Class in Baker lake could be building new school
Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services
Baker Lake (Apr 25/01) - Roy Avaala wants a job that's really hands-on.
"I'm not a paper or an office boy," said the Baker Lake resident who has applied for a carpentry course at the community learning centre.
He hopes what he learns will help him get a job building a new high school in Baker Lake.
"There are so many people up here not working and everyone's looking for a job and carpentry is a good job for people up here," said the 23-year-old, who currently receives employment insurance.
Construction is expected to go ahead at the end of May, when students at the school, which is almost 50 years old, are let out for the year. About 23 people applied for the 14-week carpentry course, which began April 3, but only 10 were accepted.
And adult educator Martha Martee stresses that is still 10 people with jobs in the community.
"We want to have people trained to build (the high school)," Martee explained. "We want to get local people trained to do the work."
Chris Purse, executive director of Kivalliq School Services agreed.
He said the amount of time it will take to build the school fits well as a solution to Baker Lake's unemployment problem.
"Unemployment is a perpetual problem here ... so I think people are looking for an opportunity and this is a good one because of the amount of time it is going to take," he said.
"There is going to be a couple of phases and my understanding is that it will take at least two years to build."
That is good news for Avaala and others who share his frustrations over the lack of work in Baker Lake.
He said he wants to be a part of this and other projects in the future.
"I made my own cabins and shacks and I enjoyed that a lot," he said.
"But I want to get more experience ... I am trying to be an asset."
