DEH CHO
A three-year training program that is concluding this month is being considered a success by its organizers.

Joseph Horesay, left, Brock Sabourin, Steve Vital and Dwight Page participated in a course that lasted throughout almost all of the 2013 mining season at Prairie Creek Mine. The course was part of the Silver Lining Program. - photo courtesy of Canadian Zinc Corporation

The Mine Training Society of the NWT and the Canadian Zinc Corporation in partnership with a number of Dehcho First Nations' member groups launched the Silver Lining Program in March 2011. The more than $4 million program was designed to provide training to Deh Cho residents for occupations that are used at mine sites, specifically the Prairie Creek Mine, but that would also provide capacity building in communities, said Hilary Jones, the society's general manager.

The initial goal was to provide training that would result in the employment of 70 people. As a result of the program, 109 people have been employed and another 20 have returned to school, Jones said.

Two hundred and sixty-four people participated in the program in some way, from getting help to complete a resume to completing a training course. Twenty training courses were offered through the program including heavy equipment operating, camp cook, mine administration, environmental monitor, mineral exploration field assistant training, road construction and small engine repair.

"We exceeded our targets," she said.

The final two programs being offered are a emergency medical responder course that concluded in Fort Simpson on March 17 and a building trades helper program in Fort Providence. As part of the program the society opened an office in Fort Simpson and created one staff position there. With the conclusion of the program, the office will remain, but there won't be any staff, said Jones.

"The company hopes the region gets great benefit from this program," said Chris Reeves, Canadian Zinc's general manager.

The program, which got it's name because Prairie Creek is a zinc, silver and lead mine, has benefited the company because it has provided training for members of First Nations that Canadian Zinc has impact and benefit agreements with and has also strengthened the relationship between the company and the region, he said.

"It brought a tangible excitement for people," said Reeves.

The training programs allowed the company to be closely involved in the development of participants' talents and to gauge what positions they would be best suited for, he said. The mine is expected to create approximately 220 jobs once it is operational and indirectly lead to the creation of 130 more.

Through impact and benefit agreements and a social economic agreement the company has committed to hiring locally.

One of the greatest benefits of the program is that some participants now have experience living and working at the mine site, said Reeves. Eight of the 20 training courses were run at the mine.

The program was primarily funded by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada with $3,027,225.

The partners including Canadian Zinc, the territorial government, participating communities and Dehcho First Nations' Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy contributed $985,006.

The program was designed to respect the wishes of local First Nations, who wanted training done in the region so they didn't have to send their members out, said Reeves.

Participants in the emergency medical responder course in Fort Simpson are hoping their training will help them find employment in mines or elsewhere in the region.

"It would be nice to get a foot in the door," said Ben Amundson of Fort Simpson on March 13.

Amundson, who'd never taken a course related to first aid before, said he'd like to work in a mine, possibly Prairie Creek, but had already been offered a job if he passed the course.

"It's intense, it's a wonderful course," he said.

Gerald Norwegian of Jean Marie River is hoping that the course, coupled with the introduction to underground mining course, will lead to a career at a mine and on a mine rescue team.

"It's a good course to have," he said.

Norwegian said he'll apply to work at Prairie Creek when it opens.