2018 Annual Report

Table of Contents Our History ...... 2 Happy 15th Anniversary! ...... 3 Programming for 2018-2019 ...... 3 Skilled Partnerships Fund ...... 3 Programming for Skilled Partnerships Fund ...... 3 Surface Miner Programs ...... 4 Mineral Process Operator Technician Program ...... 6 Geoscience Field Assistant ...... 7 Introduction to the Mining Industry ...... 9 Safety Boot Camps (Industrial Safety Training) ...... 12 Record Suspensions ...... 16 Skills Link ...... 16 Introduction to Prospecting ...... 17 Ranney Hill Project ...... 18 Diamond Empowerment Fund ...... 19 A Personal Note ...... 21

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Our History

In the early ’90’s the was undergoing a tremendous boom in mineral exploration which led to the opening of Canada’s first diamond mine. The Ekati mine, owned by BHP (and now owned by Dominion Diamond Corporation) was commissioned and made operational in 1998. At that time, the Giant mine in was facing its final closure, the Northwest Territories was undergoing geographical and political division with creation of Nunavut in 1999. The unemployment rate was 13% overall.

This created an available labour pool for Ekati to draw on in terms of skilled and experienced mine workers, as well as drawing on the pool of available trades persons in the various communities of the Northwest Territories.

Diavik Diamond Mines did not have this luxury when it began construction of its mine in 2001 and eventual commissioning in 2003.

It needed a bit more of an innovative approach to developing its own workforce. Working with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Indian and Northern Affairs as well as the Yellowknife Dene First Nation and the Chamber of Mines, Diavik sought to create an ad hoc training committee. The committee looked at creative ways of delivering community based training that would meet the labour force needs of its own operation.

The Mine Training Committee was incorporated in 2003 and officially changed its name to the Mine Training Society in 2004.

It was a successful model that was to used later for the development of the Mine Training Society, and further was replicated in Northern BC, Yukon and Nunavut and Northern Ontario.

Since 2004, the MTS has received over $38.9M in federal funds, with additional cash funding by the GNWT ($1.58M), CanNor ($1.02M), Industry Partners ($1.1M) and Indigenous Partners ($1.02M) as well as in- kind contributions in the amount of $41M for a total of $124M to develop and deliver job readiness, pre- employment and programs for Indigenous people in the North.

The most important statistic is that the MTS has facilitated employment for 7% of the entire working labour force.

NWT LABOUR FORCE July 2019 Total Labour Force (agest 15 to 65 24,100 Employed 22,500 Unemployed 1,700 Not in the labour force 8,200 Source: NWT Bureau of Statistics

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Happy 15th Anniversary!

The Mine Training Society turns 15 on September 4th, 2019. We have come a long way since our early days – from our origins as the “bank of the Mine Training Society” to becoming much more proactive as demanded by our mandate.

The Mine Training Society’s mandate is to maximize an Aboriginal and Northern Workforce to the greatest extent possible, to train in all areas of the industrial sector, provide job assurances wherever and whenever possible, as well as assessing and supporting exploratory pre-employment programs; and to be proactive, conduct needs assessments, be transparent in processes and reporting, and to communicate and coordinate with all potential stakeholders. Programming for 2018-2019

The Mine Training Society has several sources of funding for training-to-employment and its other projects. The funding sources included Employment and Social Development (Skilled Partnerships Fund and Skills Link), Government of the Northwest Territories (Departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Industry, Tourism and Investment) and the Kitikmeot Inuit Association.

Skilled Partnerships Fund

The Mine Training Society entered into a Contribution Agreement with the Government of Canada on June 15, 2017, under the Skilled Partnerships Fund. This is a demand driven, partnership-based program that supports government priorities through strategic partnerships by funding projects contributing to the skills development and training of indigenous workers for long-term, meaningful employment. The agreement runs from June 19, 2017 to April 30, 2020. Under the agreement, the following sums were allocated for expenditure under the proposal submitted in July 2016:

Funds Allocated under Agreement 1435811 Fiscal 2017/2018 $2,141,587 Fiscal 2018/2019 $2,677,979 Fiscal 2019/2020 $2,477,164 Fiscal 2020/2021 $173,253 Total Contribution $7,439,893

In fiscal 2018/2019, the Mine Training Society was approved to carry forward the sum of $647,055.00. These additional funds were expended on Industrial Safety Training (Safety Boot Camps) as well as supporting the delivery of Mineral Process Operator and Surface Miner programs.

