Rankin Inlet (Feb 27/06) - Rankin Inlet has been named home to the first trade school in Nunavut history.

Premier Paul Okalik travelled to Rankin with Education Minister Ed Picco and Rankin South MLA Levinia Brown to make the announcement earlier this month.

The Government of Nunavut has committed $10 million to the development of the Nunavut Trade School through its Northern Strategy funding.

Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) will take the lead in developing programs at the school, expected to be in operation by 2009.

The creation of the trade school was one of the government's top priorities as set out in Pinasuaqtavut.

The school will be a valuable addition in a number of areas, including high school graduates being able to attend a Nunavut facility to prepare for jobs in the mining sector, said Okalik.

He said Rankin proved itself to be the ideal location for the facility.

"We looked throughout Nunavut for facilities we could use when we were selecting the location for the trade school," said Okalik.

"In looking at the overall infrastructure availability, and the central location of Rankin, we felt this was the most viable and readily-available location. We didn't want to build new infrastructure that would take more time and additional dollars we really didn't have."

The GN will renovate the Community and Government Services plumbing shop to house the school, as well as construct a residence for out-of-town students once it is approved by the legislative assembly.

Heavy-duty mechanics, heavy equipment and construction as the trades will be the most likely to provide employment opportunities in Nunavut, especially as the mining industry continues to develop in the territory, said Mike Shouldice, the campus director for NAC's Kivalliq campus in Rankin.

"We want to offer an access program every year so people can be academically prepared when they enter their trades training," said Shouldice.

"And, in addition to a student's first year in a program being pre-employment, we'd like to establish an exit point for a technician's certificate at the end of the year.