It has taken a long time, but Contact North is now firmly established in its new location in Emo.
Conference assistants Christy Crans and Jen Vanzwol have taken up residence in a room offered to them by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in the old OPP building on Highway 11/71.
“Contact North” was first launched in 1986 as a government initiative to expand the use of new technologies in order to deliver distance education courses and programs to remote communities across the north.
This new delivery system was created out of a shared commitment between government, northern communities, and educational institutions across the province to create a method of reaching as many students as possible in isolated centres across Northern Ontario.
Using modern technology, Contact North links its access centres, like the new one in Emo, to educational institutions and other access centres across the north.
Using computers, the students are directly linked to the instructor and to the other students taking the course—each in their own community.
The new e-learning, audio, and video technologies permit a dynamic interaction between all the participants in the course or program that is being offered.
Last Thursday, Crans and Vanzwol held an open house to introduce the public to their new access centre and to explain the courses and programs being offered this spring.
The spring catalogue includes courses from the 13 educational partner institutions which are connected to the system, such as academic upgrading courses offered by Confederation College, accounting courses from Canadore College, and Bachelor of Arts courses from Lakehead University.
Contact North allows students in the smaller centres to access all of these courses without wasting money on gas, without relocating to a major centre; in fact, without ever leaving their own community.
With the economy in a so-called slump, this is a great time to brush up on some necessary courses or to start the journey towards a career in a brand new field.
There currently are 89 access centres in communities across Northern Ontario.
Emo is extremely fortunate to be one of these centres, so the conference assistants are encouraging everyone who wants to make use of this innovative method of receiving an education to get in touch with them as soon as possible.
“All we need are students,” Crans explained with a grin.
If you are interested in becoming a student, visit the centre, pick up a spring catalogue, or go online at www.contactnorth.ca to read more about the Contact North program.
You also can phone 1-877-999-9149 to register or call the Emo centre at 482-9979 if you have any questions.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
