Unit 1 – 107 Osborne St.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
R3L 1Y4
As Executive Director at OVRC since the fall of 2011, Keith has a passionate enthusiasm for the work he does. He loves coming to work every day and wants that for each and every client that utilizes OVRC services. His vision is to provide clients with the resources, tools and services to target their job search and find the position that is a “good fit”. Because the world of work has changed significantly Keith is a strong proponent for providing the opportunity for clients to become self-sufficient in their job search. He is always looking at how OVRC can better serve clients. Part of that includes providing workshops that help clients to better navigate the changing labour market. He is proud of the dedication and expertise that OVRC provides clients as evidenced by the fact that clients tell others who are in need of job search support to come to the Centre. This demonstrates to compassion, caring and commitment each OVRC staff person has for clients. His professional background includes working as an employment facilitator, computer instructor, radio announcer, parts and service manager in farm machinery dealership, and as a retail manager-all of which help him to understand and assist clients in their job search journey. He is also an advocate of helping newcomers successfully transition into the Winnipeg workplace culture by providing volunteer opportunities and skills development.
Betty has been a volunteer with the Centre since 2003 and joined our team officially in 2012. Literally hundreds of our clients have benefited from Betty’s patience and humor while backing up the OVRC’s computer courses and now she brings that experience to the front of the class as the instructor.
Her background is writing and communications, and she applies that skill set in finding ‘just the right turn of phrase’ to helping clients create awesome resumes as an employment facilitator when she isn’t teaching. (But really, what teacher ever ISN’T teaching?)
Over the years, she’s also been a client of the Centre, doing job search work, having a resume done, taking all of the computer classes, and participating in several of their amazing workshops, so she understands what they offer from the perspective of the client as well as the volunteer.
She’s been a member of the OVRC family for a very long time, and is thrilled at the opportunity to do work that she is passionate about with a fantastic group of people. She is the literal example of “do what you love and the money will follow”, and a passionate advocate of volunteering in the field you want to transition into. After all, look what it’s done for her!
Judy started at the Centre January 2, 2012 as our Receptionist\Customer Service Representative. She thoroughly enjoys all aspects of the job as well as getting to know our clients better!
In October of 2011, she started taking the Word classes offered at the Centre on Tuesday evenings. She enjoyed the warm and welcoming atmosphere so much that she continued with the Excel classes and that’s how the connection to the centre’s staff began! When the job at the front desk came up she didn’t hesitate to jump at the opportunity to become part of the team at OVRC.Judy comes to the Centre with 17 years of Customer Service experience in the banking industry and a passion for helping people. She brings with her an energy and sense of fun! She loves talking to people and building relationships with her clients.
Outside of work she is a busy Mom and volunteer. She is an active volunteer for a charity called the Horse Connection Inc. which is involved in the use of horses to help keep youth connected to their education. Her weekends are full with activities with her family including skating and tobogganing in the winter and trips to the beach in the summer.
Laurie loves working with people to identify their career “sweet spot”; the intersection between meaningful work and life. She believes that everyone is a genius in the right context. The key is to know what each person’s particular brand of genius is, and then identify the context in which they can shine! Her objective is to coach individuals towards career success, which meets their goals.
Her experience includes students and youth visioning the beginning of their career, individuals who, through illness and/or acquired disability, are seeking new careers, mature workers who, either by choice or by circumstance, are adjusting their vocational focus, newcomer and immigrant youth navigating their introduction to the Canadian workplace, and internationally educated professionals transferring their experience into the Canadian context.
Laurie has a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Psych.) complemented with her Career and Employment Coach Certificate (CECC) and Practical Workshop Facilitation Skills certification. She is a certified practitioner in both the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®) and Strong Interest Inventory®, two instruments highly valued for robust career planning. She is a registered member of Career Professionals of Canada and a founding member of the Manitoba Association for Career Development. Valued for her genuine commitment to her client, Laurie’s passion is helping people see possibilities, where before they could see none.
Lisa is an Employment Facilitator as well as the support person for our computer classes. She has experienced first-hand how the services offered at the Centre can make a big impact to improve the lives of others. She first came to the Osborne Village Resource Centre as a client attending the Targeted Job Search Workshop, followed by career counselling in 2014. It was through these appointments that Lisa discovered a whole new world of possibilities – careers that were achievable, and fulfilled her values of living a compassionate life. She started on her path by becoming a volunteer at the centre, providing clients with assistance in their job search. While working at the centre, she also attended workshops to further develop her skills. Lisa brings a wealth of experience in the customer service industry. Her professional background includes working as a receptionist, sales and catering coordinator, sales manager and server. Lisa is committed to helping empower others and revels watching Osborne Village Resource Centre’s clients improve their lives by finding gainful employment.
Brian is an Employment Facilitator at the Osborne Village Resource Centre, writing targeted resumes and cover letters.
He brings to his job history in journalism, writing primarily for television news and documentaries, and special projects.
Brian has worked in several cities across Canada and in the United States. He’s seen first-hand the importance of people taking advantage of employment opportunities by acquiring the necessary skills through education, life experience, and networking with people in a chosen field.
Because covid has radically altered the working world, many jobs are even more challenging to find than before. Brian hopes to play a small role in sculpting a powerfully-worded and relevant resume or cover letter to help propel people to get the “foot in the door” to a fulfilling future.
Olena is an experienced marketer with a collaborative approach and commitment to industry trends. She is an accomplished marketing professional with extensive experience creating impactful marketing strategies and campaigns.
Originally from Ukraine, Olena has worked for well-known companies such as Nestle, a leading global food and beverage company, a major telecommunication company, and Coca-Cola. Throughout her career, Olena’s expertise has spanned various marketing channels, including digital marketing, social media, content marketing, email marketing, and more.
Her broad knowledge base and hands-on experience in these areas instill confidence in her ability to navigate the complex marketing landscape. Olena is known for her collaborative approach and strong communication skills, enabling her to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
Olena holds a degree in Marketing from a prestigious National University in Kyiv, Ukraine, and has consistently demonstrated her commitment to staying updated with the latest industry trends and practices.
With her vast knowledge and proven track record, Olena is a valuable asset to our organization, seeking to drive growth and achieve marketing excellence.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Olena is a proud mom of two beautiful kids. Alongside her dedicated marketer role, she balances her family life with her passion for marketing.
Believing all human beings have the right to gratifying employment best suited to their skills and gifts, I help my clients explore “good-fit” career options, and to take proactive steps towards their job goals. Having transitioned from twenty years in the Information Technology sector into Career Development, I am no stranger to the “What comes next and how do I get there?” question!
Completing my Rhetoric and Communication degree (Gen.), I subsequently decided to specialize in the field of Career Development. Taking my Career Development Practitioner's certificate, I followed with Winnipeg Transition Centre’s (WTC) Practical Workshop Facilitation Skills, and Career Professionals of Canada’s (CPC) Advanced Resume, Employment Consulting, Employment Interview, and Work Life Coaching certificates.
As a seasoned Employment Specialist with broad experience ranging from assisting at-risk youth to helping new Canadians seek employment, from supporting clients in vocational rehabilitation to counselling individuals in mid-life transition, I have always found joy in building inspired relationships with my clients while assisting in their job search.
What do I love about this work? I love walking the journey of self-discovery with my clients, as they come to understand and value their own unique package of skills, experience, and aptitudes. I take great delight in celebrating with them the joy of newly discovered career possibilities.