Success Certified program gives high school students chance to boost skills

THUNDER BAY -- Local high school students have a chance to boost their skills over the next couple of days.

More than 170 students are taking part in Success Certified, a partnership between local school boards and the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, at Confederation College. Around ten courses are on offer ranging from First-Aid to Smart Serve.

"It's something that a student can put on their resume as they're applying for jobs," coordinator Ivan Strachan said.
"It's a nice starting point."

The costs of the courses is also covered, which helps both the students and the private sector that will eventually hire them. Westgate Grade 12 student Janine Collision chose the safe food handling certification as a way to help in an upcoming skills competition in Waterloo. But it could also help if she one day runs her own restaurant.

"This certification will help me not only with that but getting a job in the future," the 17-year-old said.

Collision said it also helps to take the course with friends rather than on her own and at her own cost.

"It's a lot more rewarding," she said.