Kirsten Larsen
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 31/99) - A group of female students from both Yellowknife high schools are hammering out a future for themselves in trades and technology with the skills and knowledge they have acquired through an after-school program.

Construction Technology for Women is a national pilot project that has been running in Yk for two consecutive years, and is one that students, program organizers and educators want to see continue.

The Grade 10 and 11 students in the program are putting the final touches on a project that could raise some funds to help the program continue while it gives the students a chance to apply the skills and knowledge they have been learning.

"What they are building is a skid shack sauna to see what it's like to build a house from start to finish on a smaller scale," said Melanie Richley, program instructor. "They will be doing some electrical work as well. It (the skid shack) will have solar panels, so it's self-sustaining... the panel will be wired into the building and the power (generated from the panel) will be stored into a battery bank. "We will be wiring it (the skid shack) the same as a residential house," said Richley.

The students in the program this year have been meeting twice a week since the fall semester and began working on the shack in 1999. They are nearing the completion of their project, which is expected to be ready by June, but there is still much instruction and hands-on work ahead of them.

"They will be doing some electrical, doing a roof and shingling on the roof," said Richley. "It will be insulated and they are going to be doing finishing work...putting in a door and windows with vapour barriers to code and doing some painting."

Marina Powless a Grade 11 student from Sir John Franklin high school, has been in the after-school program for two years. The skills she learned during the program not only helped her, but gave her the confidence and knowledge to pass on what she had learned.

"I picked the hardest jobs and asked one of the younger girls to come and help so they could watch and learn how to do it," said Powless.

"I learned a lot of terminology in the two years and the different types of saws and how to use them and the safety precautions.

"We learned basic labour work and standards and also to (draft) designs on the computer and on paper. We also learned how to build from (blueprints) too and that's something a lot of guys who have been (in construction) don't know how to do."

Powless said she realizes she has much to learn and she plans to get a job relating to construction over the summer and help out with her family's renovation projects.

"I've only been in it a year so I'm not saying 'Yup, I'm a master,'" said Powless. "I can get a job to make money for university doing this. If I take architecture I will go to the University of Alberta...I have thought about taking carpentry in Fort Smith, too."

Richley said the program has given the students ideas about the different types of careers available to them in trades and technology as well as basic knowledge and skills.

"Its not at an advanced level, but it does give exposure to let them know about the different avenues they can explore," said Richley. "They learned about planning and material ordering, architecture, and the engineering that goes into construction of building homes and towns."

Richley said the program has caught the attention of educators and members of the public who are interested in encouraging the continuation of similar programming in the future.

"The reaction from parents and women in the community has been "I wish something like this was around when we were in school," said Richley.

"It's taken a lot of hours from volunteers to get this up and running and it's because of them (members of North of 60 Women in Trades and Technology) and the various (school) board members involved in the program that the girls are getting this program."