SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A few years after dropping out of high school, Mike Leblanc had thought he missed his chance at getting an education, until the Outreach Centre opened on Nov. 2.

Joyce Whiteford, pictured here at the Outreach Centre on Dec. 11, is currently the only staff member of the centre, but will soon be joined by science teacher Kirstin Prescott. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

The Outreach Centre "popped up down the street from where I live and has given me a chance to turn my life around," said Leblanc, when Yellowknifer visited the facility on Dec. 11. The centre is open from noon until about 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and is located in the Roman Empire Building on 51 Avenue.

The program is open to people aged 16 to 21, and the students learn via Alberta distance learning courses on the Internet. As well, there are workplace safety, healthy living, and life skills courses. Joyce Whiteford, who is currently the sole teacher and staff of the centre, teaches and helps the 37 students with all subjects from academics to life skills. The program is operated by Yk Education District No.1, and had a start-up cost of $150,000.

Whiteford fits the role well and is helped by 18 years of experience as a counsellor at Sir John Franklin High School.

"I could identify people who weren't achieving success at the high school that didn't have intellectual capacity problems," said Whiteford.

"The only reasons were lifestyle, or some of the people here are part-time workers ... and are really done with going to high school, some who haven't quite graduated."

Whiteford said she'd contacted some students who had dropped out of high school, and recommended it to students who weren't excelling in the high school environment. After that, word started to spread about the program and more people dropped in.

Jaylene Delorme, 16, started around a week after the school opened.

"I was going to (Sir John Franklin High School) for about a month and then I came and registered here because there was too many people and I didn't like it, and eventually dropped out," said Delorme.

"I'm better at working at my own pace and independent than at other peoples' paces."

Delorme is currently hard at work on an English 20-2 course and said the casual, independent atmosphere of the centre helps her get things done.

"You can do your work independently at home and there's help here if we need it," said Delorme.

Whiteford said this year is vital, as it is still a pilot project. If the students don't produce results and show success, the program will not continue to be funded.

She said it's hard to gauge the successes of the program so far, at only a month in, but a few students are already reaching completion on a few of their courses.

Overall, Whiteford said the program has been going well.

"I find that the students who come here are very respectful in this environment. There's no problem with them helping cleaning up," said Whiteford.

In January, Whiteford will be joined by science teacher Kirstin Prescott at the centre, which she is looking forward to.

"There are occasions where there's a precise teachable moment, where they're ready to learn something and if there's a science teacher in here who can quickly present them with the knowledge then it's more effective than just reading the material," said Whiteford.