Herzing Blog

Students practising health care aide techniques at Herzing College Winnipeg

Updated December 2025

Are you considering becoming a health care aide? Chances are, you have probably already started researching health care aide courses in Winnipeg. The city has several colleges that offer this program, so there are many options to choose from.

Most health care aide programs deliver similar courses and teach similar skills. They take the same amount of time to complete, include an internship, and promise good employment opportunities after graduation.

If programs are so similar, how do you know which college offers the best health care aide course?

You need to find the school that goes above and beyond basic requirements. You want the highest quality training delivered by the most experienced instructors.

Most importantly, you want a program that includes additional instruction in cutting-edge skills employers really want.

Over the years, Herzing College has developed a reputation for exceptional health care aide training. That's because we have some very special people developing and teaching this course.

Rebecca Hiebert raised three children on her own. For many years, being a mother was her full-time job. But over the last year or two, those priorities began to change.

Her children grew older and became more independent. Gradually, she found herself with some extra time. And she knew exactly what she wanted to do with it.

Rebecca had always wanted to study business administration. With great determination, she returned to school and earned not one, but two diplomas in business from Herzing College.

Agnes Perez graduated from Herzing's Accounting and Payroll program in 2019, and got her first full-time job in Canada working on the finance team at Venture Healthcare.

Agnes Perez's story is very similar to many other students at Herzing. She moved to Canada from the Philippines with a good education, but her credentials and work experience were not recognized by Canadian employers.

Back home, she was a successful optometrist with 12 years of professional experience. But Agnes quickly realized that if she wanted a successful career here in Winnipeg, she would have to go back to school and earn a Canadian diploma.

Michelle Riedner graduated from Herzing's Accounting and Payroll program in 2018, and now works as a Financial Officer for Electra Sign Ltd. in Winnipeg

Michelle Riedner had never even used a computer when she enrolled in the Accounting and Payroll program at Herzing College. She could barely work a mouse or keyboard, and had zero experience with Microsoft Office applications.

Now she's a successful Financial Officer. She uses Excel and QuickBooks on a daily basis, manages files, enters data, and handles a range of computerized accounting and office tasks.

William Rapisarda teaches the online Supply Chain Management program at Herzing, and is an Associate Category Manager with Cabela's Canada

We started offering a Supply Chain Management program at Herzing a couple of years ago, when we saw big demand in the field across Manitoba.

But the truth is, not many people are aware of how fast this industry is growing...or what supply chain management even is!

We got so many questions about the training, career path, and job options that we decided to bring in an expert to answer them.

Who better to ask than William Rapisarda? He teaches the Supply Chain Management program at Herzing and has been working in the field for almost 25 years.

Photo: Austin Siragusa, Broadcasting and Media Communication program graduate

Updated January, 2021.

Think the broadcasting industry is impossible to break into, and you'll never land a decent job straight out of college?

Been told that your goal of becoming an on-air host or reporter is just a pipe dream?

Meet Austin Siragusa. He's living proof that breaking into broadcasting (and landing a great job) isn't so far-fetched after all.

Austin landed his first broadcasting gig before he even completed Herzing's training program in 2016.

 Nancy Scott RN (centre) wins the Herzing College Teacher of the Year award for her outstanding work with health care aide students

Health care aides (HCAs) are in high demand in Winnipeg and across most of Canada. Our rapidly aging population and dwindling health care budgets have long-term care facilities bursting at the seams.

Meanwhile, many seniors are opting to stay in their own homes for longer, creating a need for trained health care aides who can assist them to live safely on their own.

If you're looking for a career in healthcare that doesn't require years of training, but involves challenging, meaningful work—becoming a health care aide is an ideal option.

Maria Aquino (far right) poses with business students and faculty at the Herzing College Winnipeg campus

A lot of people choose business administration training because it opens up so many different career paths. Accounting, marketing, sales, management, client services...this program builds a strong foundation in several key areas of business.

And that's exactly what Maria Theresa Aquino was looking for when she started the Business Administration program at Herzing earlier this year.

Photo: Herzing graduate Sheri Richard in her Health Care Aide uniform at Extendicare Oakview Place in Winnipeg

It's always really exciting to catch up with Herzing grads and see how much their lives have changed since finishing school and starting a brand new career.

Health care aide graduate Sheri Richard is a great example. She switched career paths later in life, when she could no longer find work in her field and needed a new direction.

Sheri knew she wanted to help people, so she started looking around for quick training options. A five-month health care aide diploma was an ideal fit.

And even though she has three children and a very busy schedule, Sheri took the leap and started the program. Turns out, it was the best decision she ever made.

Here's what she told us about heading back to school, starting her health care aide career, and where she's working now.

Susan Zirk in her health care aide scrubs, in Selkirk, Manitoba.

Are you considering becoming a health care aide, and wondering if you'd be a good fit for the role?

Looking to switch jobs, but don't want to spend years re-training? You're definitely not alone.

Susan Zirk was working a high-pressure finance job when she started looking around for other options. She wanted to do something with more meaning - work that actually helps people and feels rewarding.

Finally, she took the plunge and signed up for Health Care Aide training at Herzing College Winnipeg.

Now she's living a completely different life, working for a home-care company that helps seniors live safely and independently in their own residences.

We checked in with Susan this week to see how her new career is going and learn more about her experience becoming a health care aide. Read on for the highlights!