Learning in Cape Dorset

SARA MINOGUE

CAPE DORSET – Adult education students in Cape Dorset will no longer have to crush into their two-room school, now that a brand new community learning centre is open for business.

The community learning centre, located in the heart of the community facing the high school, is one of the flagship openings for Nunavut Arctic College this year.

Until recently, adult education students occupied two classrooms and an office in Peter Pitseolak School. Now that the learning centre is open, the high school has already reclaimed the badly needed space.

The design for the $2 million learning centre is based on the floor plan for a learning centre built in Baker Lake last year. It features five classrooms, including a computer classroom with nine brand new computers, and a fine arts studio.

The new learning centre has already been used for municipal classes organized by the Municipal Training Organization, and for an office administration class for Government of Nunavut employees.

Classes in math and science will start in January. There will also be an Inuktitut literacy program that focuses on teaching literacy through cultural activities, such as sewing.

By fall 2005, there will also be a jewellery studio. The studio would have opened in January, but the college was unable to find a qualified instructor to lead the program.

Enoosik Ottokie spent three years studying jewellery making at Nunavut Arctic College in Iqaluit, and has already taught her skills to others during short teaching jobs in Salluit and Coral Harbour.

She hopes to see the jewellery studio open soon.

“There are a lot of potential students in town,” Ottokie says.

About 200 people came out to celebrate the centre’s grand opening on Sunday, and to hear speeches from mayor Matthew Saveajuk Jaw, South Baffin MLA Olayuk Akesuk, Education Minister Ed Picco, and Nunavut Arctic College president Mac Clendenning.

Elder Oqsuralik Ottokie cut the red ribbon with an ulu before everyone rushed inside.

Tirak Parr, Cape Dorset’s adult educator, oversaw the events, including the baking of a gigantic cake that was quickly gobbled up by the crowd.

“It’s been needed and we’re glad it’s open,” says former mayor John Curley. “People have been looking forward to it for a long time.”

“I’m hoping that my son will come here,” says Annie Petaulassie, who teaches grade three and four students at Sam Pudlat School. “He’s now in Iqaluit taking language and culture.”

The day also marked the emotional return of Anne Freda, Nunavut Arctic College’s longest serving adult educator.

Freda moved to Cape Dorset in 1980, when the construction business in Ontario was slow and her husband was able to get a job building matchbox houses for one year. She started teaching in 1983, and wound up staying 19 years, along with her four sons.

Freda, who now lives near Ottawa, hadn’t been to Dorset since her departure in 1999, but she received a warm welcome, several rounds of applause, and many gifts.

“Seeing all of you is the best gift,” she told the crowd in the school’s foyer. “I think of you often.”

Now that Cape Dorset has a new learning centre, Pond Inlet becomes the college’s top priority for a new school.

“Their learning centre is one of the oldest buildings in town,” says Dan Page, co-ordinator of community programs for the college. “It really needs to happen.”

In the meantime, Cambridge Bay residents can look forward to their own grand opening next fall, when a new 20-unit student residence opens up.

Iqaluit will soon have its construction project underway. Last week, the college got approval for a $6 million student residence that will accommodate 80 students. Construction will start next summer so that the residence is ready by Dec. 2006.

College president Mac Clendenning says he is working on incorporating family units into that project.