Workplace Essential Skills and Training program (WEST)

The WEST program is for students with developmental and cognitive disabilities. It helps students develop the personal, interpersonal and employment skills required to obtain and maintain employment. The program goal is for the students to gain skills necessary to foster personal growth and independence. Students will gain vocational, academic, work, and essential life skills. The WEST Program is offered at the Nanaimo, Cowichan and tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River) campuses. See WEST program details.

"Several of our Skills for Life students have gone from our Ladysmith Secondary School to the WEST/ELST program at [VIU]. The program has proven to be excellent for these students - allowing them to experience university life, to sample a variety of work-related situations, to improve social, interpersonal, and work-related skills, and to have fun learning. The staff is very conscientious and get results!"

H. Mallet, Skills for Life Teacher at Ladysmith Secondary School

Questions?

Curious to see what our program is like? We invite you to be a "student for the day!" Come meet WEST faculty and students currently in the program. For more information or to arrange a classroom visit, email or phone:

Nanaimo

• Email: Tanya.Assaf@viu.ca
• Phone: 250.740.6162

Cowichan

• Email: WEST.Cowichan@viu.ca
• Phone: 236.628.2134

tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River)

• Email: Elyse.Freeborn@viu.ca
• Phone: 604.485.8028