Student Resources
Learning in the GTA
When we think of schools, we think of children’s education but they are a key provider of adult education. To get the picture just try getting a parking spot at an adult education centre. Seasoned adult learners know the early bird gets the spot.
School Board Continuing Education courses are the most affordable in the adult system in Ontario. For the 99% who are struggling to stay afloat and feel they can’t afford to upgrade their education to get a better job have a look at the school boards. By taking a school board course you get start yourself on path that would lead to college and an even better job.
Most school boards have several adult education centres that offer all or some of the following: English classes (ESL or LINC) for those who have English as a second and in today’s world possibly a third or fourth language; a place to finally earn a high school diploma or a credit for college at an adult day school or in an evening course; pick up practical skills for a job not only in computers but in personal support worker courses and in co-op programs to gain work experience, that all important Canadian work experience; LBS Literacy Basic Skills programs where you can get basic help with math and English- for first language speakers; general interest courses which cover a broad range of language learning, arts, crafts, music, computers, dance, cooking, etc. and some school boards sponsor; Employment Ontario Centres where one is helped to find work or access retraining through Second Career funding as well as Newcomer Information Centres Some boards offer on-line credit courses.
Courses are offered during the day and in the evening.
Another option for flexible learning is the Independent Learning Centre (ILC) www.ilc.org. The ILC offers a range of online and print-based credit courses, from grades 9 to 12, in English and French leading to an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Adults can work independently, at their own pace to complete credits courses needed for college, university or apprenticeship programs. Ontario residents pay only $40 a course. The Independent Learning Centre (ILC) is mandated by the government of Ontario as the province’s designated provider of distance education.
The ILC also administers GED©testing in Ontario and grants the Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate. The GED© is a series of high school equivalency tests open to adult learners who have not earned a high school diploma. The tests are available for adults, 18 and over, who have been out of school for more than one year. The test fee is $100. GED© test centres are located across Ontario. GED© preparation courses at not offered by the ILC, but are provided by several school boards. A full list of organizations offering GED© preparation courses can be found at http://www.ilc.org/ged.
Each GTA region school Board is organized slightly differently but they offer similar programs either free or at a low cost.
Public and Catholic School Boards
They are two school systems in the province one public and the other Catholic both offer courses to adults. The following is guide to finding adult programs in each.
Peel District School Board www.peel.edu.on.ca
Click on Quick Links for Adult ESL, Credit and LBS.
This school board covers the areas of Mississauga, Brampton, Bramalea and Malton
There are three main campuses for ESL, High School Credit, LBS.
The Peel District School Board does not offer General Interest Courses for adults. The Peel Dufferin Catholic School Board does.
MississaugaCampus 100 Elm Drive West
A block south of Square One
905-270-6000 press 1 for Credit – 2 for ESL – 3 for LBS
BramptonCampus 7700 Hurontario Street just South on Steeles on Hurontario
905-791-6700 press 2 for ESL – 3 for ESL
For LBS programs press 1 ext 6401
Bramalea Campus–ESL only
25 King’s Cross Road
East of Bramalea Recreation Centre
905-791-6700 press 2 for ESL
Centre for Education and Training.
1-800- 668-1179
This is an arms length organization from the Peel Board which operates Employment Centres, Newcomer Information Services and LINC (esl) classes.at four main
Centres in Peel Region
50 Burhamthorpe Rd. –near Squre one
7700 Hurontario Street – south of Steeles 263 Queen Street East- Brampton
3233 Brandon Gate –Malton
York Region District School Board www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/coned
This school board offers a wide variety of Continuing Education programs such as non-credit ESL for adults, Citizenship, and general interest classes in locations across York Region.
High school credit courses are available to adult learners during the day four times per year at the Dr. Bette Stephenson Centre for Learning at 36 Regatta Avenue in Richmond Hill. The contact phone number for the centre is 905-884-2046. Credit night school also takes place at this location on Tuesday and Thursday evening September through January and February to June.
The Stephenson Centre is also home to the Personal Support Worker program. Personal Support Workers are in high demand in homes for the aged, private homes and community agencies working with older adults, person with disabilities of all ages, new mothers. The PSW program runs from September to June. Information is available on the web site and by calling 905-884-2046 ex. 173.
Uplands Community Learning Centre
8120 Yonge Street, Thornhill
(Just south of #7 on Yonge street)
offers day, evening and weekend non-credit adult ESL classes.
