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THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
Fort Smith recently hosted a GNWT corrections training program for the first time, and now 12 talented Northerners have graduated and are seeing their newly-learned skills in action in a real work environment.

Kirsten Froese, left, won the Most Outstanding Student award and Brent Townend won the Most Improved Student award in the Corrections Northern Recruit Training Program. - photo courtesy of Kirsten Froese

Graduates of the Corrections Northern Recruit Training Program are now in the midst of a 14-day job shadowing phase where they put their skills into practice for the first time in a corrections facility.

"I'm just finishing my first week right now. I love it," said student Kirsten Froese. "I really like the staff I work with. I like being on the floor interacting with the inmates. I've learned a lot already."

Froese, originally from Hay River, was recognized as most outstanding student in the most recent six-week program. Her classmate, Brent Townend, was recognized as the most improved student.

"I'm always up for a challenge and different opportunities in life, so I figured this would be a challenging but also very rewarding career for me," said Froese about why she decided to take the course.

"I loved it. What I liked most was the hands-on self defence and arrest and control training as well as all the role playing. I felt that all the hands-on stuff prepared me for what I'll be experiencing as a correctional officer on the job."

Froese, who is also working through her bachelor of education degree in Fort Smith, said she plans to work in corrections full time after finishing her degree. The rotation schedule means she gets blocks of four to three days off where she can work as a substitute teacher.

There have been 81 graduates from the training program since it was launched in 2009. The program was developed after the GNWT had trouble finding staff for the territory's four corrections facilities in Hay River, Fort Smith and Yellowknife.

"This was created so we had the opportunity to draw from the people of the North," said training officer Luciano Marrai. "It gives us a better opportunity to get people with a strong cultural awareness of the demands that face Northern workforce and Northern people. I think that's the most valuable aspect of (the program). Also, it gives us people who are committed to the North and want to contribute back to it."

Students accepted to the program are paid hourly during training and are qualified to work at any of the NWT's four corrections facilities, as well as in various security positions.

As a result, applying to the program is similar to applying for a job.

"We're looking for confident individuals, people who like to work with other people," said Marrai. "You work with your inmates and your colleagues, so there is a lot of working with people. Strong communication skills and people with leadership skills as well. There is a lot demand on you from all avenues so you need to be very organized and flexible."

Yellowknife and Hay River have hosted the program in the past. Marrai said the location is determined by the

facility most in need of employees so that residents of the community can access the training and students have access to the facility they'll likely be working in.

The next program is scheduled to run in Yellowknife this fall. The deadline to apply is Aug. 19.

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