Hamlet of Arviat

From April 23 to 27, 10 students and 5 staff members from John Arnalukjuak High School in Arviat traveled to Iqaluit for the Skills Nunavut Competition. Skills Nunavut is the territorial level competition of the Skills Canada Competition, a national trade and technology competition for young Canadian students and apprentices.

The Arviat students who attended the Skills Nunavut Competition are:

Baking Club – Vayda Kaviok and Avis Mikiyungiak (Teacher: Susie Johnson)
Cooking Club – Megan Netser and Jolene Manik (Teacher: Mike Johnson)
Photography Club – Kimberley Arualak and Stephanie Aulatjut (Teacher: Steve Penney)
Cosmetology Club – Sherilyn Sewoee and Katie Kinak (Teachers: Kim Dymond and Annette Atkinson)
TV / Video Production – Ramon Kaviok and Jonathan Kigusiutnak (Teacher: Gord Billard)

Arviat students did very well in the competition. Vayda and Sherilyn both took home gold medals, while Avis, Kimberley, and Katie took home silver in their categories.

In addition, Vayda Kaviok was invited to attend the national Skills Canada Competition in Edmonton, Alberta from May 13-16, 2012 as part of Team Nunavut. During the competition, Vayda will be baking lemon meringue pie, Choux pastry, eclairs and cream puffs, 4 different types of bread and 2 different types of rolls, 2 different types of cookies, and a Genoise Sponge Cake. She will also be graded on cake decorating.

The Hamlet of Arviat congratulates all the Skills Nunavut competitors on their dedication and accomplishments, and thanks everyone who supported the teams.

And the best of luck to Vayda in Edmonton!

On Friday, 13 April 2012, the community of Arviat celebrated the completion of the second Arviat Diamond Driller’s Training (ADDT) course. 10 students successfully completed the training program, which included both classroom and practical components on an operating diamond drilling rig located in Arviat.

Whereas the first course consisted entirely of Arviammiut, this second graduating class included 3 students from other Kivalliq communities – 2 from Rankin Inlet and 1 from Baker Lake. The class also included the program’s first female graduate, Miranda Uqayittaq of Baker Lake.

The completion of the second course concludes the first year of the program. With demand for trained driller’s helpers remaining high throughout Nunavut, and support confirmed from industry, government, and funding partners, the ADDT Advisory Group will meet in the near future to secure funding and determine dates for the second year of the program. Two more 10-week courses are planned for the upcoming year, tentatively scheduled to begin in September 2012 and January 2013.

“With the completion of this course, we now have 21 trained driller’s helpers in Nunavut that we did not have a year ago, 18 of them from Arviat,” said Arviat Mayor Bob Leonard. “I congratulate all the graduates and their families, and wish them luck in their future careers in the mining and drilling industry. And once again, I thank all of our program partners who have continued to offer their support. Without strong partnerships, this program would not have been possible.”

Partners for the ADDT program include the Hamlet of Arviat, Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd., Orbit-Garant Drilling, Boart-Longyear Drilling, the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, the Department of Education, Nunavut Arctic College, Northern College of Ontario, Kivalliq Partners in Development, the Kivalliq Mine Training Society, the Kivalliq Inuit Association, the Contaminates Remediation Training Organization of Canada, and the Government of Canada’s Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership Program.

“The Hamlet of Arviat wants to ensure that local Inuit can benefit from Agnico-Eagle’s activities in the Kivalliq, and their approach is to develop community-driven training programs that prepare people for employment opportunities, ” said Graeme Dargo, the Superintendent of Community Engagement for Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. “There is a demand for trained drillers in the mining industry. The Hamlet forged a partnership to bring together Agnico-Eagle Mines, drilling companies, colleges and government funding agencies to develop and operate the diamond drillers program, which provides certification to graduates that is recognized across Canada, and most importantly leads to immediate jobs and income with our drilling contractors Sarliaq-Orbit and Boart Longyear,” said Dargo. “Agnico-Eagle was pleased to be part of the Hamlet’s superb effort.”

