“I chose UWinnipeg PACE because I really wanted to challenge myself,” says Theressa Genaille, who graduated from the Educational Assistant Diploma in 2019.

“I felt like it was a good fit for a student like myself; I love learning, the population is incredibly diverse, and I am the first in my family to graduate from a university program, which is huge deal for the indigenous community here in Winnipeg.”

“I wanted to be an Educational Assistant because of how underrepresented Indigenous leaders are in education. When I was in my youth, I really craved that guidance, and unfortunately, did not get it,” says Theressa. “Being an EA lets you give that one-on-one connection that many students in the system need. You become the go-to adult, and build life-changing support for those that require it the most.”

Theressa says her most memorable lesson from PACE was a conversation she had with an instructor while she was going through a rough period in the middle of the program.

“He had said that I had something special to share. That piece of advice has really helped me to not lose my sparkle and to remember why I chose the EA program in the first place.”

With several professional certifications in her pocket, including a Lean Sigma Yellow Belt Certification, Paula Shaver is always keen to broaden her skill set, to advance her career, and to pursue opportunities that open additional doors for career – which lead her to UWinnipeg PACE.

Paula completed PACE’s Management Certificate in 2018. Paula is a Client Account Manager at Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, where she has worked for the past 26 years. She has been in her current position for the last two years.

Juggling a full-time job, small business, being a wife, the mother of three children between the ages of 9 and 19, and making time for the cottage and travelling with her family, meant Paula Shaver was looking for a program that met her needs when she decided to upgrade her skills.

“I loved the online PACE courses where I could work at a pace that suited my busy life 24/7 no matter where I was,” she says. “My PACE experience gave me skills with oral and written communication and organizational behaviour; skills I could put to use every day.”

“The best advice I can give others who are interested in PACE programs is just do it, take the plunge, you won’t regret it. If you try to wait for a time in your life that you think will accommodate school, life will pass you by and you’ll never reach your goals. PACE enables you to do it all.”

Paula Shaver
Client Account Program Manager
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation

“I chose PACE primarily because of the course length,” says Draper Scott Houston. Draper graduated from PACE’s Public Relations, Marketing and Strategic Communications (PRMSC) Diploma in 2011 and has been working as a Communications & Branding Specialist at Boeing Canada since 2017.

After 10 years as an armoured reconnaissance soldier, Draper was re-entering the civilian world and wanted to enter the workforce quickly. He chose PACE because he could complete his program in one year.

“The fact that [the] instructors were industry professionals teaching real-life skills based on their experience was a huge factor as well,” he says. “The size of the class allowed you to gain one-on-one time with the instructor who was actually someone from the industry.”

“PACE provided me a solid foundation. Without PACE, I wouldn’t have the basics that I use in my current position everyday.”

Draper’s advice to students in the PRMSC program? Network!

‘Network. Network. Network. The classes are very thorough and you learn a ton, but in this line of work, nothing replaces a solid contact list. The program does a great job of pointing you in the right direction.”

Draper Houston
Communications Consultant
DH Communications

In 2014, I graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Arts in English (Hons.). My BA transformed me into the writer and storyteller that I am today, but I knew that I needed something extra that would allow me to apply my talent in a field where being an effective communicator was an essential skill. After doing a lot of research, I decided that a career in Marketing and Communications was a perfect fit for me. I could use the skills I had worked so hard to build to and put them to use in an industry where expressing big ideas with the right words is everything.

I chose PACE because of the length of the program, and because the comprehensive classes give you the tools to prepare you for a career in PR, Marketing, or Communications. The range of topics covered educate you with the depth of knowledge required for roles in many industries. My most memorable PACE experience is the time spent in class learning with other bright, motivated people. You’re all immersed in the experience together, and as a result you form lasting friendships.

One of my instructors also became my mentor. That’s memorable for me because her guidance has helped me a great deal in my professional development and driven me to accomplish more goals in one year than I ever thought possible. It’s really important to surround yourself with people who believe in your abilities while completing this program, and she gave me that support.

I would recommend PACE to anyone who is either starting a career and wants a competitive advantage, or who wants to change careers and needs to be career-ready quickly. You’ll learn from talented instructors who are already in the industry, so they know what you need to succeed in your field. If you’re confident that PR, Marketing or Communications is your passion, PACE will get you ready for the workforce.

PACE helped me achieve my personal goals by preparing me for work right out of school. I got an amazing job almost immediately after I finished my internship at one of Western Canada’s most well-respected agencies, McKim Communications Group. I knew that I wanted to be in a fast-paced agency environment where I would get to work on all kinds of different projects and with clients in many different industries. I get to work with some of the best and most creative people in the business because of the skills I acquired from PACE.

If you decide to make the leap and take this program, it will not be easy. You will live and breathe PR, Marketing and Comms for 13 months, and you will have to make sacrifices. But when you emerge, you’ll be ready to take on the world and live a life of passion doing what you love.

Tanya Penner
Intermediate Product Analyst
Celero Solutions

After graduating from university with a degree in psychology and labour studies, Chelsea Kaufmann enrolled in PACE’s Human Resource Management program to gain the skills she needed to follow her passion and find employment.

