NWT has highest per capita participation rate
Maria Canton
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Feb 09/01) - They can't train them quick enough. That's the message that came from Wednesday's apprenticeship program open house.
Electrical apprentice Marc Michelin is just one example of just how much in demand his trade is becoming North of 60.
Gearing up to start his second year of school -- apprentices spend about 80 per cent of their time in the classroom and the other 20 per cent in the field -- Michelin says there is no shortage of work in the territory right now.
"We just finished a project at BHP and then we went over to Diavik, plus there are projects in town to do -- I'm supposed to go to school next week and I have to work right up until I leave," said the student who studies at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary.
Colby Elford, who is also working for an electrical company, went to the noon- hour open house to sign up for an apprenticeship program.
"I'm here to sign up, there is so much work out there right now," he said.
In fact, finding work is hardly the problem, keeping a steady supply of journeyperson instructors, however, is proving to be a problem.
"The Northwest Territories' economy is finally at a point where things have really picked up and now we are experiencing a shortage of journeymen to train apprentices," said Ron Maksymowich, an apprentice training officer with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thanks in part to a booming multi-million dollar diamond industry, Maksymowich says everyone is vying for positions.
"By keeping our finger on the industry's pulse we are able to keep on top of what's happening," he said.
"It's just a matter of drawing people up here."
The male-dominated program -- only four women are participating out of 233 registered apprentices currently at work -- offers 42 designated trades.
From 1964 to present day, 4,223 journeypersons have been certified in the NWT, giving it the highest per capita participation rate in Canada.