The graduation ceremony, held at Mark Kalluak Community Hall in Arviat, included a traditional performance by Arviat Qiggiqtiit, as well as thanks and congratulations from Arviat MLA Dan Shewchuk, Mayor Bob Leonard, Graeme Dargo of Agnico-Eagle Mines, and David Gorman of Northern College, who presented the students with their graduation certificates.

“The first year of the ADDT program had its challenges, but we achieved our goal of providing people with the training needed to be successful in the mining industry. Several graduates have already been invited by our drilling company partners to interview for jobs,” said Mayor Leonard. “And with about 60 of our residents employed by Agnico-Eagle, and numerous others working with other mining and exploration companies, it has been a good year for Arviat’s involvement in the mining industry.”

As of 17 April, 2012, 3 of the graduates had been invited to interview for positions with Boart Longyear, and 2 have been offered jobs with Forage Orbit-Garant Drilling.

Arviat Diamond Driller’s Training Program graduates, 13 April 2012.

Back row, left to right: Hunter Tattuinee, Chesley Nibgoarsi, Jackson Kablutsiak, George Ipkanerk, Gavin Gibbons.

Front Row, left to right: Ovinik Pilakapsi, Miranda Uqayittuq, Leo Karetak, Andy Illungiayok, Gary Ippiak.

Photo courtesy of Susanne Karetak

For more information, contact:

Keith Collier, Community Economic Development Officer, Arviat

(867) 857-2941

arviatcedo@qiniq.com

The community of Arviat is featured in Explore Magazine’s Spring 2012 issue, on newsstands now. G Adventures (formerly Gap Adventures) is offering a tour to Arviat this summer for the first time, and that tour is included in Explore Magazine’s “Best of Adventure 2012″ list.

Details on the G Adventure tour to Arviat: Canadian Arctic Experience

This highlights the good work being done by the Arviat Community Eco-Tourism project, headed by coordinator Olivia Tagalik and The Tourism Company.

Go to www.visitarviat.ca for more information about tourism in Arviat, or contact Tourism Coordinator Olivia Tagalik at (867)857-2921 or arviat.tourism@gmail.com.

On Thursday, March 2, 2012, a fundraiser was held in Arviat to raise money for the victims of the recent tragic fire in Iqaluit.

Community members Billy Kuksuk and Abraham Eetak, along with others, organized a night of music at Mark Kalluak Community Hall, with proceeds going to help the victims of the fire. Many community members came out to show their support and enjoy the music.

The successful event helped raise over $2,000, which includes a $1,000 donation from the Arviat fire department. The money will go to the Red Cross to assist those affected by the Iqaluit fire.

The Hamlet congratulates all those involved in fund raising, as well as all community members who showed their support.

ADDT program students, February 2012

Following the success of the first Arviat Diamond Drill Training (ADDT) program, the second class of 12 students began the ADDT program on February 6, 2012 in Arviat, NU. During the ten-week program, students will acquire the skills needed to work as Driller’s Helper’s on diamond drilling rigs. These rigs are used for exploratory drilling in the mining industry, and qualified Driller’s Assistants are in high demand.

“We were very happy with the results of the first ADDT program,” said Mayor Bob Leonard, “especially since all 11 graduates of the program have since been offered full-time jobs with drilling companies. We’re confident that with some hard work over the coming weeks, these new students will be just as successful.”

The course is a unique partnership between government, educational institutions, and the mining industry. Partners include:

• Government of Nunavut, Department of Economic Development and Transportation
• Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd.
• Orbit Garant Drilling Services
• Boart Longyear Canada
• The Kivalliq Mine Training Society
• Nunavut Arctic College
• Northern College
• The Kivalliq Inuit Association
• The Contaminants Remediation Training Organization of Canada
• the Hamlet of Arviat

“Many people and partners have worked hard to create this course,” said Mayor Leonard. “And it’s only by working together that we can ensure our communities get as much benefit as possible from the mining activity in our region, and that the mining industry has the resources it needs to successfully do business.”

The second ADDT program wraps up in April, and it is expected that the program will continue to offer training courses in the future.