Call 905-731-9557 for information about this and the over 30 other ESL sites
Also at Uplands: Literacy Basic Skills programs
(English, Computers and Math Upgrading) and
LINC classes too
General Interest: evening courses
Call 905 –884-2046 for site and course information
YRDSB operates an Employment Ontario Centre in Sutton and Stouffville www.yorkwoods.ca
YRDSB offers the ability to earn credits online www.virtualschooling.yrdsb.edu.on.ca
Durham District School Board http://ddsb.durham.edu.on.ca
Click on Schools then Durham Continuing Education
This Board covers the cities of Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa as well as others in north Durham.
There are three main centres where high school credits, english as a second language Literacy Basic Skills and computers are offered.
E. A. Lovell Continuing Education Centre
120 Centre Street South
Just south of the civic centre.
Call 905-440-4539
Pickering Learning Centre
1400 Bayly Avenue
Just east of the GO Station
Call 905-440-4539
Computer Training Division
2nd Floor Suite 155
Oshawa Shopping Centre
Call 905-579-6041
DDSB offers a Personal Support Worker program Call 905-440-4536
They also offer “dual credits” where you can earn high school and college credits at the same time by going to night classes at Durham College.
DDSB also offers high school credits online www.dce.ca
General Interest Courses are offered by Durham Catholic District School Board and
Employment Ontario Centres by other community organizations.
Halton District School Board www.hdsb.ca
Learning Curves delivers to Oakville which is just west of Mississauga and
served by the Halton District School Board and the Centre for Skills Development and Training.
The Gary Allan High School www.garyallan.ca
1330 Montclair Oakville.
Call 905-5845.7542
They offer Employment Ontario services under the Centre for Skills Development and Training at 465 Morden Road, Oakville Call 905-845-1157
Learning in the GTA
Catholic Schools
Durham Catholic District School Board www.con-ed.ca
There are three main centres for ESL, High School Credit, PSW, LBS and Co-op and Correspondence and Re-engagement Programs that serve the Durham Region.
DCDSB also offers e – learning Courses for Continuing Education Summer School
Oshawa Campus
692 King Street, East
Call 905-438-0570 or 905- 626-6631
Whitby Campus
Whitby Centennial Building
416 Centre Street. S.
Call 905-668- 5371
ESL Computer Programs – Whitby Library
405 Dundas St. West. – Main Branch
Register call 905 668-6536 Ext. 2020
Ajax
Ajax Campus
314 Harwood Ave. South, Suite 206
Call 905-683-7713
Computer Training including Microsoft Office Specialist Certificate Program
Ajax Campus – DCDSB
Welcome Centre
ESL & Linc Programs
458 Fairall Street (corner of Wesney Road & Fairall St.
Across from the Ajax Go Station)
DCDSB offers a good range of General Interest courses at Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax and Pickering locations..
DSCSB offers a Personal Support Worker Program and a Bridging Health Care Aid to PSW program. Call 905-438-0570 Ext 8442 Oshawa or 905-683-7713 Ext. 4011 Ajax
York Catholic District School Board www.ycdsb.ca
Call 416-221-5051
YCDSB offers a full range of ESL classes. They also offer Specialized Language Training Classes (SLT) for newcomers who want to work in Accounting, Health Professions, Business Administration and Real Estate.
YCDSB offers adult General Interest programs including computer classes.
They also offer night school credit courses for high school but have no adult day school
They offer a TESL Teach English as a Second Language program for those who want to be ESL teachers
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board www.dpcdsb.org/cec
There are three main centres for ESL, High School credits, LBS, Co-op
St. Gabriel Adult Learning Centre
Malton
3750 Brandon Gate Drive
Call 905-362-0701
Brian J. Fleming Catholic Adult Learning Centre
Lakeshore
870 Queen Street West.
Call 905-891-3034
Central Parkway English Learning Centre (ESL only)
Mississauga
377 Burhamthorpe Rd. East
Call 905-273-5591
DPCDSB offers a broad range of General Interest courses at several different sites in Brampton and Mississauga Call 905-891-9283 Ext 8
They also offer French as Second Language classes at Brian J.Fleming and St. Gabriel
York Catholic District School Board [ http://www.ycdsb.ca/ace ]www.ycdsb.ca/ace.
Call 416-221-5051
Halton Catholic District School Board
Learning Curves delivers to Oakville which is just west of Mississauga and
served by the Halton Catholic District School Board
HCDSB runs the Thomas A. Merton Adult Learning Centre in Oakville.
171 Speers Road,
Call 905-7555 Ext 223
