Mine training program cancelled because of low enrollment

An introductory mining class ran in Coral Harbour last year. Here, instructor Denise Lockett (bottom right) poses with the class while out looking for mineral samples. (PHOTO COURTESY OF DENISE LOCKETT)

Nunavut Arctic College has cancelled a training program for the mining industry before it even began, citing a lack of interested students.

The college’s campus in Rankin Inlet planned to launch a new program called Mine Industry Access this month, to coincide with the opening of the campus’ new territorial trades training centre.

But in the weeks leading up to the course’s debut, enrollment numbers were too low.

The college plans to re-launch the program in 2011.

Alan Everard, who was to be the senior instructor, said the Mine Industry Access program was intended to help people, now working in entry-level jobs, such as security or bear patrol, to upgrade their skills and move into a higher-paying positions in the mining industry.

“There are lots of very good, high-paying jobs that can be had with a little bit of training,” said Everard, who has 25 years experience as a prospector. “And it’s significant to be able to offer it from home.”

The access program was to familiarize students with different mining processes, from driver training, to safety skills, exploration and mine decommissioning.

Fourteen-week long introductory mine training programs have been offered in Arviat, Coral Habour and Baker Lake – both have been very successful,Everard said – but Rankin’s program would have offered broader and more intensive training.

And – as a bonus – the Mine Industry Access would have guaranteed a job at Agnico-Eagle’s Meadowbank site, north of Baker Lake, to all those who completed the 32-week program.

Students registered to take the mine access program in 2010 will be accommodated in other programs, Everard said.

With the creation of the Kivalliq mine training society, which wants to wants to act as a “portal” to the mining industry, money is also starting to flow into various programs to train about 50 mine workers per year.

The society plans to resume to its Ontario-based heavy machinery training program, said Geoff Qilak Kusugak, who works in planning for the Kivalliq Inuit Association in Rankin Inlet.

“We’re excited about it, to provide opportunities for unemployed or those looking to…better their livelihoods,” Kusugak said. “We really want to help Inuit take a greater role in mining.”

The mine training society is now entering year two of a three-year agreement with Meadowbank, he said.

“We’re still at the beginning of the operation of a mine (Meadowbank). Our goal is to go 100 per cent,” Kusugak said, referring to the percentage of local people employed at the mine.

Currently, about 35 per cent of Agnico-Eagle’s 390 employees are Inuit.

But the success of all mine-training programs, which can run from a few weeks to several months, will depend on local interest in enrolling in these programs.