Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Cambridge Bay (Nov 12/01) - Retail managers in the Kitikmeot got a visit from head office last week, courtesy of the Northwest Company.

NWC, which operates Northern Stores and Northmarts across the North, sent a four-person management team to Cambridge Bay recently to train local employees.

"We try to get into every region that we operate in," said Darcene Gillespie, NWC's human resources manager.

Eight employees from three Kitikmeot communities took part in the sessions. Two other employees from Holman and Paulatuk in the Northwest Territories also turned out.

Between exercises and seminars on topics such as delegation, time management, and problem solving, employees also discussed some of the challenges facing retail managers in the North.

"We had discussions about getting the right merchandise in stores at the right time and price, timing of freight, challenges in getting the right staff," Gillespie said.

Evangeline Duque said the training sessions were "really good."

The Qurluqtuq Northern employee added she had "learned a lot of things to share with my co-workers."

NWC teamed up with the territorial Department of Education and Kitikmeot Employment and Career Services.

According to Gillespie, the training can be a stepping-stone to promotion within the company.

"We'd love to have people managing stores from their home communities," she said.