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INUVIK
The pre-apprenticeship carpentry program at Inuvik's Aurora College has become the first accredited program outside of Fort Smith, meaning trades training in the Beaufort Delta region has gained much more weight.

Doug Robertson, left, director of the Aurora Campus of Aurora College, accepts the accreditation of the Mobile Trades Training Lab and the pre-apprenticeship carpentry program. With him is Bill Hval, Director, School of Trades, Apprenticeship and Industrial Training, Jeff O'Keefe, vice-president education and training of Aurora College, and Verna Pope, Career Development Officer/Apprenticeship with Education, Culture and Employment. - Samantha Stokell/NNSL photo

The Aurora Campus received the recognition during a ceremony on Nov. 23 and after a year's worth of work upgrading the Mobile Trades Training Lab received official accreditation from NWT Apprenticeship, an arm of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Rory Voudrach, coordinator of industrial, oil and gas training at Aurora College, thinks that with all the construction work going on in the region, students will benefit.

"Anytime you can associate your programming with the apprenticeship bodies it's a win-win situation, as the training is accredited and leads to certification," Voudrach said. "This approach offers participants a chance to gain relevant apprenticeship knowledge and skills outside the normal apprenticeship format, however still covering the qualifying the same concepts and skill sets."

To receive accreditation, Aurora College and its partners had to prepare the Mobile Trades Training Lab and its storage facilities. A tool storage unit and extra shop space was built next to the lab, which was then re-organized to allow tools to be safely and efficiently used. Individual student workbenches were installed, as well as a dust collector.

The first students to take the accredited course had a completion ceremony on Nov. 23, after starting the class on Aug. 8. Seven of eight students finished the course and are now ready to begin their apprenticeship. Because the course received accreditation, students could now take the first level apprenticeship carpentry exam and have accumulated some hours towards their apprenticeship.

"I learned how to use power tools safely and took the course because I like the hands-on work," said Charlie Haogak Jr. from Sachs Harbour, who finished the course. "I'd tell my friends to take the program, don't be lazy. You'll learn something for sure."

The course provided instruction on safety, building materials, hand and power tools, site preparation, building layout, foundations, floor framing, estimating and plans. This is the first step to receiving a journeyman certificate. Having the course offered here as well as Fort Smith will help trade-minded students in the Beaufort Delta.

"I look at it as a bit of a stepping stone. Students from smaller communities might be reluctant to go away from home for training," said Doug Robertson, director of the Aurora Campus of Aurora College. "People from smaller communities can come to Inuvik and it would be a bit of an eye opener. Maybe once they're done the first level they'll look at Fort Smith. It's a little less daunting."

Another per-apprenticeship carpentry course will start in January and run until April and then there are no plans for where the Mobile Trades Training Lab will go next. The campus has had the structure since 2008 and used it to run 14 programs across the Beaufort Delta, such as plumbing, carpentry, small engine repair and other trade-related courses.

The accreditation lasts for five years.

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