LEAp Day - 2010 - was a great success!

On May 6th, the LEAP workers of Ontario Works organized a very successful day-long conference for their clients at Algonquin College.

The day's highlights included display booths from a wide range of groups and organizations in Ottawa that deliver services to LEAP clients. Among the many services on display were representatives from such diverse groups as Planned Parenthood, the Parent Resource Centre, the Bethany Hope Centre, St. Mary's Home and Outreach Centre, the Youth Employment Resource Centre, the Youville Centre, the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health. In addition to these groups, a number of interesting workshops were available for clients to attend:

Esther Maser of Ontario Early Years Centre Nepean-Carleton and City View Centre for Child and Family Services presented a workshop on Infant Massage that taught participants the basic baby massage techniques they can practice at home.

The importance of budgeting and how to avoid hidden debt traps were subjects of discussion that Francois Leblanc of Entraide Budgetaire Ottawa delivered to the group who attended her workshop. In additon, valuable information about the child tax credit, HST refunds and the Canada Learning Bond was also made available to attendees.

Learning how to make dream catchers and listening to some aboriginal songs were the features of yet another workshop presented by Minwaashin Lodge.

For those clients interested in becoming a professional hairstylist or esthetician, Versailles Academy offered advice as well as demonstrations on make-up and hair and hand massages.