Programming for Skilled Partnerships Fund

April 2018 saw the start of two programs: Surface Miner program and Mineral Process Operator program. Both programs were combined at the beginning of the delivery starting April 3, 2018 for the purposes of 3

receiving their safety training under the Safety Boot Camp. The program participants were supported by Page

the Mine Training Society through contributions provided by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

The twenty participants received the following certifications in Safety: • Standard First Aid, CPR and AED • WHMIS • Lock out/tag out • Fall Protection • Confined Space • Radio Operator’s Certificate Aeronautical • Fire Extinguisher • Fit Testing • Safety Leadership

Surface Miner Programs

Surface Miner Program – April 3 to July 15, 2018

The Surface Miners received 12 weeks (360 hours) and developed entry-level knowledge, skill and attitudes outlined in the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) National Occupational Standards for Surface Miners. In this practical hands-on program, the participants were introduced to surface mining operations and mine operations in northern cold-weather environments, using both mining equipment and simulators. The course content focused on surface mining operations, mine safety and mobile mine equipment operation. The participants are not allowed to use the equipment until they have completed their safety knowledge components regarding the machinery.

The delivery included both classroom based and practical training. The Mine Training Society has an agreement with the Mining Industry Human Resources Council that should a participant be enrolled for their occupational certification by their employer, they would be credited 840 of their 1000 required hours upon completion of their traineeship. Their first turn around as a full-time employee would see them earning the additional 160 hours required for their Level 1 Occupational Certification.

Surface Mine Participants (all ten completed)

We received 17 qualified applications for this program.

Surface Miner program participants:

Name Gender Community Michael Baker Male Chantal Bavard Female Norman Wells Austin Blake Male Dakota Burrill Male Fort Smith Miles Away Migwi Male Behchoko

Joshua Rabesca Male Behchoko Carla Simpson Female Behchoko 4

Donovan Simpson Male Gameti Page

Damond Sinclair Male Yellowknife Olivia Zoe Female Behchoko

We completed mock interviews with the participants in early June, 2018.

All ten received offers from DeBeers, Diavik, Dominion Diamond Corporation and Tlicho Logistics.

Surface Miner Program – August 20 to November 23, 2018

Ten individuals were selected for the program. However, three declined the offer: two had obtained employment and one had to deal with financial issues that would not allow him to attend the program. Two left early in the program due to attendance/fit for duty issues. The remaining five successfully completed the program.

The selected participants were as follows:

Name Community Company Georgette Bouvier Completed Spencer Dryneck Behchoko Completed Dion Erasmus Behchoko Completed Savannah Franki Behchoko Completed Bradley Kelly Completed Roland Lafferty Hay River dismissed Dixter Mantla Behchoko dismissed Justin Evans Yellowknife Declined -- employed Thomas Roche Declined – financial difficulties Raeleen Villebrun Yellowknife Declined - employed

All but one participant received offers for traineeships by DeBeers or Dominion Diamond Corporation. One offer was rescinded as the individual missed their start date after having his medical changed twice for his convenience.

SURFACE MINER INTAKE 4 Deadline Date: MARCH 15, 2019 Selection Date: MARCH 27, 2019

Thirty-five applications were received. Three were deemed ineligible as: • One had been offered positions in the program and declined take the program at the last minute. • One had successfully completed the Underground Miner program, which represents a significant investment by the MTS • One had been dismissed from a previous program

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The demographics of the applicants were as follows:

Community Male Female # Accepted Fort Simpson 8 2 2 Fort Smith 3 0 2 Hay River 1 1 2 Fort Providence 4 0 2 0 1 1 Lutsel K’e 2 1 1 2 0 0 Behchoko 3 0 0 Yellowknife 1 2 0 Inuvik 1 0 0

A total of three women were accepted, seven men.

Mineral Process Operator Technician Program

Mineral Operator Technician Program April 3 to July 15, 2018

Twelve individuals were selected to participate in the Mineral Process Operator Technician program in Fort Smith. It began on April 3, 2018 with the Safety Boot Camp, led by Alisa Blake, our Safety Trainer.

In May, mock interviews were held for the Mineral Process Operator Technicians to prepare them for their traineeship interviews with the mines.

