Elaine Stevens calls it the best decision she ever made. She's one of 17 students in Kispiox and nearby communities who enrolled in the Professional Bookkeeper short certificate program at snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓, built to remove geographic barriers that often prevent participation.
In the past year, 17 students in Kispiox and nearby communities have enrolled in Langara College’s Professional Bookkeeper short certificate program, delivered online through a partnership with the Anspayaxw Education Society.
In this program, students develop practical skills in accounting, payroll, taxation, financial reporting, and computerized bookkeeping. These are in-demand skills that can support careers in bookkeeping, office administration, accounts payable and receivable, and small business operations.
Because it is held online, the training is delivered where learners live, removing geographic barriers that often prevent participation in post-secondary upskilling programs. It also supports local workforce development by building skills that can lead to employment in local administration, finance, and small business support roles.
Pak Ka Liu, program coordinator, shares that one of the reason for teaming up with Anspayaxw Education Society was to create a “flexible learning pathway that allows community members to upskill while balancing work, family, and community responsibilities.” The partnership also reflects Langara’s commitment to expanding access to relevant, career-focused education in communities throughout British Columbia.
For alum Elaine Stevens, the Professional Bookkeeper program became a career turning point. She’d originally planned a different career. “I wanted to become a licensed practical nurse, but rheumatoid arthritis set in right after graduation. I worked a labour job, and I could no longer work in that role.”
Bookkeeping felt like the right next step: “I knew I was good with math and when Anspayaxw Education Society offered community members a chance to enroll in the Bookkeeping Short Certificate Program, I was eager to seek education to support a career change.”
Studying online at home mattered more than she expected, especially through a stretch of intense caregiving. “To be able to study online at home was so beneficial to me and my husband.” Her husband’s injury and subsequent hospitalization reshaped her entire routine, but she kept up with coursework between hospital visits and family emergencies.
To future students, she doesn’t hesitate in saying:
The staff and coordinators will support you in any capacity they can to enable you to succeed in your courses. I encourage you to enroll. This was the best decision I ever made.
– Elaine Stevens, Professional Bookkeeper short certificate graduate
Bookkeeping skills are needed in businesses, non-profits, Indigenous organizations, government offices, and entrepreneurial ventures. Graduates from the program can apply their skills locally while contributing to the economic capacity of their communities.
As for Elaine, she is still moving forward. While she continues to support her husband in his recovery, she’s also pursuing her Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB) designation and looking into diploma courses that lead to a degree. And she’s not the only one who grew from the program: “I have witnessed my fellow classmates grow in their courage to public speak, grow in confidence, and grow spiritually. It’s amazing to watch this,” she shares.
For learners in these Gitxsan and Wet'suwet'en communities, this online bookkeeping certificate is more than a credential. It is proof that access, partnership, and persistence turn practical training into real careers.
Dean of Continuing Studies, Connie Chong, adds, "We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Anspayaxw Education Society to bring career-focused education directly to learners in Kispiox and surrounding communities. Seeing students like Elaine achieve their academic goals and gain the skills and confidence to pursue new career opportunities reflects exactly why Continuing Studies exists: to create accessible pathways to meaningful personal and professional growth."
Whether you're looking to launch a new career, upgrade your skills, or pursue professional certification, Langara College’s Professional Bookkeeper short certificate program provides flexible and practical training that can help you achieve your goals.
