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Tomorrow's workforce gets trained

David Ryan
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (July 10/06) - A week-long trades course is helping Myles Pedersen and 14 other students from the Kitikmeot see the value of learning skills for future employment.

"I want to go to (the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) and become a mechanic," said Pedersen, a high school student from Kugluktuk.

A goal like Pedersen's is what the Kimberlite Career and Technical Centre summer school program in Yellowknife is all about, said Heather Duggan, vice-president of human resources for Miramar Mining.

The company sponsored 15 Kitikmeot high school students so they could attend the training program July 3-7.

Students were able to learn about carpentry or welding.

Miramar hopes that exposure to trades and technical fields will lead to more Northern workers in these areas, which would benefit Miramar, the mining industry and Nunavut as a whole, said Duggan.

"This is an opportunity for students to gain life skills which will help them prosper," she said.

Other sponsors for the program include the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and the Nunavut Department of Education. First Air is also a partner in the program, providing discounted travel for the students and chaperons.

The students are from Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk and were selected from more than 30 applicants.

"I want to try and be a welder - it would be awesome," said Vanessa Totalik of Taloyoak.

She was looking forward to working on her take-home project, a pencil holder.

Cambridge Bay's Dedre MacSagak opted to take the carpentry class and said he was glad to be learning new skills.

"It's great. I'm having fun and learning something different," he said.

MacSagak seemed to be at home in the shop as he prepared build to build a stool.

"It's going to look to awesome."

Exposing students to welding and carpentry shows them what opportunities are available, said Alex Buchan, a chaperon for the event and manager of community relations for Miramar.

"The students don't see it as coming to school, it's like practical work experience," he said.

"It really does speak to the passion of the kids."

With the successful completion of the course, students will receive one credit towards their high school diploma.