The Mineral Process Operator Technician program was designed to qualify candidates for entry-level positions in the area of mineral processing. This program was designed based on the Core Competencies outlined in the Mineral Processing Technician Occupational Standards (Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification division of Education, Culture and Employment, GNWT). These standards served as the basis for the National Occupational Standards developed by MiHR.

The program consists of 12 weeks (360 hours) of classroom and shop components that focus on Orientation to the Industrial Workplace, Safety, Operations, Equipment and Foundation Skills for the Mineral Processing Operator.

Kudos must be given to the Foundations Skills instructors: they held tutorials every day from 4pm to 5pm for the class participants who struggled with the math skills required to be successful.

We received 54 qualified applications for the program.

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Mineral Process Operator Technician participants were:

Name Gender Community Note Orie Bekale Female Gameti Completed Kyle Bertrand Male Completed Myranda Calumet Female Jean Marie River Completed Patrick Chinkon Male Yellowknife (Lutsel K’e) Completed Robert Cockney Male Fort Smith (Inuvialuit) Completed Danica Fehr Female Fort Providence Completed Tammy Gon Female Gameti Completed Liam MacDonald Male Fort Smith Completed Britney Nadli Female Fort Providence Completed Brent Boucher Male Lutsel K’e Dismissed – attendance issues Ethan Catholique Male Lutsel K’e Dismissed – attendance issues Devon Horassi Male Fort Simpson Dismissed – attendance issues

Successful completers of the program were offered traineeships by DeBeers Canada, Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., and Dominion Diamond Corporation. One offer was rescinded by DeBeers as the individual failed to complete the site requirements.

Geoscience Field Assistant

Geoscience Field Assistant May 14 to June 15, 2018

The original curriculum was reviewed and forwarded for formal approval by Aurora College in early 2018. Additional learning materials were developed by the College. We received a contribution agreement from Industry Tourism and Investment (GNWT) in the amount of $12,000 to purchase equipment for the program.

The program began on May 14, 2018, and ended on June 15, 2018. It started with eight participants, with six completing. Only three were recommended for employment.

The five-week (150 hour) Geoscience Field Assistant Training Program was developed to provide participants with the skills and knowledge required to function as productive field assistants in the geoscience and mineral exploration sectors.

The program included core courses that focus on technical skills required of field assistants, as well as safety-oriented modules necessary for those working in remote camp settings. Core courses included: Introduction to the Role of a Geoscience Field Assistant; Communications Skills and Teamwork; Introduction to Orienteering; Applied Computer and Technology Skills; Basic Geology; Sampling; Prospecting; Claim Staking and Mineral Tenure; Geophysical Surveys and Grids; Introduction to Mineral

Exploration; Wilderness First Aid; Helicopter and Fixed Wing Aircraft Safety; Field Camp Skills; Problem Solving and Decision Making; and Document Use and Data Entry. 7

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The program also has a selection of additional courses so that the delivery can be tailored to the needs of specific industry and/or community clients.

Partners in the delivery of this program were: Aurora College, Arctic Response Canada and TerraX Yellowknife Gold Project, and the NWT Geological Survey.

The three recommended participants obtained employment with Aurora Geosciences, TerraX Yellowknife Gold Project and with the NWT Geological Survey.

We received 23 applications for the program.

The Geoscience Field Assistant program participants were:

Name Gender Community Note Chastity Bekale Female Yellowknife Not recommended Shauna Catholique Female Lutsel K’e Recommended Shirley Drybones Female Yellowknife Not recommended Patrick Greenland Male Yellowknife Recommended Shania MacKeinzo Female Tulita Recommended Sesade Wetrade Female Behchoko Not Recommended Jarrett Crookedhand Male Dismissed – attendance issues Patricia Crookedhand Female Yellowknife Left for health reasons

The program was visited by Minister Wally Schumann (Industry, Tourism and Investment) and Cory Vanthuyne, MLA, Yellowknife North. This visit received positive media interest.

Pictured (seated, l to r): Patrick Greenland, Chastity Bekale, Sesade Wetrade, Shania Mackeinzo.

Standing (l to r): Cory Vanthuyne, MLA Yellowknife North, Adam Wough, Arctic Response Canada, Shauna

Catholique, Hon. Wally Schumann, Minister, Industry, Tourism and Investment, Shirley Drybones, Jarrett 8 Crookedhand, Hilary Jones Page

Introduction to the Mining Industry

We advertised for four intakes of Introduction to the Mining Industry to be held in Hay River, , Lutsel K’e and Fort Providence. The programs in Hay River and Fort Resolution were to on November 21, 2018.

