SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
If a new parent is seeking advice about their baby, a newly-launched territorial government program could prove beneficial.

Katelyn Fabien holds 23-month-old Jazmine at the launch of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment's iPad mini initiative launch. Katelyn received an iPad at the launch at the museum cafe. - Jessica Phillips/NNSL photo

Last Tuesday, the GNWT officially launched the iPad Mini Initiative, which gives the electronic devices to new parents for free. The devices are full of apps and tools such as baby logs, parenting information, nutrition and health and language apps for new parents. Five residents took home the devices at the official launch of the initiative, which is sponsored by Chevron.

The pilot project for the initiative launched a year ago and has seen 300 iPads given to new parents. Those with an infant under six months qualify and parents must fill out an application to receive it.

"It's a tool that you can use up until early childhood and adolescence. If you look at some of the applications on there, they're all about active living," said Alfred Moses, minister of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. "We encourage the families to use them as much as they can."

He said the education department has received really good feedback from caregivers and he said that without their partnership with Chevron they wouldn't see the successes that they had and the successes in the future.

Rod Maier, vice-president, policy, government and public affairs at Chevron, said the initiative is a good fit for the company.

"We checked to see if it aligns with the key foundations that we have. Things like health, education (and) wellness are the core values that we have," Maier said, adding he saw its value in how it services local and remote communities across the territory.