Céline Mimeault
Graduate in Health, Assistance and Nursing (D.V.S.)
Centre de formation professionnelle de la Haute-Gaspésie

“ At 32 years old and with two children, I wanted to be trained quickly in an area that would give me the satisfaction of helping people. One of my friends spoke to me about nursing, saying “It’s your calling, so go for it!”. I learned more about the job, the work environment and of course on the courses, and I was very quickly convinced that this was the right fit for me. Many hospitals need nurses, the salaries are interesting and the short training time enabled me to enter the job market quickly. It was just what I wanted!

During my training, I learned tons of concrete and very interesting information, like about the different systems of the human being. I also received lots of opportunities to practice what we were learning, as we had all the required material. If we were missing anything, the instructors borrowed it from the hospital. Really practical!

What helped me even more during the training program’s practical application were the many on-the-job training opportunities (especially during my second year). I joined teams at different hospitals across the region and gained experience in different areas, such as: basic care, specific care (injections, insulin and pharmacology), geriatrics, medicine, and preoperative and postoperative care. It enabled me to carry out in real life what I had learned, and to learn job skills more quickly. ”

Mélanie Boilard-Desrochers
Student in Delinquency Intervention Techniques (D.C.S.)
Centre d’études collégiales Baie-des-Chaleurs (Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles)

“ I always knew that I would want to work in the field of delinquency intervention. It’s a targeted, rigorous field that requires important qualities: self-discipline, initiative, maturity and empathy. These qualities are essential for working with adults or young people with problems of delinquency.

I loved my training program. The courses were interesting and our instructors were patient and always available. They really wanted us to succeed in our coursework, which was really motivating. My favourite course right now is on evidence and evidence administration. We create crime scenes to learn how to collect evidence and use it properly. Our classrooms are even set up to make it as realistic as possible.

My program also includes several internships before graduating. I have already carried out a one-week internship and I will soon start a five-week one—I’m going to work in a prison. This will be complementary to my training and help me decide if I like it or not. ”

Evan Mulrooney
Graduate in Industrial Maintenance Technology (D.C.S.)
Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles à Gaspé

“ Right from the start, this program interested more than others. I am someone who enjoys working with my hands. Also, the job market is really good for technical skills. The visit by the CÉGEP instructors to my secondary school also helped to convince me.

I took my training program at the CÉGEP in Gaspésie. The instructors were excellent and the courses were well-taught and covered most areas related to the job. Almost all of my teachers had worked at the job before they taught, and they knew how to use the equipment. They gave us examples and tips that you can’t find in books.

The CÉGEP`s equipment also helped us a lot: I was able to learn how to work on the laser alignment machine (I use it almost every day at work!). That allowed me to learn how the tools worked on my first day on the job and gave me an advantage over others who hadn`t learned that during their training!

Today, I am a project manager for a company called Techéol. It`s a really interesting job with important responsibilities. I train new staff, show them new tasks, hire employees (I even hired four of my friends who were in the same course as me). I definitely don`t have the time to get bored: we start at 7:00 a.m. and finish at 5:00 p.m. We travel a lot and meet new people. Sometimes we go to different wind farms—it`s really impressive to go up to the top of a wind turbine. You can see very far! ”

Antoine Dumais Roy
Graduate in Aquaculture (D.V.S. + D.C.S.)
École des pêches et de l'aquaculture du Québec (Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles)

“ I always wanted a job that would let me work with my hands and in the field. I also wanted to find employment right after I finished my training. After receiving advice from a private guidance counselor, and with the full support of my parents, I left Montréal to pursue my training in the Gaspésie. My friends thought I was a bit crazy to leave the city for a more rural area, but they understood quickly that my mind was made up!

Even if it required a solid theoretical base, my training program was highly practical. We had a classroom and a production room to sharpen our skills. We even had classes on boats where we could do fieldwork with our teachers. It was fantastic! Since most of them came from an occupational setting, they brought us lots of good advice and a better portrait of the industry. I had on-the-job training at several companies. That allowed me to complete my training, see what the actual working conditions are and above all, show several potential employers what I can do. Now I’m working for Halieutec, where I did my last on-the-job training.

In my job, I work on several projects at the same time with a variety of tasks and different environments: laboratories, production rooms, producers’ boats, fish plants, etc. I am always active and it’s nothing like office work! Every day, I learn something new. I have challenges to meet and that’s important for me. ”

Marie-Hélène Cormier
Graduate in Commercial Fishery (D.V.S.) and winner of a
“Chapeau, les filles!” award
Centre d’éducation des adultes et de formation professionnelle, C.S. des Îles

“ Fishing was a natural choice for me. My father and uncle have been fishers for almost 40 years. I inherited my passion from them, and they have always encouraged me to this kind of work.

