Operational hours for the holiday season:

  • Dec. 23 (Mon) - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Dec. 24 (Tues) - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Dec. 25 - 26 (Wed and Thurs) - CLOSED 
  • Dec. 27 (Fri) -  9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Dec. 28 (Sat) - 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 29 (Sun) - CLOSED
  • Dec. 30 - 31 (Mon and Tues) - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Jan. 1 (Wed) - CLOSED
  • Jan. 2 (Thurs) - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Jan. 3 (Fri) - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Jan. 4 (Sat) - 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  

Believe in Yourself, You are Braver than You Think

Posted at:
Caregiver and Nursing

I am Cornelia, and this is the story about my life-changing experience. It was exactly a year ago when a heartbreaking incident happened to our family, the client that I have been taking care of for almost 14 years passed away due to COVID-19. She was like a daughter to me and my family and I have been very attached to her. I cried for months and hid away without talking to anyone.

It was that time when I felt so low and depressed that a family friend called. They told me they have a close friend who was willing to help, to try again and to start recovering from the sorrowful situation. That was when I met my Case Manager from WorkBC Centre Whalley.

When we talked for the first time, they told me that they understood how I felt and they gave me hope that everything will be fine, as long as I am willing to help myself. And that they will guide me through so I were able to try and get myself back on my feet.

I hesitated at first because it has been 30 years since I last studied and attended school. I was not confident that my brain could still work well when it came to studying after such a long time. But my Case Manager's encouragement enlightened me that whatever happens, there was always a way to pursue my goals in life, I just needed to put in my best effort.

Even though I had years of experience as a live-in caregiver, I did not have the proper training and education in Canada that would enable me to work in facilities or for a company within my line of profession. They guided and counselled me as I applied for the appropriate WorkBC Centre Whalley program that could provide the proper learning, practice and literacy I needed in my field of work. This was life-changing for me. I now have a valid Certificate and Diploma; I was even one of the top students in my class. And I was also recently hired by a Nursing Home Facility which was my intended goal.

All of these accomplishments were great from the WorkBC Centre Whalley programs. I am so glad and thankful that I met them and that Canada has government programs like WorkBC that helps individuals seeking proper training and education to discover more possibilities, gain employment and be more successful in their choice of field.

WorkBC

WorkBC is the provincial government's access point to the world of work in British Columbia. It was created with one key goal — to help all British Columbians to successfully navigate B.C.'s labour market.