Ninth graduating class of CCAs celebrated at PeopleWorx
Fifteen new Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs) graduated last month from the PeopleWorx program.
Health minister Leo Glavine was on hand to celebrate with the class.
“Many of you may end up looking after seniors,” he said, “delivering programs that fill a huge requirement locally.”
Glavine spotted several of his former students amongst the class.
“There’s a real joy here today for those who are 19 or 20 and starting a new career or those who are making a transition,” he said.
“You are all going to get jobs. CCAs will have a role in hospitals, nursing homes and homecare delivery over the next 10 to 20 years.”
Dallas Stoddart gave the valedictory address and Shawnna Sequeira, executive director, offered congratulations.
The 10-month PeopleWorx program is designed to graduate skilled care providers to meet the certification requirements of the provincial depart-
ment of health and wellness.
Delivering skills
Since 2008, PeopleWorx, a non-profit career college, has offered seven similar programs in Coldbrook and two in Middleton with a total of 192 graduates, said programs manager Julia Harrison.
“We have a low student to faculty ratio and in turn, provide excellent service to our students and have a 99 per cent pass rate for those that have written the provincial exam,” Harrison said.
David MacInnes of Grand Pré, a longtime board member, was on hand for the graduation. He says the programs offered are frequently transformative for participants.
He said the college works quietly, efficiently and gently to turn unemployed individuals into wage earners collecting $16 an hour.
Founded in 1986, PeopleWorx Society is a non-profit, registered charity, which delivers a broad range of employment-related services and programs to the residents of Hants, Kings and Annapolis counties.