Aurora College has brought an all-female presence to the world of trades via a partnership with the Mine Training Society.

Through the collaboration, the college was able to bring together a class of seven women who were interested in participating in the heavy equipment operators (HEO) division of industrial training.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 our existing program, the parent program that weSA国际影视传媒檝e run for years,SA国际影视传媒� said Duane MacDonald, chair of the School of Trades, Apprenticeship and Industrial Training. SA国际影视传媒�(ItSA国际影视传媒檚) 15 weeks. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 always been open to a mixed class. (This year), we partnered with the Mine Training Society to offer specific women HEO delivery. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 been really successful.SA国际影视传媒�

The work between Aurora College and the Mine Training Society has been highly successful, according to MacDonald, and it goes back to the societySA国际影视传媒檚 inception in 2003.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been able to get it (the course) out to participants from different communities within the NWT,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e in the midst of it right now. We finished the classroom component, weSA国际影视传媒檙e just finishing it actually. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e just about ready to step into the equipment end of things, and so far the feedback has been 100 per cent positive.SA国际影视传媒�

MacDonald acknowledged some challenges with student accommodations, however.

SA国际影视传媒淚n some of our housing set-ups, we put students together,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淣ow, here we are, with many, many students coming in and weSA国际影视传媒檙e having to try and keep all the female (students) together, or keep them in their own support units. So that provided a bit of a challenge, but nothing that we werenSA国际影视传媒檛 able to get through.SA国际影视传媒�

With regards to why the course was offered, the interest has always been there from female residents of the territories, MacDonald said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think, just based off of the labour market needs and underrepresented groups, I think it makes sense to have a specific class like this,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 mean, it helps the NWT labour market, but it also helps female Northern residents get into this type of training that, in the past, I wonSA国际影视传媒檛 say primarily, but it has been mostly a male dominated field,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪o, itSA国际影视传媒檚 great to see women get into this, as well as other trades.SA国际影视传媒�

Based on interest and the success of the current course, another female class is being looked into with a March 2022 time frame in mind.