NUNAVUT - Nunavummiut seeking to take on jobs in the Department of Justice's correctional service may soon find training within the territory.

Doug Strader, Nunavut director of Corrections, said corrections training is the priority for his department right now. - Kassina Ryder/NNSL photo

"We're exploring options right now to provide some type of corrections training program that's Nunavut-made that will promote the hiring of beneficiaries in Nunavut," said Doug Strader, director of Corrections.

Previously, training for the positions of corrections officer, case worker and other corrections postings was all done after hiring, within the Department of Justice itself.

Strader said his department is now looking for a school to carry out training in Nunavut.

"Right now we're just trying to seek out all avenues in regards to a made-in-Nunavut solution to training for people in the corrections field," Strader said.

Arctic College suggested the idea of providing corrections training, he said. While the outsourcing of training is still in the preliminary stages, the Arctic College route is one they are considering, he said.

The idea is to take an existing program from a southern college and "Nunavut-ize it," according to Michael Shouldice, dean of the Arctic College campus in Rankin Inlet.

Construction of a new jail in Rankin Inlet should be completed in late 2011 and will need to be staffed by early 2012. They're looking at hiring for 36 positions, Strader said.

"From my perspective as dean in the region, 40 new jobs warrants a program," Shouldice said.

"We wouldn't want to be remiss and not help, or broker, or design and deliver, we would really want to see that training take place."

The college is looking at a year-long corrections officer certificate program, he said. The training would likely be offered in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet.

From the corrections perspective, training was a priority even before the Rankin Inlet facility was announced, Strader said. There are already about 140 people working in corrections throughout the territory in the four existing centres, including the Baffin Correctional Centre (BCC) in Iqaluit. A women's prison is expected to complete construction in Iqaluit by early 2010, to be staffed by BCC employees. There is always a need for education, Strader said.

"Entry level is where we want to start," he said, "and then I want the training to also include training courses for people in their specific jobs, to upgrade their skills."

"Corrections is a constantly changing profession, so with change comes the requirement for education and new ways of doing things," Strader said.

Strader said he could not say how soon a program could be offered in Nunavut.

"The issue in Rankin is of course the timeliness of delivering for the opening of the corrections facility," said Shouldice, "it's a couple of seasons away."

Until then, Strader said his department is planning to offer a two to three week-long orientation program in the New Year. The program will be an opportunity for people to learn more about careers in corrections and also give his department a chance to check out potential hires, he said.

"Seeing first hand what the work environment is going to be like, that is one issue that makes or breaks the individual," Strader said. Working in corrections is "highly stressful and sensitive," he said, and people either thrive or decide it is not for them.

When it comes to the new Rankin jail, Strader said he is aiming for all Inuit hires. They may have to hire southerners for certain positions, he said. "That's definitely a possibility, but there's good possibility it could be all Northern hires as well."