Yellowknife (July 14/04) - Key members of the community and government sat down together Wednesday to talk about the newest learning centre being built in Yellowknife, but the most influential voice in Northern education was missing.

Representatives from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) declined invitations from the Academy of Learning to take part in the consultation.

The private institution was looking for input to meet students' needs, including aboriginal and disabled students, before the Nunasi Corporation breaks ground on a $4.5 million dollar building.

Fifty per cent of the approximately 175 students enroled at the school depend on student financial assistance or employment insurance.

David Connelly, managing director of the Academy of Learning, was "baffled and bewildered" at the rebuff from ECE.

"We want to design a learning centre that is going to meet the needs of the North. To do that we're attempting to consult with... the stakeholders who are determining the regulations for future training and providing funding to the students," says Connelly.

"ECE is pivotal because it sets the vision, need, policy framework and funding for students," he says.

Sue Glowach, manager of public affairs, says ECE doesn't consult with private institutions like the Academy of Learning.

"ECE doesn't get involved in private institutions and their facility building," she says.

The focus on the design of the building at the meeting was also a factor. ECE would involve itself in programming at the school, but not on design or space issues, she says.

The deputy minister was not available for comment. Minister of Education, Charles Dent, was out of town during Wednesday's meeting.

Indications from ECE were that the invitation would be circulated through the department. When that didn't yield any participants, deputy minister of education Dan Daniels was contacted.

Connelly got the final no from Daniels the day before the meeting, after a last-ditch effort to invite the most important representative from the department, the minister.

"We're sitting here with a blank board for the future education needs of the territory and all we're asking for is advice," says Connelly.

Connelly says what is more confusing is previous contact with ECE that suggested an open relationship between the two. Daniels toured the building in June.

Despite ECE's absence, other government representatives did come to the meeting, giving architect David Wong tips on designing the four-storey Nunasi Corporation building, which is set for construction in 2005 on 48th Street.

The Workers Compensation Board and GNWT Corrections were present as special interest groups. Representatives from the department of Human Resources and Skills Development were there, as was Kern Von Hagen, superintendent of Yellowknife Catholic Schools.

Suggestions coming out of Wednesday's meetings included a child care facility, decor reflective of the North and wheelchair and scooter-friendly learning stations.

Connelly is happy with the process, calling it "a proactive approach to reaching out to stakeholders."

The Nunasi Corporation will go back to the design board with the added information.