Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Apr 10/00) - Northerners are being offered the chance to enrol in a two-year hospitality and tourism diploma program at Red Deer College in Alberta.

MackenzieDelta Hotel Group has teamed up with Red Deer College to offer 25 people from the communities of Inuvik, Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Holman, Old Crow, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tsiigehtchic and Tuktoyaktuk the chance to take the diploma program.

MackenzieDelta is offering to orient people to the industry, help them apply for student financial assistance, provide students with a summer job at one of its facilities, and add an extra trip home on top of the regular NWT student financial package.

As well, students who graduate with an average of 70 per cent or more are guaranteed a supervisory or management job in MackenzieDelta.

An official said the company has three hotels, six restaurants and five beverage establishments, with about 100 employees.

Aurora College is not directly involved in this initiative, but an official said it could be in the future.

"We've been meeting with the MackenzieDelta Hotel Group," said Miki O'Kane. "And we've been meeting with the folks at Red Deer College to see what the role of Aurora College could and should be in delivery."

O'Kane said the hospitality and tourism programs offered at Aurora are not as extensive as at Red Deer.

"What the MackenzieDelta Hotel Group are looking at is a two-year diploma."

O'Kane said Aurora College may in the future offer more extensive tourism and hospitality training.