Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Feb 09/00) - A butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker.

Rankin Inlet residents had a chance to take a little peek at possible future careers last Wednesday. The first week of February was Apprenticeship Week across Nunavut.

Career development officers for Nunavut's Department of Education held an informal information session in Rankin to mark the week.

Gwendolyn Thirlwall, one of four Kivalliq Region development officers working out of the Rankin office, says the session attracted a good group of people.

"We held the session for people to come and meet us and pick up some information on different trades and pre-trades training," says Thirlwall.

"I feel there's a lot of people working in trades who have the ability to apprentice in that trade.

"We need tradespeople in the Kivalliq and we want to be training our own people to meet that need."

Linda Misheralak is the region's apprenticeship officer.

She says the first step in becoming an apprentice is to pass the pre-trades exam.

A person can write the exam in their own community, administered by an adult educator. If none exists in their community, Misheralak will make the trip to give the exam.

"After the exam, which requires a 70 per cent score to pass, they need to find an employer and a journeyman to train with.

"An apprenticeship contract would then be set up with us and we'd help the apprentice monitor their hours and be there for any troubleshooting or support we could offer."

Apprenticeship programs are usually three or four years in duration. Students spend varying periods of time each year in a classroom setting depending on their trade.

Thirlwall says her department is also looking to establish a program that would help prospective apprentices prepare for pre-trades exam.

"A pre-trades course is geared towards helping a person write their pre-trade exam by upgrading their math, English and science skills.

"We're currently working on the financial aspects of being able to offer a pre-trades course."