IQALUIT - Dozens of aspiring tradespeople from across Nunavut were in Iqaluit last week, competing against each other for a lifelong prize: a career.

Sean Ross from Cambridge Bay, top, and Jarvis Towtongie from Rankin Inlet practise climbing a utility pole as part of their linesman training at Qulliq Energy Corporation's boot camp in Iqaluit. - Gabriel Zarate/NNSL photo

Out of 100 applicants, 45 were chosen to participate in Qulliq Energy Corporation's "boot camp," a selection process for apprentices to train under Qulliq journeymen.

"I've been thinking of getting into a trade for a long time now," said Amauyaq Lindell, who is from Arviat via Rankin Inlet.

Lindell attended the 10-day boot camp, learning the basics of three different trades in rotation. Each of three groups got a crash course in what it's like being a diesel mechanic, an electrician and a power linesman.

"Some guys were pretty nervous to climb the pole," said Lindell. "But then they come down and they're like, 'It's awesome! It's a lot of fun!'"

According to Qulliq's human resources leader Joe Savage, the company has run a boot camp in the past, but not consistently. It's been three years since the last one. This year's group was much larger than the usual number of 12-15 participants.

This year's boot camp was supposed to be in co-operation with Manitoba Hydro, but the tradespeople there went on strike just before the camp started. So at the last minute Qulliq called in its journeymen from all over Nunavut, spent two to three days briefing them on the teaching material, and the camp went ahead.

Qulliq advertised the boot camp through the Government of Nunavut's network of community development officers throughout the territory.

Nunavut has always had a shortage of qualified tradespeople, and Savage said it is expensive for the company to meet its needs by hiring from the south. The average tradesperson stays in Nunavut for three to five years and then departs.

"We're competing in a market that's demanding trades fiercely, and it's often difficult to compete with that," said Savage.