Looking to become an addiction counsellor? Improving the lives of people battling problems with drugs or alcohol can be immensely rewarding.

And the need for these professionals is higher than ever. CTV News reported that the number of opioid overdoses in Winnipeg was twice as high in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

Plus, the Manitoba government estimates there will be 300 new job openings for family, marriage, and other related counsellors throughout the province over the next few years.

But what does it take to become an addiction counsellor? How can you get started in this field?

The answers are in this post.

We provide a clear breakdown of the training and skills every addiction counsellor needs. 

Here's what you need to know.

If you’re interested in law, good with people, detail-oriented and organized, legal assistant could be an ideal career path.

It’s an excellent time to become a legal assistant in Manitoba. Strong employment growth and waves of retirements are creating jobs in this field, in every part of the province. 

You don’t need a university degree, and college legal assistant programs are relatively quick. 

So, how do you get started? What’s involved in becoming a legal assistant?  And most importantly, how do you know if this career is right for you? 

Photo: Michael Ledda at his home in Winnipeg

Before Covid-19 wreaked havoc on Winnipeg, Michael Ledda was living life as usual. He was busy working full-time as a chef, happy with his job, and making a steady income to support his three children. 

But when the lockdown started, Michael’s entire world quickly crumbled. Before long, he was out of a job. Things got so tight financially, he had to sell off his possessions just to pay rent. 

Sadly, Michael’s story is not unique. So many Winipeggers lost their jobs during the pandemic, the CBC wrote an article about it, featuring Michael and several others. 

Jenna Boholij (Herzing’s Director of Marketing Communications) read the CBC story and was so moved by Michael’s struggle, she proposed an idea.  

Why not offer him a full scholarship, so he can re-train and get back on his feet? 

The entire Herzing team got on board and reached out to Michael with the offer. He happily accepted and is now enrolled in the Broadcasting and Media Communications program. 

This week, we chatted with Michael to find out how his life has changed since going back to school. Here are the highlights of our conversation.

When Amalia Aplaon immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in 2019, she already had a Bachelor's degree and a caregiver certificate.

But she quickly realized that without Canadian credentials, it would be much harder to find a good job in health care.

So, after spending years as a stay-at-home mom, Amalia took on the challenge of returning to school.

She enrolled in Medical Office Assistant (MOA) training, completed her practicum, and graduated just as Covid-19 was sweeping across the country.

The pandemic caused a hiring freeze at many clinics, making finding a job very difficult for new MOA graduates.

But Amalia persevered and in just one and half months, she got hired as a Primary Care Assistant.

We interviewed Amalia to learn more about her experience at Herzing, and what it's like to transition from full-time mom to full-time healthcare professional.

Read on for the full story.

Photo: Karl Raynes at his home office in Winnipeg

When he moved to Canada in 2013, Karl Raynes wasn't planning on starting a business.

He got a steady job at a law firm, thought about pursuing a career in computer networking, and even took at few IT courses.

And then one day, Karl and his fiance came up with a brilliant idea for a home-care services company.

He immediately began looking for business training that would help him launch the company and make it a success.

Karl discovered Herzing College and enrolled in the Business Administration program.

This training is designed for people who want to work in an office, manage a team, or start their own business. 

Karl signed up, worked through the courses, and actually launched his company while completing the internship.

We interviewed Karl a few months after graduation to get his review of the Business Administration program, and see how the company is going so far.

Here's what we found out.

Updated June, 2021.

Don't think office assistants need specific training to do their jobs well? Think again! This role is increasingly important—and increasingly complex.

Office assistants are needed in businesses and organizations of every stripe and size. From non-profits to start-ups to multi-national corporations. No professional team can survive without skilled administrators keeping the wheels turning.

So, it's no surprise that trained, talented office admins are highly sought after. In Winnipeg, the Government of Canada Job Bank is predicting steady demand for office administrators straight through to 2026.

What exactly will you need to take advantage of those job opportunities, and build a successful career as an office assistant?

Start with the top 5 skills taught in quality office assistant training. These are the competencies absolutely every employer is looking for.

You may have heard that traditional media is going the way of the dinosaurs. After all, the way we consume content now is vastly different than it was a couple of decades ago.

With all the changes that are impacting the industry, is it still worth pursuing a broadcasting career?

The truth is there are actually more ways to make a living in this field now than ever before.

But it's important to understand the new realities of the media industry and what to expect if you're thinking about entering it.

In this post, we give an overview of current trends that are affecting the broadcasting communications sector in Canada.

We also provide important information on job options, employment outlooks, key skills, and salaries.

Explore the new world of broadcast media. Find out what this field is all about and whether it's a good fit for you.

Andrew Pugachev, Occupational Health & Safety instructor, Herzing College Winnipeg

In 2017, almost 1000 Canadians died on the job. That's an increase of 46 people from the previous year.  And 23 of those workers were very young—between the ages of 15-24 (Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada)

Earlier this year, the CBC reported that these numbers don't even come close to reflecting the true extent of work-related deaths in Canada.

The CBC cites a new study called Work-related Deaths in Canada, which reveals those stats from the Worker's Compensation Boards only include approved compensation claims.

The study authors estimate the "true number of workplace deaths are 10 times greater than official numbers."

So, what are we doing to reduce these fatalities, and other job-related illnesses and injuries?

Enter Andrew Pugachev: expert in workplace safety, and instructor for Herzing's Occupational Health and Safety Officer program.

Image: Volunteering and hands-on training are core components of a quality CSW course

Planning to become a community support worker (CSW)? You're on track to a rewarding career with many different job options.

Community services is a challenging, diverse, and quickly growing field. CSWs work in front-line roles, supporting vulnerable populations and helping people lead healthier more independent lives.

So how do  you get started?

Your first step is find a quality community support worker course. There are quite a few colleges across Manitoba that offer this program. How do you know which one to choose?

While you should certainly take the time to do your own research, there are a few key factors that every good community support worker course should offer.

In this post, we outline all the features you should look for when researching CSW training options.

After reading, you will be much better prepared to find a great program to launch your career.

Photo: Gleason Uppahuak in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Gleason Uppahuak started his career at age 13 as a stock boy.

Even then, he understood the value of learning and hard work. He moved slowly up the ranks from the stock room to the customer service team, and finally to the accounting department.

At that point, he reached the limit of skills he could learn on-the-job. Gleason needed professional training in accounting and payroll software, regulations, reports, and financial management.

Going back to school was a natural progression for him. "Education is the key to professional and personal success," says Gleason. "Plus, I always loved math classes at school."

But even Gleason couldn't predict just how far accounting training and a talent for numbers would take him. 

Since graduating from Herzing in 2019, he's managed an entire social housing project and become President of Kivalliq Development Corporation.

From stock boy to president, Gleason is living proof of the power of education.

We interviewed him this week to learn more about his new role, and get his opinion of Herzing's Accounting and Payroll program. Here are the highlights of our conversation.