Worker visits Inuvik as part of program
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Nov 10/00) - How does a worker from a Russian construction company find his way to Inuvik?
Through the Yeltsin Democracy Fellowship Program (YDFP), of course. Afanassi Bylgaev of Yakutsk, in northeastern Russia, recently spent more than a week here, working at Dowland Contracting Ltd.
Inuvik was Bylgaev's first stop after a two week orientation session held in Toronto. Bylgaev is one of a group of 21 people from eastern Russia taking part in the YDFP.
"Each person represents a different kind of company," Bylgaev said. "We are spread across the country, from St. John to Vancouver. I'm going to Calgary, then to Vancouver, and the final week will be in Ottawa."
Bylgaev arrived in Inuvik October 29 and said late last week that it was nice to be here.
"It's different, you have a different culture here."
He said it was warmer here than his home town, which is located at about the same latitude as Yellowknife.
"We have to learn and improve our skills. Of course it's part of our goal, but here we have to explore the Canadian approach and find a way to use it in Russia," Bylgaev said.
The YDFP's purpose is to help Russia implement democratic reforms and move to a market economy. The YDFP provides training programs in Canada for public and private sector managers. The program has been operating since 1992.
"It's very interesting," Bylgaev said of Inuvik.
"I am working for a construction company in Yakutsk. I'm from the marketing department, but we mostly engage in supplying materials for construction projects," he said.
"It's very interesting how you do the same kind of job here, in a remote part of Canada. We've got same in Russia, -- if we are in a remote village, there is no road, you have to take a flight."
Bylgaev said so far he's been exposed to new technology and that he's studying the different approaches Canadian companies take to management and structure.
He said managers here tend to trust employees more than in Russia.
If a worker here wants something or is to do something, they fill out a chart, go to the warehouse, show their papers and go about their business.
"In my company, we don't do this," he said.
