Nine complete workforce preparation program
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Jan 26/01) - Teamwork was what Bernice Joe valued most about the Bridging Employment Skills Training (BEST) program.
Joe was among nine students to graduate from the month-long program last Friday. It was conducted at the NWT Learning Centre on behalf of Aurora College.
| Graduates from the Inuvik BEST program:
Charlie Allen, Paul Barnes, Velma Cardinal, Billy Conley, Rebecca Day, Bernice Joe, Aron Kay, Willie Stefansson and Brandon Villeneuve.
|
Joe said taking the program also had an unexpected benefit, as gaining new skills and confidence revealed to her how her life could have been different had she not been affected by things in the past.
"I feel lighter and more relaxed," Joe said. "It helped me relieve a lot of anger inside that I didn't realize was there."
Instructor Marja van Nieuwenhuyzen explained the program came about following requests for such training from oil and gas industry representatives. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), as well as the Inuvialuit Regional Corp., Gwich'in leaders and Aurora College developed the curriculum.
Nieuwenhuyzen said the course consists of several components and that its purpose is to prepare students for the workforce. She pointed out there is a heavy emphasis on the oil and gas industry, but the skills graduates pick up can be applied wherever they go.
Joe was to start work this week at the joint secretariat and said her BEST experience would help a great deal.
Students conducted safety and WHMIS training using a computer program over a two-day period. Brandon Villeneuve remembered this part quite well, as well as the section on communication skills.
He said the program was quite helpful, as did Billy Conley. Both have applied for jobs within the oil and gas industry.
Rebecca Day also took the BEST program. She said it was especially helpful for her, since she had not completed high school. Day said she may try to get more experience through the Inuvik Works program.
Miki O'Kane, director of the Inuvik campus of Aurora College, said training allowances for the students were paid for by the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit, and that ECE also helped out.
O'Kane said the BEST program came together fairly well, considering that organizers didn't have much time to prepare it.
Since the fall, Aurora College has put on the BEST program in several communities. Five graduated in Aklavik, 23 in Fort McPherson and 10 in Tsiigehtchic.