Fort Resolution

A selection committee was struck with representatives of Aurora College (Mike MacPherson), Industry (Winter Bailey) and MTS (Alisa Blake and Lindsay DeBassige) reviewed the applications for Hay River and Fort Resolution.

The Introduction to Mining Industry was an additional program for the Ready to Work program supported by the Dehcho First Nation and the NWT Metis Nation. One complete application was received, and four incomplete applications were received. The incomplete applications did not have sufficient information to do an appropriate assessment of the candidates’ potential success. It was decided at that time that the Fort Resolution delivery would be cancelled as only one qualified candidate was available.

Hay River

A total of twenty-eight applications were received. The following individuals were offered positions as participants:

Name Community Gender Notes Kenneth Baton Fort Simpson Male Completed Jessica Clillie Wrigley Female Completed Alisha Grossetete Fort Simpson Female Completed Kody Hardisty-Sangris Jean Marie River Male Completed Isabelle Menacho Jean Marie River Female Completed Dawn Nessel Hay River Female Completed Kyla Norwegian Jean Marie River Female Completed Leann Wrigley Tulita Female Completed Julia Fabian Female Dismissed from program Hilary Norwegian Jean Marie River Female Dismissed from program

The individuals who completed the program are eligible to apply for the Surface Miner program. The program ran from November 19 to December 14, 2018. Our Fort Smith-based Job Coach travelled to Hay River twice: once to brief the students about the Surface Miner program and industry expectations, and on December 14, 2018 to host a completion ceremony.

Lutsel K’e

We received a great deal of support from Florence Catholique, a former Board member, to facilitate the application process for the new year delivery of the Introduction to the Mining Industry in Lutsel K’e. 9

Before December 31, 2018, we received ten applications, nine of whom were offered positions. All but Page

two of the applicants were from Lutsel K’e, with one applicant being from Behchoko and one from Yellowknife. Nine participants started the program, one participant chose to attend different training offered in Lutsel K’e. It is worth noting that several of the participants left employment to complete this pre-requisite training program in order to gain access to the Surface Miner program which begins in April 2019.

The participants in the program were: Name Community Gender Notes Bradley Abel Lutsel K’e Male Completed Corey Beaulieu Behchoko Male Completed Shauna Ann Catholique Lutsel K’e Female Completed Dillon Enzoe Lutsel K’e Male Completed Derian Marlowe Lutsel K’e Male Completed Troy (Paul Johnny) Lutsel K’e Male Completed Marlowe Jessica (Janine) Michel Lutsel K’e Female Completed Timothy Sanderson Lutsel K’e Male Completed Peter Lockhart Lutsel K’e Male Declined offer

Michael MacPherson taught the first two weeks of the program. From reports received from him, this cohort is performed quite well.

We made arrangements with the Lutsel K’e Dene Band to pay the training allowances, based on attendance, and we reimbursed them accordingly. The North Slave office of Education, Culture and Employment provided $15,000 as a contribution to the delivery of the program.

Fort Providence

As with Lutsel K’e, we received a great deal of support from the ASETS Career Development Officer, Shirley Gargan, in recruiting individuals in Fort Providence. The selection committee, made up of the General Manager, and two Industry directors, Winter Bailey and Mike Nolting, reviewed the seventeen applications received, and offered positions to nine individuals, with three individuals ultimately declining the training position.

Name Community Gender Notes Tyler Bonnetrouge Fort Providence Male Completed Victor Fournier Hay River Male Completed Tommy Gargan Fort Providence Male Completed Justin Lacorne Fort Providence Male Completed Leroy Landry Fort Providence Male Completed Griffin Matto Fort Providence Male Completed Erica Menicoche Fort Simpson Female Declined Amanda Minoza Fort Providence Female Declined: participating

in other educational pursuits Kristy Tanche Fort Providence Female Declined 10

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The program was taught by Pat Tymchatyn.

As a result of cost savings by Aurora College, we are able to provide two more offerings of Introduction to Mining in March 2019. The targeted communities were Fort Smith and Fort Simpson. Advertising began in late January and ran throughout February. The successful completers of the program were eligible to apply for the April 2019 delivery of Surface Miner.

The Introduction to Mining Industry program has now been reduced to a four-week delivery schedule.