Thanks to my teachers and classmates, I immediately felt right at home in my courses. Together, we developed a positive outlook. Companionship and mutual support were always present. From the very beginning of our training, we were able to learn and practice many skills: mend nets, build a lobster pot, tie sailors’ knots, etc. We went out on the water several times to learn how to use new fishing gear. We fished with a Danish seine, and we fished for scallops and crab. That showed us that there are different types of fishing. That kind of knowledge can always be useful.

All my teachers had the qualifications needed to properly teach us our craft. They had a lot of experience as fishers and skippers. Their knowledge helped us and they showed us the things you learn on the job. We had confidence in them because we knew that they had already gone down the road on which we were just starting out.

To complete my studies, I plan to sign up, in a few years, for a CÉGEP course in accounting and management. That will put me in charge of all aspects of my occupation. After all, being a fisher often means being the owner of a small business. This additional training will prepare me for all eventualities... like becoming a skipper and having my own fishing boat! ”

Daniel Miville
Graduate in Health, Assistance and Nursing (D.V.S.)
CFP l'Envol

“ The important thing is to choose a career that you like. I decided on health studies a long time ago. It’s a field where you are involved with people, and that brings feelings of being needed and of accomplishment. My parents were proud of my decision because the health field is well regarded. I talked it over with the guidance counselor at my school, and then I visited the CFP l’Envoi training centre. I even participated in a “student for a day” program. That was all I needed to be sure I had made the right choice.

I really liked my training program. My courses were directly related to the job. What I liked most were the courses that were about human relations, communications and the helping relationship. The teachers shared their work experiences and tricks of the trade with us. They even taught us how to follow institutional protocols. That increased my confidence in being able to find a job. But what I liked most about the teachers was their personal approach and that they believed in me.

Today, I can do what I like best: give comfort to people, listen to them and put a smile on their faces. I really feel like I’m accomplishing something important. I have an excellent work environment. My co-workers are dedicated and we work as a team, supporting one another. What are my daily challenges? I follow the changes in my patients’ health, brighten up their day and fully assume my role as a nursing assistant. ”

Nancy Thériault
Graduate in Commercial Fishery (D.V.S.)

“ I completed a program in commercial fishery to give me a better understanding of the occupation that I have had for some time. I wanted to know more about occupational dangers and do my work in a safer manner. Currently, I am a helper and my courses have made me do my work more effectively. Since completing my program, I am more motivated because I feel like I am more competent in carrying out the tasks related to my occupation. ”

Charles Bernier
Graduate in Electrodynamics (D.C.S.)

“ I went to work for Groupe Ohmega in 1985, just a few days after completing my electrodynamics program. After working as an apprentice technician, technician and manager of the service department, I am now the president and chief executive officer of the company. I have always liked working in my field, and I have never had to limit my ambitions. My diploma of college studies (D.C.S.) gave me a lot more than job training; it was my starting point to get where I am today. ”

Catherine Gauthier
Graduate in Secretarial Studies (D.V.S.) and in Accounting (D.V.S.)

“ Having completed two D.V.S. (one in secretarial studies and one in accounting) and completing her secondary 5 French course, which made it possible for her to obtain her secondary school diploma (S.S.D.), Catherine is currently working at the Centre de la petite enface de Gaspé. “I really wanted to work and do what I like and I’m already there! A year of study is very short for getting into a job I like. My mother has always supported my choice, and I am happy today. Mom and I have supported my brother in his recent decision to go for vocational training in electrodynamics. ”

Jean-Louis Mauger
President, Mauger Ford

“ At age 16, Jean-Louis Mauger decided to become a mechanic. He put his knowledge to good use, working beside his father in the family business that his father had owned since 1977. Jean-Louis worked tirelessly to develop the company, and in 1986, he got the right to be a Ford dealer. Since then, he has gone far. Mauger Ford expanded and in 1999, he became the owner of three dealerships, located in Gaspé, Grande-Rivière and New Richmond, and now over 90 people work for him. “Today, I not only look for people with experience but my company actively looks for dedicated workers who sharpened their skills in a vocational training program. ”

Jany Jalbert
Graduate in Telecommunications (D.C.S.)

“ Jany has a diploma in telecommunications and currently works for Cogeco, a cable TV operator. Her interest in electronics and working with her hands led her to a D.C.S. in telecommunications. She got a job immediately after finishing her on-the-job training, which was given by her current employer. “I wanted to study and work in my region, the Gaspé Peninsula, and that’s what I did. I am very happy about my choice. For me, working in a field traditionally reserved for men has not been a handicap but a pleasant challenge. ”

Pierre Minville
Graduate in Electrical Engineering Technology (D.C.S.)

“ Since 1994, I have been the president of Éconergie GPMM, a family-run consulting firm in the field of commercial, industrial and institutional energy management. After getting my D.C.S. in electrical engineering technology, I spent my early years developing a company that now serves engineers. My first few years of work gave me more experience than a university diploma as well as a paycheck and an incomparable knowledge base. I got much more than a diploma; I got a rewarding job and a successful company that are much more than I ever expected. ”