Glen Vienneau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife ( Jun 09/00) - A Yellowknife business has been given special recognition for its role in youth employment.

"It's a great honour," said Al Kaylo, owner of the McDonald's restaurants in Yellowknife.

Kaylo and his wife Kelly were presented with the NWT Employer of Youth Award for 2000 on Monday by Jake Ootes, minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

This is the second annual award being presented by the Conference Board of Canada to one employer in each province and territory.

It is to recognize the employer's role in helping young people develop the skills they require to make a transition to the workforce.

"The training program is second-to-none in the country," Al Kaylo said.

The two restaurants, located on Old Airport Road and at Wal-Mart, employ between 40 to 90 young people at different times of year.

"The students are definitely a target (for employment). By in large, they're excellent people that come in and work," he said.

At his two restaurant franchises, students gain a full range of skills, he adds, and learn how to work in a team environment and with customers.

Also, the students learn some technical skills, such as using the cash register and kitchen equipment, which they can take with them when pursuing their careers.

Students like Kyla Kakfwi, 18, who has worked at the restaurant for three years.

Although she had two previous jobs before working at the fast food restaurant, she looked forward to the job.

"I enjoyed it at first just because I knew a lot of people that worked here," she said.

"We have a very nice crew room in the back and I would hang out and watch TV because we didn't have anything more than basic cable at my house," Kakfwi said.

"They're really good with the training. I'm actually on the management team now," she said, adding, "It's all very structured and ... once you complete this level, you know the next thing you're moving on to do."

While Kakfwi will be leaving McDonald's in the fall to pursue university studies in business administration, she leaves open the possibly of getting her job back during the summer.

Student employee Dan Graham, 17, however, is not sure what the future holds.

"This is a good start, it helps me with people skills."

People skills in the business environment is what he wants out of his job.

"There so many different things you can take from this, lots of people look on your resume."

That is one benefit he believes will interest future employers.

For now, however, he continues his Grade 11 studies at the Sir John Franklin high school.

"It's a stepping stone for them," said Jake Ootes, minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

"It gives them a tremendous amount of training and they can transport that training, that skill, to other jobs from here," said Ootes.

"In the territories, we have a lot of young people that are trying to find employment, so the businesses that offer employment combined with training for youth is extremely important."