Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (June 15/05) - The Class of 2005 was the second graduating class from the management students program at Nunavut Arctic College's Kivalliq campus in Rankin Inlet to travel to Toronto after completing their program.

The trip combines business with pleasure, allowing course graduates to enjoy the city atmosphere while visiting a number of the country's top financial institutions.

Program instructor Janice Seto says student council worked hard to raise funds for the trip.

"Student council started fundraising back in November of 2004 for the trip," says Seto.

"They met their goal by holding a couple of bingo games, a penny sale and a house sale at Kivalliq Hall."

Different approach

The students spent almost a week in Toronto.

Seto says the number of business stops was reduced from a year ago because the Class of 2004 found the pace too hectic. She says among the business highlights of this year's trip were stops at the Royal Bank of Canada and George Brown College.

"We were treated to a fabulous lunch in the executive dining room on the top floor of the Royal Bank.

"The college was a wonderful experience because it gave the grads a chance to see how an urban, multi-cultural college in the South differs from what they're used to in Nunavut."

Among the leisure activities the grads enjoyed were a farewell dinner at Red Lobster, a one-day excursion to Niagara Falls and shopping, shopping, shopping.

Near Eaton Centre

"The hotel we stayed at is downtown, not far from the Eaton Centre, so a number of grads seized the chance to do a lot of shopping.

"They also sampled a lot of restaurants and all the other things you do with a week to spend in the big city.

"We replaced a trip to the Toronto Zoo with a visit to the Toronto Islands and the grads really enjoyed that."

Seto says the grads appreciated M.J. Brownlee's efforts as their resource person for a second-straight year, but few could be coaxed away from a rather famous hall. "I gave the grads a choice between going to the Hockey Hall of Fame or coming with me to Yorkville.

"Not too many came with me, but those who did enjoyed getting a manicure, which was a pampering experience."