Kivalliq mining trainees get ready for work

Eighteen residents of the Kivalliq region have just returned from a heavy equipment training program in Ontario, where they prepared for jobs operating big haul trucks, like this one at the Meadowbank gold mine near Baker Lake. (FILE PHOTO)

Eighteen Inuit residents from the Kivalliq region just returned home from Ontario, where they trained in heavy equipment operation.

Their goal? To land full-time employment in Nunavut’s mining industry, spurred by the recent opening of Agnico-Eagle’s Meadowbank mine near Baker Lake.

The 15 men and three women are now scheduled to go to Meadowbank next month for on-site training and, if they pass, they’ll have jobs to count on.

And that’s just a start.

Since the beginning of the year, the Kivalliq mine training society has assessed over 200 land claim beneficiaries and placed almost 40 into full-time employment in the mining industry.

“[This program] is meant to train beneficiaries living in the Kivalliq region to learn the skills to get into mining and spin-off industries, with an emphasis on skilled trades,” said Kevin Bussey, executive director of Rankin Inlet-based mine training society.

The society’s target is to find full-time employment for 150 Inuit in the region by March 2012 — when their current round of funding expires.
Overall, the society is receiving $7.8 million over a 2-year period that started March 2010.

About $2.5 million of that comes from the federal Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership program, while Agnico-Eagle has kicked in another $3 million.

The remainder comes from contributions from other regional organization.

That money goes to support a range of occupations, including trades apprentice, journeyperson, mill worker, general labourer, administrative support and professional staff.

And more training is being offered close to home.

The $23-million Nunavut Trades Training Centre opened its doors this fall to support a made-in-Nunavut supply of trades people to be employed in local communities and mining operations.

Mine industry access and camp cook programs will be offered at the new Nunavut Arctic College facility in 2011, Bussey said.

Taking those classes won’t necessarily guarantee employment at the mine, he said, but the training will give the Inuit workforce a leg up.

“These programs are based on a need that our industry partner Agnico-Eagle is telling us,” Bussey said. “We’re looking at training as many people as possible.”

With news that Agnico-Eagle’s Meliadine gold mine near Rankin Inlet could be in production by 2015, Bussey wants to have a qualified workforce in place.

“Obviously, we’re training right now to fill current demands,” he said. “But it’s nice to be prepared rather than constantly playing catch-up.”

Meliadine will be Agnico-Eagle’s second mine in Nunavut, located 24 kilometres north of Rankin Inlet. The company plans to complete a feasibility study on the site in 2013.