Working at Elections Canada's NWT headquarters
Glen Vienneau
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 03/00) - What better way to learn about the election process than by becoming part of a team of 400 agents hired throughout the Western Arctic.
It's an opportunity that Arlene Yaceyko did not want to miss while on leave of absence from her regular job.
"I have the privilege and the opportunity to try out a lot of different things," she said.
An N.J. MacPherson School Grade 4 teacher, Yaceyko works at the heart of the election and once she finished her two hour training she became an official revising agent.
It's her job to be there when voters want to change their personal information on the voters' list.
That means, much of her time is spent on the phone registering information and assisting new voters.
Part of her training involved practising by using various phone call scenarios.
"I think that this kind of training is very good because you're not just sitting and watching a video, you're actually doing the activities," she said.
Following her training, the most important procedure was taking her oath, as an assurance that all information she encounters remains confidential.
Yaceyko's work hours vary and can be from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. or from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
She's also excited that eventually she may get the chance to train others at polling stations in Fort Smith, Fort Simpson and Hay River.
But six days before the election, her job ends. Another opportunity may arise if the head office needs more agents. Possibly, she could go back in training to become a polling agent.
Besides making a little extra money and being part of the electorial process allows Yaceyko her to do something new, meet new people and encourage them to vote by helping them in the process.
