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INUVIK
A federally-funded program offering heavy-equipment and driving courses to aboriginal workers has finished up as of March 31, but not before pumping more than 50 skill upgrades in the Beaufort Delta in the past few months and even more since its inception in 2009.

Foster Arie drives the smallest of the heavy equipment during a course last September. Ten pieces of heavy equipment were used during that course. - NNSL file photo

Building Inuvialuit Potential Society, or BIPS, is part of the federal Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership (ASEP) program, which was developed to help improve employment opportunities for aboriginal people by providing skills development, on-the-job work and long-term employment opportunities in the construction industry.

The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation runs BIPS and partners with construction companies such as Northwind Industries and Aurora College to put on training courses.

Brandon Johnston, finance and program manager for BIPS, said the project has established a Northern work force – from truck drivers, carpenters and welders to marine mammal observers.

"Our training has enabled our clients to gain meaningful employment through our partnerships with industry in the local area," said Johnston.

In September, BIPS offered a six-week, hands-on course training students on 10 different pieces of heavy equipment while they worked on the Road's End Golf Course. The last course offered before the program concluded took place in February and March, a Class 1 driver training course where all 12 students passed, giving them additional skills and making them more marketable for jobs in the industry.

Robert Joss took the heavy equipment course in 2011 and the most recent Class 1 driver training course. Joss was already trained as a heavy equipment mechanic but wanted to upgrade his skills so he could operate the machinery as well. He also saw the importance of offering the Class 1 course for upcoming projects.

"I think the Class 1 driver training, the fact that they're going to be building the Tuk-Inuvik road and they need people with the proper licences, it's important," said Joss.

Aiden Dunne, corporate affairs director at Northwind Industries, said offering courses at home allows workers to stay in the area versus finding work elsewhere. He said it's also necessary to train workers ahead of big projects that could come to town.

"There is a great deal of hope that this road will go through. It's too late to start training people once you have the trucks on the road," said Dunne.

"We thought we'll generate some licenced people who didn't previously have their licence. That would make them available, present it to people locally ... It's a big job. We don't want to be looking two days before the job starts, or two weeks or two months. At least we got some backup right now."

He said the benefits of the highway project is that it will offer 12 months of work a year, unlike some other projects that have restraints due to weather.

"You can work on the tundra in the winter time, getting the rough work done and in the summertime, come back in and finish up the work. Three to four years where people will have constant work for local people. And that way the town will reap the benefits of the course," he said.

"We are planning to be ready. We are spending money now, training people. We are making sure equipment is ready. If we knew we were starting today we could have trucks on the ground tomorrow morning."

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