douglas
college

SIDE

Charting new
employment ground

 

hen it comes to finding

employment, there’s no map

for people with a disability.
But at Douglas College, there is a
program that can help: ““527-JOBS.”
This Skills Now project, funded by the
Ministry of Education, Skills and
Training and Douglas College, was
designed to provide job search
assistance to Douglas College students
and graduates with a disability.

The project has been operating under
Employment Specialist Bob Webber for
one year, and so far has generated 36
job placements. Says Webber, “Each
student, each employer and each job

" provides a unique mixture that ensures
no two job matches are alike.” And ina
competitive job environment, finding
that match is a complex journey. “It’s a
negotiation process,” confirms Webber.
“On one hand you have a student with a
specific set of skills and abilities. On the
other, you have an employer with
certain needs. In the middle is the job,
but bringing the two together often
requires flexibility on the part of both
parties.”

Students working with Webber are
encouraged to be active participants in
their own job search, depending on their
individual ability and confidence level.
Webber emphasizes that ‘“527-JOBS
uses a learner-centred approach as much
as possible.” By taking ownership of
their own job search, students learn

File clerk Jim Featherstone hard at work at
the Real Estate Council of BC.

networking skills and make valuable
contacts while demonstrating their
motivation.”

Finding employers who are motivated
to hire persons with a disability is also a
big part of Webber’s job. “In a lot of
ways, yours is a very educational

continued on page 7

 

College faculty speaks at conference 3
Education Council highlights 6
Anna Raffle remembered 7

Alverno speaks 8

Female Athletes of the Year 10

Events Calendar 11

THE DOUGLAS COLLEGE NEWSLETTER Mf MAY 1996

 

NEW CAMPUS
HONORS
DAVID LAM

he Douglas College Board has

announced that the Coquitlam

campus will be named in honor
of retired BC Lieutenant Governor David
Lam. The new site, to open in September
1996, will now officially be known as
Douglas College—David Lam Campus.

The naming was revealed during a
major ceremony held May 2 on Pinetree
Way. The event kicked off the Douglas
College Foundation’s $5 million Building
on Excellence campaign in support of the
new campus.

“In his life and work, Dr. Lam clearly
embodies the values held by Douglas
College—commitment to life-long
educational opportunities,
multiculturalism, economic development
and community involvement,” said Bob
Buzza, Chair of the Douglas College
Board.

“Dr. Lam is held in very great esteem
in BC. We are thrilled to further honor his
contributions by officially naming the
Coquitlam campus after him.”

Dr. Lam was also named Honorary
Chair of the Building on Excellence
campaign. Money raised through this
effort will help fund all programs at the
David Lam Campus. It will also be used
to create financial awards for students and
provide support for equipment and
services such the new library, daycare,
computer labs and access for the disabled.

In 1988, Dr. Lam, who is also
President of the David and Dorothy Lam
Foundation, became the first Chinese-
Canadian to hold vice-regal office. He
was awarded the Order of Canada that
same year. |