Dolores D.
Dolores is a 58-year-old Métis woman who was born in Fort Chipewyan but raised in Fort McMurray. Widowed at age 21, she raised two small boys and joined the workforce as a labourer. Dolores decided it was time for a different career path.
After seeing a Facebook post on Athabasca Tribal Council’s (ATC) Facebook page, Dolores enrolled in the Urban Indigenous Employment Preparation Program (UIEPP) with her son Gary. The UIEPP includes the General Education Development (GED) program, giving successful participants their equivalent to a Grade 12 education.
Dolores felt the support and guidance she received from ATC was incredible with Shelby, May-Britt and Brittany. “I can’t say enough good things,” she said.
A typical day during the GED program was quite entertaining for Dolores as she was learning in a classroom with a younger generation, including her own son. “I had some good laughs, she said. “A few times I had to tell them to smarten up but it was good. This old girl kept up.”
The most surprising thing about the program for Dolores was how challenging the math component was. Learning that math, however, was also the highlight of the program for her.
“It helps when you have a teacher like Cecil that knows math,” she said, “especially the darn algebra questions.”
For Dolores, attending this program has led her to earn her GED. When job postings or courses require Grade 12 or equivalent, Dolores can provide her GED. The GED has led to opening more doors for employment and more training opportunities.
After the GED program, Dolores wanted to find a career path with local employment opportunities. With the support of the ATC Employment & Training Team, specifically from May-Britt and Natalie, Dolores participated in the Class 2S Melt Training program.
The program consisted of three days of in-class preparation and learning before getting hands-on experience on the bus. Once Dolores finished the in-class training, there were a few weeks of learning on the bus.
Dolores always thought buses were intimidating when she would drive beside them on the road. But once she completed her training she felt comfortable driving a bus. The highlight of this program for her was just learning about buses in general.
Attending and completing the GED program and then the Class 2S Melt Training program has led Dolores to a good paying job only a few weeks after the completion of the Class 2S Melt Training program.
Delores says the support, guidance, and encouragement from the program coordinators at ATC was incredible, and when asked what she would tell someone who is thinking about taking these programs but unsure, she said: “Man, go for it. Get the hands-on experience. If I can do it at my age, so can you. I would remind the kids how lucky we are to have these programs. It does offer more opportunities for employment.”
Dolores was so appreciative that she provided the ATC Employment and Training team with this Red Dress art that her husband made as a thank-you to the team. Dolores was considered the “Kokum” in the GED program and would always encourage the younger clients to “hang in there” when the course got tough.
The General Education Development Program is funded by Service Canada and the Government of Alberta – Alberta Labour & Immigration and is administered by the Athabasca Tribal Council in partnership with Keyano College.
The Class 2S Melt Training program is funded by Service Canada and the Government of Alberta – Alberta Labour & Immigration and is administered by the Athabasca Tribal Council in partnership with Sparksman Transportation Ltd.
