Monday, April 15, 2013

HAINES JUNCTION – This summer, tourists and Yukoners will have the opportunity to rediscover the Dezadeash River walking trail in Haines Junction, thanks to a class of seven Yukon College students.

The Natural and Cultural Interpretation Essential Skills students at the Haines Junction college campus hiked the six kilometer looping river trail in February. The class then set to work researching and writing topics for a new brochure that will provide information on natural and cultural highlights as walkers enjoy the two-to-three hour self-guided tour.

“The program has been eye-opening. Learning so much about the surrounding area has given me a whole different outlook on the village,” said Marlin Charlie, a Vuntut Gwitchin citizen who has lived in Haines Junction for the past four years.

Instructor Brent Liddle is the former Chief Interpreter at Kluane National Park and one of the original proponents of the Dezadeash River Trail.

“Interpreting is essentially storytelling and engaging people in the immediate environment. Many people don’t realise how many amazing learning opportunities are right on their doorstep,” said Liddle. “The year-round river trail is a way to introduce the students to the fundamental questions applicable to any tourism project: what is the story you are telling? What is the lasting impression you want people to leave with?”

The 15-week program, which included southern tutchone language lessons and classes in public speaking, also attracted two students from Whitehorse.

Kalseylee Mazur-Columberg’s desire to improve her public speaking skills led her to the program, but she enjoyed the language classes most of all. Kathyleen Darbyshire worked at the Da Ku Cultural centre in Haines junction last summer and also took the program to improve her public speaking and presentation abilities.

“I enjoyed the way the class came together to share our traditional knowledge, a lot of which I learned from my grandparents, and work out ways to share it with others,” said Darbyshire.

“This program is in direct response to a request from Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. They wanted to ensure there were opportunities for people to gain the skills required to participate in the tourism industry,” said Patty Moore, the coordinator for the Yukon College Haines Junction campus.

Prior to completing the program in May, the seven students will next undergo a two week work placement at Da Ku Cultural Centre, with the possibility of jobs there for some of the students this summer.

The Natural and Cultural Interpretation Essential Skills program is one of the Northern Adult Basic Education (NABE) projects delivered by nine Yukon College community campuses since last September. Over 70 students have tackled programs as diverse as outdoor engine and equipment repair, housing trades, food prep and GED upgrading.

The Dezadeash River Trail was created in 1991 through a partnership between the Village of Haines Junction, Parks Canada and Ducks Unlimited.

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The seven students are: Kalseylee Mazur-Columberg, Marlin Charlie, Suzanne Hume, John Fingland, Kathryn Baker, Kathyleen Darbyshire, Rebecca Palahicky.

Northern Adult Basic Education Program: The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) is investing over $4.2 million over four years to enhance adult basic education programming in the Yukon. The program will be delivered by Yukon College.

Yukon College will work in partnership with relevant stakeholders in the Yukon including First Nation governments, the local French association, literacy service providers, and employers to introduce programming and build capacity that will significantly improve the literacy and employability skills of Yukoners.

With a strong emphasis on rural programming, each of the projects is designed to uniquely respond to the social and economic realities of the region in which it takes place.

For more information, contact:

Michael Vernon
Communications Coordinator
College Relations
Yukon College
867.668.8786
867.332.4722
mvernon@yukoncollege.yk.ca

Jacqueline Bedard
Director
College Relations
Yukon College
867.456.8619
jbedard@yukoncollege.yk.ca

Sunday, April 14, 2013

WHITEHORSE – Registration has opened for the 2013 YC Kids camps. This year, the program has expanded from 20 to 29 camps between June 17 and August 16 with plenty of fun for children and youth between the ages of 5 and 15.The popular program saw over 500 youth enjoy a range of interactive projects, experiments and recreational activities at Yukon College Ayamdigut campus last summer.

The individual Science, Technology and Trades camps will each run six times with separate offerings for kids aged 8-11 and 11-13 (for Science and Technology) and those aged 9-11 or 11-13 (for Trades).

Plus there are three new camps. Get the Beat Music Camp for kids aged 8-12. This is in partnership with the Yukon Music Camp Society and runs once from July 29 to August 2.

"This is an exciting new solution to an old problem," says Lori LaRochelle, coordinator of the annual Yukon Summer Music Camp. "With 175 people taking over 50 different music classes at different times all in one week, we just cannot provide child supervision too. Every year, we have to disappoint parents who want their children to come to Music Camp but can't take the time off work to accompany them. Now there's a way for those kids to participate too."
The new Munchkin Expeditions camps aimed at children aged 5-7 years are back after a successful trial run in 2012. These week-long day-camps give younger siblings an opportunity to create their own summer memories independent of their older siblings.

Or 5-7 year olds can take in two of the new Best-of YC Kids camps. A week filled with a mix of different Trades, Technology and Science projects and experiments. The Best-of camp is also offered for the 8-11 and 12-15 age groups in August.

All camps are $190 plus GST, except the shorter week of July 1st ($157.50 plus GST). For more information and camp schedules please visit: www.yukoncollege.yk.ca/ce/category/yc_kids_camps

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For more information, contact:

Michael Vernon
Communications Coordinator
College Relations
Yukon College
867.668.8786
867.332.4722
mvernon@yukoncollege.yk.ca

Bunne Palamar
Coordinator  - YC Kids Camps
School of Continuing Education and Training
867.668.5209
bpalamar@yukoncollege.yk.ca

Thursday, April 11, 2013

WHITEHORSE - Yukon College will present 20 Dell laptops, shoulder bags and a wireless printer to Yukon Learn later today. The portable computers will form a mobile training lab to enable Yukon Learn to offer computer literacy courses in communities throughout Yukon.

