Organized, attentive and eager to help students, family members, faculty and administrators – administrative assistants routinely score top marks for effort, especially in the offices of thriving schools. Recognizing the critical role that these friendly and helpful faces play in creating an inclusive and supportive educational environment, Winnipeg School Division (WSD) chose the position as a natural starting point for a training partnership with RRC Polytech.

Determined to shape a stronger, more vibrant community, one learner at a time, WSD and RRC Polytech teamed up last summer to make post-secondary training more accessible. Together, they developed a specialized program that removes barriers for under-represented and Indigenous learners to acquire the technical skills needed to accomplish an administrative assistant’s ever-evolving list of tasks and requests – while working toward their shared goal of inspiring and elevating underserved communities.

“The partnership between Winnipeg School Division and RRC Polytech has made post-secondary education both attainable and accessible for our students, right within their own community. It opens doors and reinforces the belief that higher education is within reach for everyone,” said Sylvia Martin, Divisional Principal of Career Lab at R.B. Russell Vocational High School. “We are deeply grateful for this opportunity, which has made a profound difference in the lives of our learners and their families.”

By offering RRC Polytech’s Administrative Assistant training free of charge to employees and area residents and making it available in local schools, WSD is addressing the ongoing challenge of attracting and training new support staff while cultivating a path to a better life for the citizens it serves.

“Many of our students live nearby and were able to walk to class — a significant factor in their ability to participate,” added Martin. “The familiar environment, proximity to their children’s school, and access to essential supports such as food and community connections all play a vital role in their success.”  

The 8-month program’s collaborative learning activities and real-world practicums in WSD schools emphasize communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills that result in a well-rounded professionalism that sets up future employees to succeed, regardless of their career path.

“Using RRC Polytech’s vast network of expertise, we work with industry partners to develop customized training that provides workers with the applied skills and experience they need to achieve both the organization’s objectives and their own personal goals,” said Emmanuel Abba, Business Development Manager for Corporate Solutions at RRC Polytech. “In this case, WSD serves learners with diverse needs, so we augmented the traditional curriculum for our Administrative Assistant Program with academic, social, emotional, and cultural supports to encourage greater success.”

Karyss-Leigh Beaulieu took advantage of the opportunity and completed her work-integrated-learning experience at École LaVérendrye in June. Her improved public speaking and communication skills led to a newfound confidence that recently helped her navigate WSD’s hiring process for a substitute clerk position and she is currently looking forward to orientation for new hires.

“Happy and proud of what I accomplished, for sure. Although the first few weeks were rough, it was hard to adjust to the schedule and adapt to the new environment at first, but I was determined, and my instructor was super supportive,” said Beaulieu. “Soon I was answering phones, doing filing, helping substitute teachers to print their lessons, getting kids snacks and ice packs if they needed.”

Her journey reflects resilience, adaptability, a deepening connection to her culture and a renewed purpose. A proud member of Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, she moved away from home at 17, facing homesickness and the emotional challenges of adjusting to a new environment while transitioning to life in the city, first in Brandon and then in Winnipeg.

 She occasionally reached out to RRC Polytech’s Indigenous support navigators and counsellors but eventually found free access to the Mindwell app (offered to all staff and students at RRC Polytech) was enough to ground her when she felt overwhelmed.  

Beaulieu says she looks forward to becoming the supportive presence that she remembers from her school office growing up and continuing to explore and re-connect with her heritage. 

“I started wearing a medicine pouch every day and I found that it helped me get through the day,” said Beaulieu. “Working in the school inspired me to be more involved and support Indigenous youth, to help them feel connected, supported, and proud of who they are. As an Indigenous person who has felt a sense of disconnection living away from home and feeling that loneliness is the worst feeling. So, now I want to help prevent that feeling for others, by creating spaces of connection and belonging.”

Beaming with pride in the success of the program so far, Sylvia Martin and her WSD colleagues are eager to increase participation and continue building future opportunities. She says it was deeply moving to witness the motivation and determination of every student working toward the goal of creating a better life for their families.

“This transformative partnership has provided a pathway to stable, meaningful careers and empowered students to overcome personal and systemic barriers. The ripple effect on their families and the broader community is immeasurable.” said Martin. “We welcome the chance to collaborate further, expand outreach and celebrate the positive impacts of the program.”

RRC Polytech is hosting information sessions for its next intake at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on November 13 at R.B. Russell Vocational High School (364 Dufferin Ave.) and is planning to welcome a new cohort of eager WSD learners to its Administrative Assistant program in January. Other programs being offered through the partnership include Library & Information Technology and 5th Class Power Engineering.

For more info: rbrussell@wsd1.org