Fort Smith

A total of 23 applications were received. Participants were given housing at Breynant Hall at Thebacha Campus.

The participants in the program were:

Name Community Gender Notes Jacob Hamilton Hay River Male Completed Laurice Jonasson Lutsel K’e Female Completed Keith Lafferty-Washie Behchoko Male Completed Hunter Lantz Fort Smith Male Completed Robert Tourangeau Fort Smith Male Completed Quentin Weyallon Behchoko Male Completed Tyreshia Rabesca Gameti Female Declined Dori Lefoin Fort Providence Female Declined Amy Rose Frise Hay River Female Did not sign acceptance letter

Mike MacPherson taught the Fort Smith Introduction to Mining Industry

Fort Simpson

The program was taught by Pat Tymchatyn. Only 11 qualified applications were received.

The participants in the program were:

Name Community Gender Notes Dylan Cazon Fort Simpson Male Completed Travis Edda Fort Simpson Male Completed Tia Hardisty Fort Simpson Female Completed Jennifer Kraus Jean Marie River Female Completed Samuel Lennie Inuvik Male Completed Daniel Lund Fort Simpson Male Completed

Stevn Thompson Fort Simpson Male Completed Jordan Nahanni Fort Simpson Male Dismissed Erica Menicoche Fort Simpson Female Declined 11 Page

Safety Boot Camps (Industrial Safety Training)

The Industrial Safety Training program is an in-house program, developed at the request of our mining partners in 2013. It is an evolving program, based on the growing expertise of the Mine Training Society. Our Safety Trainer, Alisa Blake, is the lead on all the programs and we are assisted in the delivery of the program by Arctic Response.

The program is recognized by mining companies throughout the North. The Workers Safety and Compensation Commission as well as CanNor provided the Mine Training Society with funds to purchase our first set of equipment.

The purpose of the Safety Boot Camp is to provide common, industry accepted standardized training for candidates entering into the mining industry in the Northwest Territories. The training meets both the Mine Health and Safety Regulations of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut and meets acceptable standards and best practices.

The secondary purpose of the training is to meet the legislation laid out in other jurisdictions. Examples of these jurisdictions include Federal (Canada Labour Code Part II and COHS regulations which include authority over Uranium mining), Albert (under the Alberta OSH Act, Regulations and Code) and the Northwest Territories and Nunavut General Safety Act and Regulations and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.

It takes 63 hours of classroom time and 10 hours of home study to complete the program.

Certifications include:

• Standard First Aid, CPR and AED • WHMIS • Lock out/tag out • Fall Protection • Confined Space Entry (compliant to CSA Z 1006-10 Entrant, Attendant, First Aid Responder and Dispatcher) • Radio Operator’s Certificate Aeronautical • Fire Extinguisher • Fit Testing • Safety Leadership

Wekweeti

This Safety Boot Camp was delivered at the request of the Tlicho Government. It started on April 16 and ended on April 27, 2018. Fourteen people were accepted into the program. One application was incomplete and could not be brought into the training group. Two individuals quit the program the first day.

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The participants were:

Name Affiliation Gender Notes Johnny Arrowmaker Male Obtained one certification Beazoa Football Wekweeti Female Obtained four certifications Kimberly Football Wekweeti Female Obtained two certifications Colin Judas Wekweeti Male Obtained all certifications Logan Judas Wekweeti Male Obtained six certifications Robert Judas Wekweeti Male Obtained all certifications Heather Kodzin Wekweeti Female Obtained all certifications Brandon Magrum Wekweeti Male Obtained five certifications Vincent Nasken Wekweeti Male Obtained four certifications Rachel Pea’a Wekweeti Female Obtained all certifications Zachary Simpson Wekweeit Male Obtained three certifications Rodney Theriault Behchoko Male Obtained all certifications

Lutsel K’e

The Safety Boot Camp in Lutsel K’e was delivered May 28 to June 8, 2018. A total of 13 applications were received. Of the nine who completed the program, all but two obtained all their certifications. The Safety Trainer was very pleased with the dedication shown by the participants.