This $19,000 donation builds upon last years’ successful partnership between Yukon Learn and the College which saw the one and two-week computer literacy courses offered at the Ross River and Carmacks community campuses, with another upcoming in Teslin next month.

Yukon Learn Executive Director Debbie Parent says that this mobile training lab will give the society greater flexibility when offering the courses to the communities.

“Our funding agreements restrict the purchase of assets such as these, so it’s amazing to receive 20 laptops from the College to help us continue and expand our programs,” added Parent.

Tosh Southwick, Director of First Nations Initiatives at Yukon College, said that Yukon Learn continues to be a valuable partner in the offering of adult basic education programs in communities across the Yukon.

Yukon Learn Society is a not-for-profit agency whose mandate is to help Yukon adults improve their literacy, numeracy and computer skills.

Thursday, April 04, 2013

Whitehorse - Science Adventures and the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon are pleased to welcome everyone to the 20th Annual Bridge Building Contest this Saturday, April 06, at Porter Creek Secondary School in the gym.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the competition a new building category has been added.  The “All-CAN” bridge building category honours those engineers that built the Alaska Highway that was once called the Alcan (Alaska/Canada) Highway. There is no limit to the number of builders who can build a bridge. Teams will compete for a special, honorary trophy. 

Bridge viewing happens between 12:00 and 1:00 pm followed by bridge strength testing. This year 10 schools participated in building just over 140 different bridges. Join us to witness the loads these bridges can endure before they break.

“We are really excited to see this program in its 20th year, “said Heather Dundas, Coordinator of Science Adventures at the Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College. “So much passion goes into this event. The youth and families that compete are learning engineering principles, design concepts, building skills, and teamwork, and having a great time. It’s really a spectacular show.”

During the past three months approximately 215 Yukon students and members of the public have been building bridges out of wooden coffee stir sticks, white glue and - in some cases - dental floss.  Robert Service School and Porter Creek Secondary entered the largest number of bridges this year.

The goal? To build the lightest bridge that can hold the most weight using the bridge criteria as set out in the official rules

All competitors receive a certificate that includes a photo of their bridge before testing and a participation prize. Prizes will also be awarded in each category and there are special prizes for best narrative, best looking, strongest and lightest bridge.

Visit www.scienceadventures.ca for details on the competition.

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For more information:

Heather Dundas                                                         
Coordinator, Science Adventures
Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College                   
t 867.668.8739                 
scienceadventures@yukoncollege.yk.ca    

Friday, March 22, 2013

WHITEHORSE – Ten students will graduate this week from the first offering of the Introduction to Mining Operations program at Yukon College.

The 44-day course is the result of a partnership between the college, Education’s Advanced Education branch, Alexco Resource Corp., Yukon Zinc Corp., and Capstone Mining Corp. The goal of the program is to place more local workers in jobs at the territory’s three producing mines.

Following a two-week work placement and successful completion of the program graduates will now be invited to apply for work at one of the three producing mines.

“This new program is assisting Yukoners interested in a career in the mining industry, as well as companies operating in the territory who are eager to employ local residents,” Education Minister Scott Kent said. “Our government is pleased to be a partner in an initiative that responds to emerging labour market needs and is supported by industry.”

“The Introduction to Mining Operations program was a successful partnership between industry, government and the College in developing an entry level training program that addresses short term training and skill requirements at the operating mines,” COO, Alexco Resource Corp. and Chair of the Yukon Producers Group, Brad Thrall said. “This program sets the foundation for an expanded mine training initiative that is essential to a healthy and sustainable Yukon mining industry.”

The program introduced students to surface and underground mining through a combination of classroom and on-the-job training at the territory’s three producing mines.

“Our goal has been to give students an overview of the different stages of the mining process as well as a realistic idea of mine camp life and employer expectations,” instructor Matt Cook said. “One thing we have impressed upon the students is that only 30 per cent of jobs in an operating mine are actually mining. The rest are positions in environmental monitoring, administration, facilities, and maintenance.”

Marc O’Shea-Ferrero is one graduate who has been invited to submit his resume at Wolverine mine.

“I was working with the underground construction crew for the past two weeks – doing a lot of pipe-fitting and setting up bulkheads and fences,” O’Shea-Ferrero said. “I enjoyed the work and enjoyed camp life. I was surprised it was not more physically demanding, but the machinery does a lot of the work for you.”

Jason Johnson completed his work experience at Minto Mine.

“After completing all the safety training and the work experience I definitely have my foot in the door now” Johnson said. “Through this program I have made some good connections with the HR people at all three mines and believe I have a better chance at getting a job than I did three months ago.”

More information, including a full course outline, can be found online at www.yukoncollege.yk.ca/programs/info/mine/.

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For more information, contact:

Michael Vernon
Communications Coordinator
College Relations
Yukon College
867.668.8786
867.332.4722
mvernon@yukoncollege.yk.ca

Matthew Grant
Cabinet Communications
867-393-6470
matthew.grant@gov.yk.ca

Christopher Madden
Communications, Education
867-393-7102
chris.madden@gov.yk.ca