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RANKIN INLET - The Municipal Training Organization (MTO) is ramping up its efforts to increase awareness on the effectiveness of its programs.

Nunavut's director of community development for Community and Community Services, Darren Flynn, is a board member with the MTO.

Rankin Inlet Mayor John Hickes listens to a committee report during a recent council meeting. There are plans to teleconference with SAOs across Nunavut this year to raise awareness of the Municipal Training Program. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Flynn said a recent board meeting in Iqaluit was positive and productive.

He said there's still a big need for municipal training in Nunavut and the MTO can do a lot to meet that need.

"Most of our courses had good attendance this past year, but we've also had a lot of turnover with hamlet senior management in that period, so not all the new people in those positions may be aware of all the MTO offers," said Flynn.

"We're doing a blitz to make sure everybody gets that information.

"There's also credence to the theory some newer administrators may not be all that familiar with the accounting systems, and go in full-panic mode at the thought of having two staff members out for a week or two.

"But that's when you have to suck it up and manage the situation."

Flynn said the MTO will be doing presentations at the three regional mayors' meetings.

He said the first was done in Cambridge Bay, and the others will be done in Coral Harbour on Feb. 9 and in Iqaluit at the end of the month.

"It's also my understanding MTO president Paul Waye, who's also president of the Nunavut Association of Municipal Administrators, intends to start teleconferencing with SAOs in all three regions shortly.

Flynn said the MTO has a solid pass rate with training courses it provides.

He said the courses are job-specific, with material totally relevant to the work environment of the participants.

"Those who take courses do very well, and the instructors provided by Nunavut Arctic College are top-notch.

"These are not courses where participants are trained to challenge an exam.

"They're taught relevant material and then tested on the their knowledge.

"The whole aim is knowledge retention so they can go back to their hamlet and utilize what they've learned to the benefit of the community and, of course, themselves."