DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - A young adult in Fort Providence has the skills to take advantage of the new direction that diamond mines are headed for in the territory.

On Dec. 1, Malcolm Farcy was one of 12 students who celebrated their graduation from the Underground Miner Training Program. The program, which is offered by Aurora College and funded by the Mine Training Society, is designed to give participants the skills needed to obtain jobs in underground mines.

Malcolm Farcy of Fort Providence, far left, celebrates his graduation from the Underground Miner Training Program with instructor Courtenay Keenan, Sarah Wright Cardinal, the president of Aurora College and Kelly Arychuk, the chairperson of the Mine Training Society. - photo courtesy of Bill Braden

Farcy, 23, said he decided to take the 14-week program because he thought the diamond mines would be a source of good job opportunities.

Farcy's previous jobs have all been part time and he said he was looking for a full-time position with a bit of excitement.

Farcy successfully completed a six-week Introduction to Underground Mining Program before applying and being accepted for the 14-week program. Learning to drive the heavy equipment was the highlight of the training, he said.

Students started on an underground mining simulator to get a feel for driving a haul truck and scoop tram. The simulator is like a big video game, said Farcy.

Three walls of computer screens display a mine environment and the floor is fully articulated so it responds and moves like real equipment would. However Farcy said he preferred real machinery.

"Once you get on the equipment, you know what to do," said Farcy.

In addition to driving a scoop tram and a haul truck the students maintained the equipment by greasing them and fuelling them.

All of the students also got a taste of mine camp life by living together at the Deton'cho Training Centre that's located between Yellowknife and Dettah. The rules were pretty strict, Farcy said.

Everyone got up at 7 a.m. and had breakfast together. Students had to be at the bus on time to get to the training area or it would leave without you, he said. Class attendance was also taken very seriously.

If students missed three classes they would be dropped from the program. Farcy is proud that he didn't miss any classes.

You have to study and follow the rules, he said.

"It's pretty easy when you put your mind to it."

Farcy said that he's been telling other people in Fort Providence that they should take the training. He also hopes that he's provided a good example for his younger brother.

"They're thankful for what I did," said Farcy referring to his family.

Farcy now plans to apply to some of the mines in the territory, possibly for a job as an equipment operator.

Several mines in the NWT are moving to their underground phase, said Tim Gauthier, the manger of public and corporate affairs for Aurora College.

"That's where the current industry need is and hence that's where we are focusing our training," Gauthier said.