Yellowknife (Feb 25/04) - Austin Abbott plies his trade by travelling from community to community with a trailer full of welding, plumbing, construction and wiring equipment.

Career Technology Studies instructor Austin Abbott in the classroom at Samuel Hearne secondary school. - Jason Unrau/NNSL photo

He doesn't fix things, he teaches others how.

"Teaching is a pleasure when you see the interest in the students," says Abbott, Mobile Introduction to Trades Training instructor.

Last year, the Beaufort Delta Education Council decided that the lack of trades-based resources for its Career Technology Studies (CTS) program in the region needed to be addressed.

However, the cost of outfitting every school with its own shop equipment was prohibitive.

It was therefore decided to bring the classroom to the students.

Enter Austin Abbott, former millwright's apprentice, machinist, mechanical fitter, oil-rig worker and jack-of-all-trades handyman.

"I've done just about everything (related to trades)," says the 51-year-old, whose career has taken him from the Hibernia oil rigs off the Newfoundland coast to the North Sea platforms and now, to Inuvik.

Abbott holds a bachelor's degree in geology and bachelor of education degree.

With those credentials, he was the perfect choice to take on the MITT initiative.

While some of his time is spent inside the classroom, Abbott's other duties involve taking his classroom on the road as part of the MITT program.

In the classroom, Abbott teaches an oil and gas course that provides knowledge about the different careers available within the industry.

Then students have an opportunity for a work placement at one of the region's sites.

"This gives the students exposure to the industry and lets them experience aspects of different occupations out there," he says.

"Hopefully it will stir an interest in some."

Interest is definitely being stirred.

Abbott, with his trailer filled with equipment and supplies to teach welding, small engine repair, plumbing, residential wiring and building construction, hits the road when his services are requested by high schools in the region.

"Attendance is great and the kids are so enthusiastic," he said.

"In fact, I've never seen anything like it. I have to ask the students to stop working at lunch and kids are asking to stay behind after school to continue working."

The new program is definitely filling a need in the Delta, said Abbott, especially with new employment opportunities becoming available with the coming pipeline project.