**If you are a past participant with Skills Canada NWT and your involvement helped you in any way, please share your story with us! Email skillsnt @ skillscanada.com (without the spaces) or call 873-8743.**
In the fall of 2007, a new teacher in Fort Simpson heard about Skills Canada NWT’s Skills Club program. This teacher, Nathalie Lavoie, applied for funding for a new Graphic Design Skills Club. Skills Canada NWT provided software and helped connect Nathalie with Computers for Schools so she could get some newer computers to run the programs.
One young person who joined the Graphic Design Skills Club was Charlene Gargan. She worked with Nathalie to learn the skills, then competed in the 2008 Territorial Skills Competition where she took home a bronze medal. She stayed in the Skills Club in 2008-09 and competed again in 2009.
Since then, Charlene was accepted at NAIT for the Digital Media Program. She hasn't yet started her studies but is still looking forward to doing so. When Nathalie shared the exciting news about NAIT with us, she said, “It could not have happened without Skills Canada.”
Stories like these that make our efforts worthwhile.
Mathew’s participation in Skills Canada competitions began in Inuvik when he was in high school. One of his teachers took an Inuvik team to the Territorial Skills Competition in Yellowknife where Mathew entered the Graphic Design contest. He competed for three consecutive years and won bronze. The first year was a real challenge as he had to adjust to computer software that he hadn’t used before, but he persevered.
Mathew thanks Skills NWT for the “amazing opportunities to take part and compete.” He indicates on his resume that he took part in the competitions and finished third; he feels that this has helped to open doors for him, not just in the NWT but when he was working for a design company in British Columbia.
In 2008-2009, Mathew decided to try another type of media arts when he came back to compete in TV/Video Production with his competition partner, Shayne Cockney. They won gold at the first Beaufort Delta Regional Skills Competition in March, gold at the Territorial Skills Competition in April, and competed at the Canadian Skills Competition in May. While busy learning video skills, Mathew still made time to help with the Graphic Design Skills Club in Inuvik. He also does web design and graphic design work for various clients in Inuvik.
His long-term plans are to gain some work experience before enrolling in graphic communications.
Maggie is another example of someone who had a great experience with Skills Canada NWT and wanted to give back to the organization and to her trade. After several years of competing at the territorial and national level, Maggie finished her training as a hairdresser. Since then, she has been involved with us in many ways.
Maggie has been a Skills Club coach for hairstyling in Yellowknife, our territorial Technical Chair, and a volunteer mentor at our Power Up! Youth Conferences. In addition to her volunteer work with us, she and three other hairstylists – all past competitors with Skills Canada NWT – jointly purchased Essentials 98 hair salon. Maggie is also teaching hairstyling in the new cosmetology lab at Sir John Franklin High School, where she prepares today’s students for future competitions and careers.
Maggie isn’t alone in her family. Two of her sisters are also past competitors and one of them is one of Maggie’s business partners at Essentials, where they promote careers in hairstyling and participation in Skills Canada programs. When we get multiple competitors from one family, we know we’re doing something right!
While at Sir John Franklin High School, Krystal took part in the TV & Video Production contest at the territorial level for three years in Grades 10, 11 and 12, taking third place in Grades 10 and 12 at the Territorial Skills Competitions. “Arnold Kraus was a big influence on me during the competitions.”
“I’m enrolled in the two year Broadcasting Program at Mount Royal College. Without the Skills experience I’d not likely be here.” She also says, “Get involved in Skills, don’t think twice — do it. The program has helped me get a volunteer editing job with the YK Film Society and to take part in a technology forum in Banff to help complete an Internet production.”
Krystal wants to do work in front of and behind cameras and volunteer with Skills Canada programs after graduation.
Update: Krystal has now finished the broadcasting program at Mount Royal and is back in Yellowknife. As promised, she's getting involved as a volunteer - she joined our board on Sept. 30, 2010, and has great ideas for some new initiatives she wants to help us achieve this year!
Adelbert Whiteman
Living in Norman Wells, Del first became involved with the Skills Canada programs in 2002 while attending Mackenzie Mountain School. He had done some carpentry work with his father prior to joining the program.
He got an Honourable Mention in his first year of competition at the territorial level. Now in the third year of his carpentry apprenticeship, he finished third in post-secondary level of the Territorial Skills Competition.
“Skills is well organized and gives youth a look into trades and other careers” he says.
Del is currently employed with Sakuskesis Enterprises in Norman Wells and will be furthering his classroom schooling in carpentry by attending Red Deer College this year.
Geoffrey Wiseman
Geoff got involved with Skills Canada while in high school automotive class when his instructor suggested that he compete. After competing in the Territorial Skills Competition in Automotive Service and he ended up going to Quebec for his first trip to the national competition. He’s competed in both Automotive and Heavy Duty Mechanics fields at territorial and national competitions.
“I always learned something and had a good time at Nationals. The national competitions are very well organized and very well set up. Volunteers and staff are very knowledgeable and know what they are talking about. You always meet new people and gain more skills towards what you are working on. I would suggest to anyone that the Skills program is a really good idea. You get to go out and see different trades as well as maybe competing in at least one or more trades. The Skills program has helped me out in my career. When I competed in the national level I found that the things we had to do there were very close to things we have to do in our everyday work. It helps you sharpen your skills for your career.”
Geoff started working with Finning Canada in 2002 as a first year Heavy Duty Mechanic apprentice. In February 2007 completed his apprenticeship and obtained his Heavy Duty Mechanics Red Seal status. He is currently with Finning at Ekati working in the underground shop on various types of equipment, including Cat trucks and scoops, Tamrock long hole and jumbo drills.
During his years in junior high, Keenan’s first Skills Canada exposure was when he entered the Cardboard Boat Race and also attended a ‘Power Up’ youth conference in Grade 8. In Grade 8, he also was selected to take part in a BHP-Billiton Ekati mine visit.
In Grades 10 and 11, he competed in Welding at the Territorial Skills Competition and in Grade 12 he won Gold in Automotive Service and attended the Canadian Skills Competition. He found the experience was a great way to meet people and pursue things he likes to do.
“I like working with my hands. Skills programs are well organized and it’s a great way to show your skills in technical career programs. You also find out what you might want to do and what you don’t want to do.”
Keenan graduated from high school in the spring of 2008 and is currently looking for an Automotive Service apprenticeship sponsor.