Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Monday, February 26, 2007

FORT GOOD HOPE - With increased activity in the North, skilled trade workers are in high demand, according to Dudley Johnson, coordinator of community programs for Aurora College (Sahtu region).

Johnson wants to prevent, however, all those jobs being lost to Southern workers by promoting the trades in the community.

"We know what's coming down," said Johnson. "The amount of jobs coming here is ridiculous."

To keep those jobs for the communities, Aurora College is running pre-trades preparation courses three nights weekly to help students pass the admissions exam.

Designed to be flexible, students can drop in to improve their math, English, and science skills to help them pass the pre-trades admissions test.

Jonas Chinna took advantage of the classes for that reason. Although he had already passed the test a few years prior, he wasn't able to find any work in the trades.

Chinna decided to try getting into the trades again, and took advantage of the classes to guarantee his success.

"I needed to brush up on some stuff," noted Chinna.

Now having passed his exam, Chinna is working as an electrician.

"I tried it, and it's all working out now," he said.

Johnson noted that the last time the tests were written in Fort Good Hope, only one student passed the test, and that was the student who had done the pre-trades preparation.

"You can't just come in off the street and write that exam," said Johnson. "Any student who needs extra help, we can provide."

The courses are being offered under the supervision of Diane Williams, the new adult educator for the learning centre, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.