Textiles Human Resources Council - For Immediate Release

Ottawa - An innovative workplace learning initiative developed by the Textiles Human Resources Council on behalf of the Canadian textile industry has won recognition from an international organization representing workplace learning and development professionals around the world.

Textile Training Through Technology™: Textile Manufacturing Basics has been recognized by the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) for excellence in workplace learning and development. Founded in 1944, the ASTD is the world's leading association of workplace learning and performance professionals, with 70,000 members from more than 100 countries.

Textile Manufacturing Basics is the first in a series of computer-based training initiatives to provide flexible, current and cost effective training to the textile industry.

"Ensuring that workers at all levels have the skills and capabilities they need is widely recognized in the Canadian textile industry as a competitive issue. We believe that it is critical to the future of the industry and of its workers," said John Alleruzzo, Canadian Director of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees and co-chair of the Textiles Human Resources Council (THRC).

The THRC was formed by senior industry management and union representatives in 1994 to address the skills development issues in Canada's textile industry. It now includes more than 100 member organizations which, in cooperation with Human Resources Development Canada, develop training resources for workers operating in a high technology environment to meet 24-hour production schedules. Barriers to traditional classroom training sparked an interest in the flexibility of computer-based programs.

Hafner Inc. of Granby, Quebec - a leading Canadian textile manufacturer - partnered with the THRC to adapt an existing classroom curriculum to a computer-based format. The collaboration of more than 30 other textile organizations to update, build upon and validate the content resulted in a highly relevant training program delivered via CD-ROM, along with a 200-page comprehensive user guide.

Textile Manufacturing Basics provides training in basic textile manufacturing processes to non-technical textile workers, educational institutions, suppliers and related organizations. The program is used in workplaces across Canada and has been sold in 28 countries worldwide. Its success led to current work on a suite of comprehensive Textile Manufacturing Skills eLearning programs to be launched later this year.

"Collaboration means that our skills and learning tools are being developed quickly and cost-effectively - which is something that no single company or union can do on its own," said THRC co-chair Adrian Spoerry, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hafner Inc.

For further information, please contact:

Sarah Watts-Rynard
Manager of Communications
613.230.7217, ext. 304