PAULATUK
Gilbert Thrasher Jr. is a man with a plan in Paulatuk. As the community's employment officer for the past 14 years, Thrasher Jr. has assisted residents with everything from resume writing to how to apply for employment insurance.

Paulatuk's employment officer Gilbert Thrasher Jr., seen here last year, has helped many people in the community in the work world with everything from resume writing to demonstrating how to apply for employment insurance. - photo courtesy of Department of Justice

"In the 14 years I've been here, I think I've helped with everybody's resume," he said.

Since beginning his career in 2000, Thrasher Jr. has participated in a variety of training courses to help him do well in his job. He took a human resources course in 2001 and an employment officer course in 2005.

"It was to learn more about the resource position and what my job was all about," he said.

Thrasher Jr. said now, he helps residents apply for jobs, apply for birth certificates and social insurance numbers, as well as fill out paperwork for death and marriage certificates.

He also helped people navigate through the Common Experience Payment plan and other items related to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

Thrasher Jr. also does paperwork of his own, applying for grants and funding for community programs, such as the annual Inuvialuktun language camp that takes place each summer and setting up placements for summer students.

His work also assists the community's elders by helping them with forms for Old Age Security payments and Canada Pension Plans.

Students applying to college usually make their way to Thrasher Jr.'s office for help with applications and financial assistance forms, as well as for advice.

"I work with them a bit," he said. "At the end of the day, they would know before they leave my office what they want to do for a career."

Thrasher Jr. said he knows how important it is to get an education.

"In order to start a career and in order to sort of start when you become an adult, the big step for you is education because without education, you cannot become who you want to become," he said.

He said for example, he knows having a high school diploma helped him qualify for his job.

"The big benefit for me to get this position was when I put my education on my resume," he said. "That was the big thing that got me this job."

Thrasher Jr. said going to post-secondary school or taking advantage of training opportunities are key to establishing the skills needed to move forward.

"I would just like to say to each and every person in the Northwest Territories, all the youth, to just keep on going to school and make sure you study hard and the sky is the limit," he said.

He said graduating from high school is the first step toward a better future, something students who drop out often have to learn the hard way.

"When you go to school and you drop out, you struggle," he said. "If you move back, you will have to work harder to move forward again. That's what happens when you drop out of school."

Thrasher Jr. said for him, helping to make people's lives easier is the best part of his job.

"My biggest enjoyment is somebody coming in here lost and I sit with them and go through applications with them and when they leave, they leave happy and they're glad that they came to see me," he said.

"It makes me feel good to help the people in the community."

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