The participants were:

Name Affiliation Gender Notes Kisha Abel Yellowknife Female Obtained six certifications Cindy Desjarlais Lutsel K’e Female Obtained all certifications Bianca Lockhart Lutsel K’e Female Obtained all certifications Chase Lockhart Lutsel K’e Male Obtained all certifications Curtis Lockhart Lutsel K’e Male Obtained one certification Nathan Lockhart Lutsel K’e Male Obtained all certifications Peter Lockhart Lutsel K’e Male Obtained all certifications Jessica Michel Lutsel K’e Female Obtained all certifications Kristyn Sanderson Lutsel K’e Female Obtained all certifications

Fort Providence

We delivered the Safety Boot Camp in Fort Providence July 8 to July 20. A total of seventeen applications were received. Three individuals received all certifications and the remaining seven had varying degrees of success.

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The participants were:

Name Affiliation Gender Notes Barrett Bonnetrouge Fort Providence Male Obtained all certifications Roberta Bonnetrouge Fort Providence Female Obtained three certifications Audrey Landry Fort Providence Female Obtained six certifications Anthony Lefoin Fort Providence Male Obtained all certifications Brendan Matto Fort Providence Male Obtained six certifications Amanda Minoza Fort Providence Female Obtained five certifications Cindy Minoza Fort Providence Female Obtained five certifications Warren Sabourin Fort Providence Male Obtained five certifications Derrick Vandell Fort Providence Female Obtained six certifications

Fort Resolution NT

We delivered the Safety Boot Camp in Fort Resolution from October 15 to October 26, 2018. We received 13 applications, with nine attending. Three participants completed all their certifications, with six others having differing levels of success. Our Job Coach and Program Coordinator remain in contact with the participants, doing the appropriate tracking and employment supports.

The participants were:

Name Affiliation Gender Notes Dawna Beaulieu DKFN Female Obtained six certifications Terimae Beaulieu DKFN Female Obtained all certifications Lynn Edjiricon DKFN Female Obtained three certifications Braiden Lafferty DKFN Male Obtained six certifications Gary Lafferty DKFN Male Obtained all certifications Melissa Laroque Metis Female Obtained four certifications Hunter McLeod- DKFN Male Obtained two certifications Delorme Alicea Sanderson Metis Female Obtained all certifications Roberta Sanderson LKDFN Female Obtained five certifications

Nahanni Butte NT

We delivered the Safety Boot Camp in Nahanni Butte from November 19 to November 30, 2018. We received 15 applications, with eleven attending. Two participants completed all their certifications , with ten others having different levels of success. Our Job Coach and Program Coordinator remain in contact with the participants, doing the appropriate tracking and employment supports.

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The participants were:

Name Affiliation Gender Notes Christian Betsaka Nahanni Butte Dene Male Obtained all certifications Synthea Hope Jean Marie FN Female Obtained four certifications Brandon Konisenta Nahanni Butte Dene Male Obtained four certifications James Konisenta Nahanni Butte Dene Male Obtained five certifications Jonathan Konisenta Nahanni Butte Dene Male Obtained five certifications Marcel Marcellais Nahanni Butte Dene Male Obtained six certifications Pheobe Marcellais Nahanni Butte Dene Female Obtained three certifications Morgan Matou Nahanni Butte Dene Male Obtained four certifications Delores Helen Nahanni Butte Dene Female Obtained six certifications McPherson Qualin Matou Nahanni Butte Dene Male Obtained all certifications Melvin Vital Nahanni Butte Dene Male Obtained six certifications

Kugluktuk NU

In partnership with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, the Mine Training Society delivered a Safety Boot Camp in Kugluktuk NU from January 7 to January 18, 2019.

CBC North travelled to Kugluktuk on January 15th and did a television interview with Alisa and some of her students on what the program means to them.

The participants were:

Name Affiliation Gender Notes Damien Alec Algiak Kugluktuk Male Was absent for all days but 1 Felix Anablak Kugluktuk Male Did not attend Juliane Angulalik Kugluktuk Female Obtained six certifications Shannon Ayaligak Kugluktuk Female Did not attend Avery George- Kugluktuk Male Completed all certifications Gallagher Kathleen Hanak Kugluktuk Female Completed all certifications Thomas Hitkolok Kugluktuk Male Did not attend Robin Ilgogk Kugluktuk Male Obtained six certifications Joseph Kadlun Kugluktuk Male Was absent for all days but 1 Mathew Kokak Kugluktuk Male Obtained all certifications Ellie Okaitok Kugluktuk Female Obtained four certifications Kelvin Taipana Kugluktuk Male Obtained six certifications

Ten thousand dollars was received from the Kitikmeot Inuit Association as a contribution for the delivery

of the program.

