Money to promote trades
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Cambridge Bay (Mar 19/01) - Skills development is getting a boost from the Nunavut government.
The department of education gave Skills Canada NT/Nunavut $20,000, money to entice people to make a job in a trade or technology-related field their first choice. Specifically, the money will be used to advertise the events and the organization, to promote Skills Canada in the North and to fly competitors to competitions, one in Yellowknife in April and another in Fort Smith in May.
Cambridge Bay resident Kim Smith, representing Nunavut on the national board of Skills Canada, said the money would help address the huge shortage of trained workers while promoting trades careers among Nunavummiut.
"There's a big shortage of skilled tradespeople in North America," said Smith.
"We're trying to build capacity and squash the belief that trades are where people go when they're not smart enough to go to university.
"We're trying to promote it as a first choice for young Northerners," she said.
Smith said one tactic used by Skills Canada to raise their profile was to host upcoming skills competitions.
As well as showing members of other Nunavut communities, as well as other Canadians, the level of skill that exists in Nunavut, the competitions reward tradespeople for their hard work and training.
Smith, who hopes to send 16 residents of Nunavut to the games in Yellowknife and Fort Smith, said anyone interested in competing in the different categories and trades competitions must register by March 23. Winners of the territorials will go on to compete at the national competition.
Contact Smith for information or visit the Web site at www.skillscanada.com.