“Nowadays, it can be very difficult to find a job with a general bachelor’s degree,” she said. “I chose PACE because it seemed like it offered a more concentrated view in the field that I was interested in.”

During the program, Kaufmann got the opportunity to intern with the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals and is now working with the organization as a Labour Relations Officer. She says her experiences at PACE helped prepare her for the demands of the workplace.

“PACE provided me with exposure to the professional world, it wasn’t all about learning straight from a textbook,” Kaufmann said. “It was about learning from professional’s real-life experiences and learning by doing projects that help prepare you for the real world.”

Thanks to the program’s talented instructors, small class sizes, condensed course delivery, and networking opportunities Kaufmann says she “grew so much both professionally and personally” during the ten-month program.

Chelsea Kaufmann
Labour Relations Officer
Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals

Samantha Pomareda is passionate about helping others. That’s why she enrolled in PACE’s Human Resource Management program as a mature student after a nearly 20-year career with CancerCare Manitoba.

“I came to a point where I needed a new and rewarding role in my life,” says Samantha. “Having family responsibilities, I wanted a program that could ensure a successful new beginning for my life.”

Samantha credits the PACE program with helping her find her voice and become more confident in her abilities. Her favourite part of studying at PACE was the streamlined design of the curriculum and the staff and instructors who truly want to see students succeed.

Samantha Pomareda
Mental Wellness Team Lead
Carleton University

Nikki Vieira is currently a Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor at Canada Life. Nikki found the PACE Human Resource Management Diploma provided her with the tools to succeed and achieve her career goals. Her current role involves managing the end-to-end recruitment for various lines of business at Canada Life. She also assists in the development of recruitment plans with hiring managers and collaboratively works with HR business partners and advisors to anticipate talent requirements, and attract / source top talent.

It was important for Nikki to take a program that met her scheduling requirements as she was working full-time. “The PACE HR program is well structured, accommodates part-time schedules, and is led by instructors with real world experience in the human resource profession,” says Nikki. She believes that having those real-world experts teaching provided her opportunities to learn about the various career options within the field, which in turn allowed her to explore how each course aligns in the larger human resource profession. “There is no doubt that the quality of education I received at PACE enabled me to advance my career to the next level.”

Nikki enjoyed the informal networking opportunities available within her own classroom. Through networking with classmates and instructors that were already established in the human resource profession she gained a greater understanding of the different evolution of career paths. “Informal networking helped me develop softer skills, such as building relationships and developing a rapport with my peers — skills that I’ve found very applicable in my daily work.”

“PACE was an easy decision for me with its excellent reputation, availability of part-time evening courses and culture.” She also appreciated that the PACE community was very welcoming and offered many affiliations and connections with the external job markets. As such, she recommends the programs to anyone looking to achieve their career goals.

Nikki Vieira
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Talent Acquisition Partner
Canada Life

To say Gavin Walls has had a diverse career would be an understatement.

He has worked as a rig operator in Manitoba, as an operation manager in Alberta’s oil and gas industry, and in Indigenous development with First Nation communities — not to mention his successful eight-year career as a professional athlete, including as a star defensive player for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Gavin chose to enroll in PACE to align and enhance his wide-ranging skill set. He is currently in the home stretch of the Project Management Diploma program and hopes to pursue a career in either construction or professional sports upon graduation.

“I chose PACE because it offered a project management program that is relevant to industry specifics, standards, and best practices,” he says. “I really enjoy the opportunity to work in team dynamics, improving time management skills, planning, risk management, problem solving, and fulfilling untapped knowledge areas within projects.”

As a PACE student, Walls says he has benefited from instructors who make complex theories accessible and bring real world examples into the classroom.

“The program is a perfect fit for me because it is unique, challenging, rewarding, and success is celebrated within a team setting.”

Gavin Walls
Senior Project Manager
CLEARVIEW CONSUMERS CO-OP LTD.

Through PACE, Deane was able to turn his curiosity into a career, thanks to diverse course options, and instruction from industry experts.

As an employee with the Government of Manitoba, Chris Deane was exposed to the many different aspects of communications and public relations. His burgeoning interest in the field led him to PACE and the Public Relations, Marketing and Strategic Communications diploma.

Through PACE, Deane was able to turn his curiosity into a career, thanks to diverse course options, and instruction from industry experts.

“By having instructors that are currently experts in their field, students can gain valuable industry insights and build a network at the same time,” he said.

He also appreciated the small class sizes, which fostered the creative environment necessary for success in the public relations field.

Deane now employs his skills as Customer Experience Champion for Western Financial Group. In his role, he’s responsible for the development and execution of marketing strategies, trade-show coordination, and website design, among other tasks.

Deane stresses the importance of networking in public relations, and credits the program for providing opportunities to engage with professionals. He advises anyone starting PACE to similarly take advantage of every support opportunity afforded to them.

“Every person you meet in the program, whether it is an instructor or classmate, is an outlet and wants to see you succeed.”

Chris Deane
Customer Experience Champion
Western Financial Group