The Gathering Place

When I was told that I could upgrade my computer skills without spending several hundred dollars
on a half-​day course of which little would remain in my brain afterwards, I felt hopeful. The provincial government may trumpet the money they offer to workers who want to upgrade their skills but, you had better be on EI or have had a baby recently. No and no in my case.
I walked into the Gathering Place where Barbara, the senior instructor greeted me and I immediately had the feeling that I was in the hands of a compassionate person who saw solutions/​possibilities and not obstacles.
At the learning centre, through the Vancouver School Board, people can take courses to get their high school diploma or to upgrade some classes to enter post-​secondary institutions or just plain gain new skills. and the teachers create individual programs/​plans for students. There is an excellent library as well.
Other services offered in the building include hot meals at certain times of day, a showers, laundry facilities, activities such as a choir and art classes such as pottery. as well as a seniors centre which includes hot meals without charge. I took a course which included Word, Powerpoint and Exel but there are also courses in digital media and web and graphic design. I am so glad I found out about courses at The Gathering Place and I didn’t even have to leave downtown. I hope the School Board continues to fund these courses.