Member empowerment top of the agenda at Educators Conference

Vancouver – January 29, 2015 – Education and training directors from UFCW Canada Local Unions across the country recently met in Vancouver to align their efforts in empowering members from coast to coast with the best in online and classroom learning resources.

More than 10,000 members and their families already benefit from the more than 210 courses offered at no cost through UFCW Canada’s webCampus — the leading-edge, online resource that allows you to learn at your pace through web-based courses ranging from life skills to jobs skills upgrading. In addition, each year more than 7,500 stewards and 4,500 other members are empowered through classroom-based training in a number of courses delivered at Local Union training centres.

At the recent Vancouver educators conference, participants brainstormed on developing additional new courses for webCampus, as well new programs for live, classroom delivery. “One of the areas we focused on was finding more ways to support Local Union stewards, with the development of new courses to boost their frontline skills in problem solving, investigating and leadership,” says Marv Funk, UFCW Canada’s national education co-ordinator. “Members will also be on the frontline with the upcoming federal election. To support them, we also plan to expand our Political Action training resources to empower members in their role as citizens and community members.”

“Knowledge is power,” says National President Paul Meinema. “By offering the best and widest range of training of any union in Canada, the goal is to empower UFCW Canada members as activists, and to also support their personal goals at home and in the community.” 

To find out more about webCampus and other UFCW Canada training resources, visit www.ufcw.ca/webcampus.