Choosing a neat career path
Student hopes to start logging hours toward apprenticeship
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, April 9, 2014
REPULSE BAY
Tusarvik School's guidance counsellor is trying to help a young Grade 9 student begin chasing his bluecollar dream of working with the local housing authority in Repulse Bay.
George Thompson said student Kyler Kabvitok continually expresses a keen interest in becoming a housing maintainer apprentice.
Thompson said Kabvitok's dream job is a realistic goal in a growing job market for skilled workers.
He said there's a huge demand for journeymen right now in Canada, and for the training of apprentices in the trades.
"Students in high schools across Canada have early apprenticeship programs available to them, where they can gain the required hours for their first-year apprenticeship by working with a journeyman during their high school career," said Thompson.
"Here we have the territory's Nunavut Early Apprenticeship Training (NEAT) program, which students may begin in Grade 10.
"That's what we'd like to see happen with Kyler."
Thompson said Repulse housing maintenance journeyman Chris Kringayork has agreed to take Kabvitok on as an apprentice.
He said he began the process by submitting an application to Kivalliq Partners in Development under its Wage Subsidy program for assistance in support of Kabvitok.
"Through the application I submitted, we have proposed Kyler work during the summer for 10 weeks for the next three summers.
"Working those 30 weeks over three summers would enable him to get the required hours necessary for his firstyear apprenticeship."
Thompson said Kivalliq Partners has a long and distinguished record of fostering economic development and training opportunities for the communities and people of the Kivalliq through innovative initiatives.
He said the Wage Subsidy program is an example of just such as initiative.
"The Wage Subsidy program is designed for the trainee to receive fulltime employment at the end of their training, and/or to receive the necessary skills in the field of their choice that they can transfer into a fulltime career.
"Tusarvik School principal Aubrey Bolt, the Hamlet of Repulse Bay's new senior administrative officer, Kowesa Etitiq, and our new MLA, Steve Mapsalak, have all written letters of support in the hopes funding will be made available for this praiseworthy and important initiative."
