter future. It’s taken me well over 20 years of hovering this over my head and it is now accomplished, I never thought this day would happen. That Community Counselling certificate is well within my reach now, and all those days I thought I couldn’t, have become “I can do this”.

Thank you again,
Rebecca