Appendix 1: Participant Biographies

Some of the individuals interviewed for this report asked to be identified by a pseudonym in this report. Others asked that their own names be used. We have not distinguished which are which in the brief biographies provided below. We have mentioned their race or cultural background only if it came out in the interviews.

ALICE is a woman in her 30s with two children. She is on a leave from janitorial work at a hotel because of an injury. Although she did not complete high school as a teenager, Alice has taken university courses as a mature student.

ANN is a First Nations grandmother in her 40s. She tried to come back to school within the past couple of years, but family responsibilities got in the way. Her income comes from welfare and knitting.

ANITA is a single mother in her 20s. She looks after her sister’s children. Anita’s son is in a Native HeadStart program and she volunteers in the program weekly.

BRENT is of Irish heritage, was raised on the prairies, and in his 40s. He left school just before the end of his twelfth year. At the age of 36 he went back to school and obtained his GED and an Electronics Diploma. He now works for a large company.

BRUCE is a white man in his 50s. He has worked at a number of jobs throughout his life. Many of the jobs have been entrepreneurial.

CHARLES is white, in his 60s and born in BC. He never went to school because he grew up in an isolated area with no schools. His income comes from fishing.

CYNTHIA is a grandmother in her late 40s who lives with her daughter and two grandchildren. Cynthia has taken a number of courses and programs at the local community college and expressed a love of learning.

DAVID is First Nations, in his 30s and active in his culture. He dropped out of school in Grade 6, and went back to school briefly and unsuccessfully in 1985. His income comes from welfare and odd jobs.

DOUG is in his 50s and grew up on Vancouver Island, BC. He left school after Grade 9. He has never been unemployed. Doug is a journeyman carpenter.

ELIZABETH is in her 30s. She dropped out in high school. She is receiving welfare and is under pressure from her caseworker to go back to school, get some training and get a job.

FAYE is a mother of 12 children in her late 50s. She left school in Grade 8 after having been placed in special classes.

FRANK is a First Nations man in his 30s. He dropped out before high school. He has tried to come back to school on and off for ten years but alcohol got in the way. His income comes from welfare and work he picks up whenever he can find it.

HAROLD is a First Nations man in his 30s. He attended vocational school as a teenager.