The Staff at Osborne Village Resource Centre
OVRC has seven dedicated staff members:
Keith
Centre Coordinator
Keith had worked at Osborne Village Resource Centre for eight years as an Employment Facilitator and Computer Instructor before being promoted to Centre Coordinator in the fall of 2011. Keith is a living example of the phrase "It's never too late to return to Post Secondary Education and change careers" as he did so at age 40. Prior to returning to Assiniboine College, Keith worked at a number of different occupational fields including radio announcer, Parts and Service Manager of a farm machinery dealership, and a Retail Manager.
Keith has a passionate enthusiasm for the work he does assisting individuals with resumes and cover letters and now managing the Centre. He is always looking for ways to enhance the services at OVRC such as writing and implementing a highly successful survey that went out to Winnipeg employers asking their opinions regarding resumes and cover letters. His interest and compassion for his co-workers and those individuals who use OVRC is greatly valued.
Sandy
Career Counsellor
As a passionate advocate for voluntary work, Sandy runs a women's outdoor adventure group, is VP Public Relations for her local Toastmasters group and finds time to volunteer at Fort Whyte Alive, when she can. With certificates in Advice and Guidance and Counseling, Sandy completed accreditation in 2010 to administer the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. A true ENFP, Sandy is warm and full of energy, always on the lookout for what's possible. Her boundless enthusiasm brings motivation and inspiration to her work with clients.
Kristina
Career Counsellor
Kristina is a Career Counsellor here at Osborne Village Resource Centre. She has over ten years of experience counselling individuals on post-secondary options and career directions. From assessing an individual's values and skills in order to reveal strengths inside, to arranging volunteer experience and information interviews, Kristina is energized when it comes to all aspects of career destination.
With a fascination for Labour Market Information and tracking Winnipeg job openings, she enjoys navigating through the National Occupation Classification and Manitoba Job Futures and interpreting career research to clients. With a passion for downtown Winnipeg urban living, community issues, and social justice, Kristina enjoys sharing Winnipeg resources to help individuals in the community successfully achieve professional pride.
John
Employment Facilitator
John has been involved with the Osborne Village Resource Centre since March of 2010 and has recently obtained a full-time position as an Employment Facilitator.
John has experience in a number of occupational fields which include Youth Justice Services, under the Child and Family Services Act (Ontario) and the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), Educational Assistant with the Lakehead District School Board and Framing for a locally owned and operated construction company. On January 25, 2008 John was involved in an unfortunate work place accident which was significant enough to force him to change careers. This experience inspired John to help others and obtain his Career Coach Certificate from the University of Winnipeg / Winnipeg Transition Centre. John has practiced this new career at a number of places which include YES Canada and ORG Canada and developed a passionate enthusiasm for the work he does here at Osborne Village Resource Centre.
John enjoys supporting individuals with resume and cover letter development and ultimately the main reason he wanted to get into this field was to HELP PEOPLE GET BACK TO WORK.
Patti
Client Service and Assessment Clerk
Office Administrator
Computer Systems Coordinator
Patti began her employment with OVRC in 1998 and loves working at the Centre! She is sort of the jack-of-all-trades person around the office. She has learned a lot along the way and has updated her skills and successfully adapting to all and any changes taking place at the Centre. She has been previously been employed in the retail and hospitality industries as well as for the Manitoba Government. She has completed two Diploma programs, one for Legal Secretary and the other in Multimedia Design and Communications. She believes in life long learning and continues to enroll in workshops and computer classes. She enjoys reading and loves animals, and has also volunteered working with special needs children.
Betty
Computer Instructor/Employment Facilitator
Betty has been a volunteer with the Centre since 2003 and joined our team officially in 2012. Literally hundreds of our clients have benefited from Betty's patience and humor while backing up the OVRC's computer courses and now she brings that experience to the front of the class as the instructor.
Her background is writing and communications, and she applies that skill set in finding 'just the right turn of phrase' to helping clients create awesome resumes as an employment facilitator when she isn't teaching. (But really, what teacher ever ISN'T teaching?)
Over the years, she's also been a client of the Centre, doing job search work, having a resume done, taking all of the computer classes, and participating in several of their amazing workshops, so she understands what they offer from the perspective of the client as well as the volunteer.
She's been a member of the OVRC family for a very long time, and is thrilled at the opportunity to do work that she is passionate about with a fantastic group of people. She is the literal example of "do what you love and the money will follow", and a passionate advocate of volunteering in the field you want to transition into. After all, look what it's done for her!
Judy
Receptionist\Customer Service Representative
Judy started at the Centre January 2, 2012 as our Receptionist\Customer Service Representative. She thoroughly enjoys all aspects of the job as well as getting to know our clients better!
In October of 2011, she started taking the Word classes offered at the Centre on Tuesday evenings. She enjoyed the warm and welcoming atmosphere so much that she continued with the Excel classes and that's how the connection to the centre's staff began! When the job at the front desk came up she didn't hesitate to jump at the opportunity to become part of the team at OVRC.
Judy comes to the Centre with 17 years of Customer Service experience in the banking industry and a passion for helping people. She brings with her an energy and sense of fun! She loves talking to people and building relationships with her clients. Outside of work she is a busy Mom and volunteer. She is an active volunteer for a charity called the Horse Connection Inc. which is involved in the use of horses to help keep youth connected to their education. Her weekends are full with activities with her family including skating and tobogganing in the winter and trips to the beach in the summer.