April 20, 2010

Iqaluit (Nunavut) – Nunavut students will benefit from an investment to Skills Canada Nunavut, a non-profit organization that works to promote careers in trades and technology.  This investment is made possible by CanNor, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan. 
 
The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister Responsible for the North and Minister of Health made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor).
 
CanNor will invest a total of $87,100 to Skills Canada Nunavut, a non-profit organization that works to promote careers in trades and technology, to support its Employability Skills Curriculum manual, which will enable youth across the North. 
 
“Skills Canada Nunavut empowers youth to flourish in trade and technology careers such as carpentry, graphic design, cooking and more,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “By investing in these young people this project will help increase Nunavut’s skilled labour force and strengthen the territory’s economy. Our government is pleased to support Skills Canada Nunavut as it works to ensure youth have the tools they need to succeed.”
 
“CanNor’s investment in Skills Canada Nunavut will directly benefit the future of Nunavut students.  Providing skills and training to Nunavut’s young people is fundamental for their future success, our Government is proud to support them,” said Minister Strahl, who is also Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians.
 
"This project will see more resources developed that will prepare students not only for our skills competitions, but will give them essential skills that will help them to be successful in school and in their careers," said Michelle Jacquard, Executive Director of Skills Canada Nunavut. 
 
"CanNor's funding will help us move our organization forward. We are setting out short- and long-term goals to define how we support teachers, students and employers as they promote skilled trade and technology careers in the territory. The promotion of these careers will ultimately lead to many economic development opportunities for the young people of Nunavut," said Ms. Jacquard.
 
Skills Canada Nunavut will complete its Employability Skills Curriculum Manual this spring.  It will include lesson plans and resources for Nunavut teachers to prepare their students for success.   

This investment furthers Skills Canada Nunavut’s five-year strategic plan.  It also allows a presentation on employability skills to take place for the Qikiqtani Regional School conference. 

The investment is made possible through CanNor’s Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) program, which focuses on long-term economic growth, economic diversification and capacity building in the three territories.  
 
SINED is one of several of economic development programs that within CanNor which is responsible for coordinating and delivering Canada’s economic development activities in the territories, and for related policy development, research and advocacy.  



Backgrounder  
 
SUPPORT FOR SKILLS CANADA NUNAVUT
 
The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) will provide a total of $87,100 to Skills Canada Nunavut in support of its Employability Skills Curriculum project.   
 
Skills Canada Nunavut is a non-profit organization that works to promote trade and technology careers to youth, teachers, parents and employers across the territory. Volunteer-run Skills Clubs, which give young people hands-on experience in trades like carpentry, cooking and graphic design, are among its most successful programs. 
 
Encouraging Nunavummiut to pursue careers in skilled trades and technology, these activities help meet the increasing demand for skilled trade workers in the territory. The Investment enables Northerners to take advantage of growing workforce opportunities that will strengthen the territory’s economy.
 
This investment will support the following:

• Development, printing and distribution of a new Employability Skills Curriculum Manual, providing detailed direction on how to operate and integrate Skills Clubs and skills curriculum into Nunavut schools. The manual will focus on four employability skills: – Prepared Speech, Job Skill Demonstration, Job Interview, and Workplace Safety. Skills Canada Nunavut will also form a five-year plan to develop materials related to other skilled trade areas like cooking, carpentry and IT office software. 
  
• Strategic planning session with the Skills Canada Nunavut board and stakeholders. 
• Presentation of a project overview at the Qikiqtani Regional School Conference. 

 
Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development
 
The investment is made possible through CanNor’s Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) program, which focuses on long-term economic growth, economic diversification and capacity building in the three territories.  
 
CanNor is a newly established agency responsible for coordinating and delivering federal economic development activities in the North.