Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Sept 03/01) - A little snip here. A little colour there. And voila, a pre-employment hairdressing course is born.

The seven-month program scheduled for mid-October is one of three new Department of Education classes. Cooking and basic carpentry are the other courses.

Iqaluit hairdresser Nowdlak Maurice and client Lila Mahoney at the Baffin Hair and Tanning Studio. Nowdlak trained under a private hairdressing teacher in town. Now working full-time, Nowdlak agrees there is a need for trained hairstylists across Nunavut. - Kirsten Murphy/NNSL photo

Nunavummiut either collecting Employment Insurance or on maternity leave in the last five years are invited to apply for the available seats.

"Our goal is to get people off income assistance and into the workforce," said Carla St. Louis, career development officer for the department.

The courses are part of a pilot project. Five seats per class will be reserved for students at risk of dropping out of high school.

Transportation from communities to Iqaluit is provided under a labour market development agreement. Housing is limited to single-person dwellings.

Response has been favourable, St. Louis said.

"Our goal is to get one person from every community so they go back and start their own business, especially with hairdressing and cooking," St. Louis said.

Classes are being held at Inuksuk high school

Instructors have yet to be named.

Registration runs until mid-September. For more information contact the Department of Education in Pangniqtuuq.