Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Aug 24/01) - Starting next month young Delta residents will be able to take part in a new skills based program.

The Youth Entry Level Skills (YELS) program is a Beaufort Delta Education Council program, and will be operated in Inuvik. The program is for those in the 17-to-29 age range who live in Beaufort Delta communities.

Program consultant Effie McLeod says a major objective is to provide young people an opportunity to explore different types of skills based training, in hopes that they will pursue work in those fields.

There are four separate components in YELS. The first two run from September to December.

One is careers in trades and technology. McLeod says that the Inuvik campus of Aurora College is actually putting on this program, but that council will supply five of the 15 students.

The second component involves computer operation and maintenance. There will be a maximum of 15 students. This program runs a second time, starting in January.

The oil and gas training program starts in January and runs about a month. A maximum of 15 students will take part.

McLeod says representatives of Akita, Arctic Oil and Gas, Petro-Canada, Chevron and Schlumberger will participate in a steering committee for this program. These firms have also agreed to take the students on job placements once they've finished the training.

The fourth component is tourism careers for youth, which operated in town earlier this year. It starts in April and runs about a month.

It involves 100 hours of instruction in the knowledge, skills and attitudes required by employers in the field, based on national industry standards.

McLeod says that those still in high school will receive credits for their program, and that all graduates will receive an entry-level skills certificate.

McLeod points out YELS is a pilot project, but that the board expects to put it on next year. "We're very enthusiastic about it. We're very excited."

Many partners

The education council is providing much in-kind support for YELS, including boarding-home accommodation for students, office space and equipment for the co-ordinator, and instructional space for programs.

McLeod says the council has many partners in this initiative. The major contributor is the Inuvialuit Regional Corp., which loaned a 14-station computer lab for the computer segment and more than $70,000 for YELS.

As well, the council has received $50,000 from the territorial Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Also involved is the Canadian Human Resources Tourism Council.