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Two students of the Lake Huron Learning Collaborative received the first Jean Marlatt Scholarships at the organization's annual general meeting held Tuesday (June 15) at the Learning Centre in the former Westario Power Building in Kincardine.

Learning Collaborative chairman John Smallwood presented one scholarship to Tammy Crocker of Goderich, while Kincardine mayor Larry Kraemer presented the other to Donna Hazelden of Lucknow.

Jean Marlatt of Goderich was a keen supporter of the arts and an avid reader who recognized the need for further educational opportunities in Huron and Bruce counties. The scholarships are being funded by a bequest from her estate.

In his remarks, Smallwood said the past year has been a boost for the Learning Collaborative (based in Goderich) as it has received a huge grant of $500,000 over four years, from Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to fund a Learning Centre in Kincardine.

"This will give us a home to work from as we go into the surrounding area, including Lucknow, Port Elgin, Wingham and Bruce Power," he said.

[Wednesday night (June 16), Kincardine council approved a four-year lease with the Learning Collaborative for use of the old Westario building.]

Smallwood said that in September, instructors from Georgian College will be teaching courses in conjunction with the Ontario Management Development Program (Small Business stream), the first modules of which will deal with customer service excellence.

"Since small businesses play major roles in the economies of both counties, this course will present real opportunities for both established business people and those about to begin new initiatives locally," he said.

The course will run one night (three hours) per week, for 10 weeks, hopefully with at least 15 students, said Smallwood.

This marks the fifth year of the Learning Collaborative's association with the University of Western Ontario. "We plan to offer courses in criminology and writing in the Goderich location and have requested that the writing course also be considered for the Kincardine site in the second semester," said Smallwood.

One of the Learning Collaborative's students, Lisa Walker, will graduate in September with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (Sociology) from Western.

"I'm just completing my final half-course," she said. "My first course was in 2006 with the Lake Huron Learning Collaborative and Western. A professor came to Goderich once a week to teach us a sociology course."

She studied other courses with the Learning Collaborative, did some on-line, and took some of the courses at the campus in London.

"I have completed a full degree in three years," she said. "I have a lot of life experience and I'm a single parent. It's good to have the Lake Huron Learning Collaborative here. Not everybody can go to London to study, and not everyone can afford it."

She encourages people to take courses with the Learning Collaborative and to tell the organization what courses they would like to take.

"If there is a demand for courses, we can get the professors to come here," she said, "and we can continue to learn."

Smallwood said the professors learn as much from the students as they learn from the professors.

"There's a real need to have post-secondary education close to home," he said. "We are now getting others on-board, such as the chambers of commerce and educational groups."

In the future, Smallwood hopes to showcase the Learning Centre as a place of formal study centred in a rural community. "From that initial experience of a professor in the classroom, there is a real push on for on-line learning," he said. "We had a vision seven years ago and the Learning Collaborative has grown through the hard work of the board and everyone who helps us out."

John Smallwood (L) presents a scholarship to Tammy Crocker of Goderich

Larry Kraemer (L) presents a scholarship to Donna Hazelden of Lucknow

Lisa Walker, a graduate of the Lake Huron Learning Collaborative, speaks at the annual general meeting

The vision of the Lake Huron Learning Collaborative is "to provide learning opportunities for personal development and professional advancement."

Its mission statement statement is "to create local centres of excellence for post-secondary studies through collaborative approaches."

For more information about the Learning Collaborative, check the website at www.lakehuronlearning.ca

Meanwhile, Thursday night (June 17), an information session was held regarding the small business management certificate course being offered this September at the Learning Centre in Kincardine. For more information, visit the website at choosegeorgian.ca/continuing-education or call 519-376-0840, Ext. 2003.

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Friday, June 18, 2010