After a last-minute reprieve that averted a shutdown last year, the 91原创-based Fraser Valley Continuing Education (FVCE) program has a new home and a new direction.
鈥淲e are full steam ahead,鈥� FVCE registrar Barb Nelson told the 91原创 Advance Times.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to 2020.鈥�
Nelson, an instructor at the programs, along with her sister-in-law, tech and marketing manager Peggy Richardson, and cousin Alison Dennis came to the rescue last year.
Jim Verkerk, who ran the program, was retiring.
After a failed attempt at negotiating a deal with one of the other instructors to continue operating, Verkerk announced the program would be shutting down at the end of June.
That鈥檚 when Nelson, Richardso0n and Dennis intervened.
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Since they took over, the program has moved from it鈥檚 former home in the 91原创 Township Civic Facility into a new space in 91原创 City, at Baytree Centre, located at Logan and 56th Avenues.
After initially operating from ground-floor digs, they have expanded into a second-floor space to to increase the size of the computer lab, and create two extra classrooms.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 believe how high the demand is,鈥� Nelson commented.
The catalogue for the Fraser Valley Continuing Education winter/spring 2020 semester was distributed n the first week of January to homes in 91原创 and the surrounding areas.
New courses include include a range of small business classes focused on marketing and tech, and classes taught by well-known Angela Crocker, author of 鈥淒igital Life Skills for Youth鈥�, including a workshop about teens and technology.
Richardson, the FVCE marketing manager described it as an impressive course.
鈥淎s a parent of a teenager myself, I鈥檝e been so impressed by Angela鈥檚 book, and she doesn鈥檛 hold back when she talks about how teens may be asked to use technology inappropriately, and exactly what parents can do about it,鈥� Richardson said.
Crocker鈥檚 workshop on that topic will be offered once in February, once in April, and once again in May.
The January to May 2020 calendar at FVCE offers a variety of programs in high-employability areas, including bookkeeping and accounting, dental receptionist, and a selection of workshops related to small business and living in the digital age.
As well, many of the same programs the program has always provided are back, such as Microsoft-certified training and basic computer skills, as well as a wide range of art and language classes.
There is a new program for medical office assistants, that marks a return of the curriculum after several year, said office manager Kim Rosset, the one responsible for programming this entire new semester of classes.
鈥淲e had a successful MOA program for years when we were 91原创 Continuing Education, and after a bit of a hiatus, Patti Scott and co-instructor Marilyn Lawrie have returned to give us not just the basics, but an Allied MOA program as well,鈥� Rosset said.
鈥淎llied鈥� means everything from chiropractic care, massage therapy, counselling and psychotherapy services, help with addictions, kinesiology and physiotherapy, and more, Rosset explained.
鈥淥urs is the only program in the Lower Mainland to offer training in this specific area,鈥� she said.
FVCE has also introduced a freshened-up website at and are active on social media, including Instagram, Twitter, and at .
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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