Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

KIVALLIQ
Rankin Inlet resident George Ipkanerk took what he thought was a long shot at getting a job a few months ago, when he enrolled in the Arviat Diamond Driller's Training Program.

The 2011 graduates of the first Arviat Diamond Driller's Training Program include, back row, from left: Charlie Jr. Malla, Kelly Kigusiutnar, Keith Angalik, Matthew Issumatarjuak, Samuel Ivu and Andy Anowtalik. Front from left, David Tassiuk, Gary Jr. King, Lucien Kabvitok, Johnny Palvialok, Sandy Kritaqliluk. - photo courtesy John Main

The 53-year-old graduated in the second class of the program last April, and by June, he had landed a job with Orbit Garant Drilling Inc., and now works at Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd.'s Meliadine gold project.

"I didn't think that I was going to get a job but everybody was 80 per cent sure I was going to work," he said of the support he received during the 10-week driller's helper course. "That kind of boosted my hopes up and when I did get a job, that was totally awesome."

Ipkanerk was one of 21 graduates of 24 students who enrolled in the first year of the program – which started in the hamlet last September. Nineteen of the 21 graduates were offered at least some sort of employment, according to Arviat economic development officer Keith Collier.

Twelve more students from the Kivalliq region are slated to take the course this September, as the program's success has prompted all its sponsors -- including Agnico-Eagle, the owner of the territory's Meadowbank Gold Mine -- to enthusiastically stay on board.

"There's just such a demand for diamond drillers and diamond drillers' helpers that we need to find a way to promote some local employment opportunities," said Graeme Dargo, superintendent of community engagement at Agnico-Eagle. "There's hundreds of opportunities particularly in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut and not just with Agnico-Eagle, with other exploration companies.

"There's still a demand for it and that's why we're going to continue as best we can to support the program."

Dargo estimates there are 94 rigs operating throughout the region 24/7 and finding the crew of three to four people per shift is not easy, or economical, for the drilling companies, which are forced to fly in drillers and drillers' helpers from other parts of Canada.

"Cha-ching -- it's expensive to fly to Rankin Inlet or Baker Lake, so why not promote some local people to do that," he said.

Agnico-Eagle, which outsources all its drilling work, has maintained more than 35 per cent Inuit labour force at Meadowbank and Meliadine, Dargo said, and the company is eager to employ more local people in more skilled positions.

To that end, the company has in place an upward mobility program at Meadowbank, and is also working with the Department of Education to promote the industry trades.

While Ipkanerk is grateful that the driller's program opened the door for him to work in the industry -- and he is enjoying his job -- at his age, he would also prefer to do more skilled work and less of the labour, he said, and eventually hopes to get into heavy equipment operation.

"That course helped me halfway," he said. "It opened one door."

Two more 10-week diamond driller's courses are scheduled for this coming September and January.

Despite the continued demand for mining industry training in the region, the Kivalliq Mine Training Society -- which was also a sponsor of the driller's training program -- was shut down last April when its funding expired.

A pan-territorial industry training plan is currently in the works.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.