About Us

Portage College Public Legal Education Program at a Glance

Our Purpose

Since its pilot year in 2001, the Portage College Public Legal Education Program has been committed to partnering with community agencies and representatives throughout the Northeast Region of Alberta to ensure that public and community legal education needs are being addressed through the provision of information, resources, and education on a variety of legal topics.

Our Vision

The Portage College PLE program is an integral part of the Northeastern Alberta educational landscape and makes access to legal knowledge a realistic expectation for many Albertans. Providing learning opportunities and information on legal and justice related topics to facilitate learning and development of knowledgeable, skilled citizens who are able to access and engage effectively with the justice system.

History

Portage College was awarded grant funding from the Alberta Law Foundation for 2001 through to 2010, to provide a Public Legal Education (PLE) service in Northeastern Alberta. The PLE Program’s services range from providing seminars and workshops on legal and justice related topics, to networking and partnering with service agencies within the region to address justice/legal needs of area residents, to providing a Legal Resource Directory and public legal education information (PLEI).

Services

We like to Partner

The Portage College Public Legal Education Program is in its tenth year of providing Public Legal Education and Information services to the citizens, organizations and communities of north eastern Alberta. This program is unique in its distinction of being the only rural based PLE program in Alberta. As the program enters its tenth year of service, it will aim to maximize program sustainability through focus on development of capable citizens, special projects, community engagement and partnerships.

Some services we deliver are as follows:

1.We actively network and work with communities, service area inter-agencies, and community organizations to deliver programming that is primarily focused on the development of capable citizens and which supports the following identified groups:

~ Low income individuals (including students)

~ Aboriginal communities, peoples and aboriginal youth

~ Elderly Newcomers and minorities

~ Community, social and justice related service providers

2. Act as a coordinator of public education events for agencies who have legal expertise but lack the resources to actively coordinate and host sessions; and other service providers such as the (Edmonton-based) Bearpaw Legal Resource Centre who have expertise and materials on a variety of legal and justice related topics but who may not have the same level of community knowledge (e.g. needs, contact people, available venues etc.) as our program does.

3. We partner with aboriginal communities and groups to deliver specialized programming.

4. We develop and distribute a legal resource directory listing all justice and legal related organizations and resources for North-eastern Alberta. Given the nature (rural) and size of the area, our Resource Directory has proven to be an invaluable tool for community members in the various communities.

5.  Alongside the printed version we are partnering with the Multi-Agency Partnership on Justice Network to develop an Online Resource Directory with hyperlinks to identified organizations and various resources.

6. In 2011, we will develop and distribute a quarterly newsletter to be used as a communication tool for individuals who may not have ready internet access. This newsletter will be used to give notice of planned seminars, highlight new legislation, community services and legal resources. It will be vetted out through existing inter-agency meetings, the MAP on Justice network, mailed out to aboriginal communities, court houses, and libraries and available for download via our website.

7. Also, on request, We can provide public legal educationinformation (PLEI) materials on themed legal resource kits (e.g. family law, youth focused, family violence etc.) both online and in hard copy.

Some past seminars we have offered include:

• Alcohol Drugs and the Law
• Applying for a Pardon (Step by step guidance)Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination
• Child Abuse
• Child Sexual Abuse
• Common-Law Relationships and the Law
• Community Justice Forums (2009 Forums held in Fishing Lake Metis Settlement, Saddle Lake First Nations, Kikino Metis Settlement)
• Critical Response to Crime and Tragedy in Communities
• Date Rape (The legal process that follows for both the victim and the offender)
• Domestic Violence & the Law
• Driving Legalities
• Duty to Report Child Abuse/Child Sexual Abuse
• Financial Fraud against Elders
• FOIP (Freedom of Information and Privacy)
• Gang Awareness
• Internet Safety & Awareness: Protecting Your Kids from Cyber Bullying, Stalking, & Luring (VSU presentation)
• Internet Safety: Be Smart, Be Responsible, Be Safe Online
• (The) Legalities of Building a Home
• (The) Legalities of Buying and Selling a Home
• Personal Directives, Guardianship, Trusteeship and Enduring Powers of Attorney
• Seniors Rights / Elder Abuse
• Seniors and Fraud Protection
• Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
• Shaken Baby Syndrome
• Stalking Behaviours and the Crime of Criminal Harassment
• Testifying in Court
• Understanding Privacy Legislation
• Wills and Estate Planning/Enduring Power of Attorney
• Workplace Fraud
• Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA)

Interested in Hosting an Event?

If you are interested in hosting an event/seminar in your community/organization please call or email us. We have a toll free number, direct line as well as email on the contact page of this website.