Hi, from Ontario

Finally a forum in Canada!!! Great Idea!
I'm from Keswick, Ontario and am currently going through a mid-life career change.(ha/ha)
I work full-time in an office and have recently graduated from Pen Foster (an online grooming course) have groomed several dogs at home and have takin a part-time bather positon at that Pet supply store for the "hands-on" experience as well as seeing first hand how a shop is run. The store wants me to take their grooming course, but it would mean quiting my full-time job to do this meaning a bigggggg cut in salary which I finanially cannot do (stupid morgage!). All I seem to need for "learning" now seems to fall mostly under how to do the typical styles (mostly heads) then I think I'm good to go. I was hoping someone here new of someone in Ontario that teaches or is willing to teach me the tricks up their sleeve, evenings or weekends for a small fee, or help in their shop. I've checked out the schools and they don't offer part-time, and the ones that will want me to start from the beginning all over again. I'm not getting any younger and want to get started in this new career as soon as I can. Any help is appreachated! Thanks guys! Keep up the great work here!

Hey, I know that B Pro Grooming in Brampton offers a part time course but its a year and a half long.

Thank you for your help....but,
B Pro's part-time course is 2 days/week between Mon=>Thurs. for 20 wks. (I work full-time Mon=>Fri). Pampered Paws has a course every Saturday but it's for "junior groomer" and I want "groomer". All the rest I found were full time + everything seems to be all the way out in Brampton! Ahhhhhhhhh........

Hi Zimmer! Have you tried talking to any of the local groomers? Sometimes they will let go of the competitive side of things to help a fellow groomer. Where exactly is Keswick? I agree with you that many of the schools and courses are down South. I'm way up North!!

Maybe even try somewhere like stouffville, there are some groomers there, your far enough away that there clients won't travel, yet your close enough that the drive isn't too bad.

Welcome Zimmer. What about checking out local private grooming salons to see if you could work there part time to gain more experience. Christmas is coming and extra hands are always appreciated.

Are there any Northern get-togethers? That would be a fun idea. Travelling down-South is not too easy for me (I have some medical problems that keep me close to my doctor's office and the hospital) It's hard to get ahold of other groomers through email because I go by a few different names!! Pixie Charm, Sherry, chopps, and bintheruf!! Maybe we could find some neutral spot to meet!

Thanks everyone, great suggestions!
I went to the local shops in the closest town before I took the part-time bather job at the "corporate store" but one was not interested because all I had was "online" schooling, and the other wanted to hire me (must have been desperate, ha/ha/ha) but I would be working all by myself with no one to ask questions to, which defeted the purpose of what I was trying to do "learn", so I declined. All I need is instruction on the "breed spacific cuts" I pretty much know all the basics. I'm going to the "Canada Grooms" seminar in November and can't wait, Jody Murphy is going to be there and I hope I can get a deal on her intructional videos, maybe thats all I'll need, but I'll keep looking for a mentor here, and take a drive aroud Stouffville too, thanks sk9klippery. (Pixie Charm => Keswick is approx 1hour North of Toronto by Lake Simcoe, how far North are you?)

How far north are you ladies? We're having a get together in whitby in november? Which is basically the very bottom of hwy 12. We're doing a crafty day, making bows, etc and having a color demo and learning how to make our own shampoo's etc. Should be fun. Nov 16.

Hi! I am 8 hours North of Toronto. I live in the same town that home's the Polar Bear Habitat, which is truly something to see! Sadly enough I have only been there three times!! Ever notice that we are always prone to visit tourist hot spots everywhere except in our own towns!!?