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Yellowknife NT Thirty applications were received for this intake of industrial safety training. Six applications received were incomplete and were not forwarded to be considered for selection. Ten applicants were offered positions in the program, all located in Yellowknife. One person declined, and two failed to show for the program. The remaining seven had varying degrees of success, with five completing all modules of the program. Five individuals obtained employment.

Ten thousand dollars was received from North Slave office of Education, Culture and Employment in support of the delivery of this program.

Applications received other than those from Yellowknife, came from: Bechoko: 2 Wrigley: 3 Wha Ti: 1 Hay River: 1 Fort Simpson: 1 Deline: 1

Participants in the program were: Name Affiliation Gender Notes Adrian Black-Quitte Yellowknife Male Obtained five certifications Greg Dryneck Yellowknife Male Completed all certifications Jeremy Franki Yellowknife Male Completed all certifications Dustin Greenland Yellowknife Male Completed all certifications Matthew Kimiksana Yellowknife Male Completed all certifications Derek Sangris Yellowknife Male Completed all certifications Joseph Tobie Yellowknife Male Obtained five certifications Lloysanda Flunki Yellowknife Female Did not show up for class Terrence Yendo Yellowknife Male Did not show up for class Maverick Betsina- Yellowknife Male Declined Kenny

Record Suspensions

The Mine Training Society has been working with approximately 50 people in obtaining their Record Suspension (formerly known as a Pardon). We have had success in obtaining the Record Suspension for 10 participants. Of the remaining 40 applicants, a majority of the files have been closed due to inaction by the client. Most, if not all, had difficulty in dealing with the Measurable Benefit form as it requires a great deal of self-reflection and writing about the “who, what, when, where and why” of their criminal convictions. Those individuals who stick to the process and work through the documentation, are usually successful in obtaining their Record Suspension.

Skills Link

The Skills Link program is a component of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy (YES). 16

Through funding of organizations, the Skills Link program helps youth overcome barriers to employment, Page

develop a broad range of skills and knowledge in order to participate in the current and future labour market and to promote education and skills as being key to labour market participation.

The Mine Training Society entered into an agreement with the Government of Canada under the Skills Link program on March 21, 2017. The agreement expires March 31, 2020. The total value of the contribution agreement is $777,138.

The project was initially designed for “Skills to Drill”, a training-to-employment program, delivered in partnership with McCaw North Drilling and Blasting Ltd. It was originally designed to assist 48 participants through safety and drill use training and Employability Skills. Six intakes were originally designed over three years of the project.

The second year of the project 2018-2019 saw a decline in the number of applicants and intakes of the programming. There were many factors affecting the success of the programming:

• The president of the company, Devon McCaw, left Yellowknife to build McCaw Drilling East to support his Newfoundland contracts, and thereby did not have the capacity to support the program from within; • The lead contact for the training project, Scott Martin, left Yellowknife to support Mr. McCaw with his Newfoundland project and has subsequently left the company; • The individual placed to “run” the project for McCaw is an accountant and had no understanding of training and development of the workforce.

We advertised throughout Nunavut and Yellowknife for the one intake scheduled for 2018-2019 and was to be delivered before December 2018. Two participants completed their classroom portion of the program, and only one completed the practical portion. We did have four selected, but two were dismissed in the first few days as they did not show up “fit for duty”.

In the final quarter of the fiscal year, the General Manager met with the Senior Development Officer on the file with Service Canada to discuss the expansion of the program to the with NorZinc, and with the Lutsel K’e Dene First Nation. The expansion was approved.

We agreed to support the Youth programming in Lutsel K’e for the summer of 2019 in the amount of $32,000 for 20 participants. Heavy Equipment Operator Training in the Dehcho is scheduled for September 2019.

Introduction to Prospecting

In April 2018, the Mine Training Society was requested to submit a budget to Industry Tourism and Investment (ITI) for the delivery of two Introduction to Prospecting: one for Yellowknife/N’Dilo/Dettah residents and one for regional participants from the Beaufort Delta, Sahtu, Deh Cho, South Slave and Tli Cho.

Advertising for the program was done through print media, radio and Facebook advertising.

In addition to the delivery of the program, a video was created to highlight prospecting in the NWT, based 17 on the four days of delivery of the program. The video was delivered to ITI for the completion of the Page

“bookends” – ITI branding with partnership logos. This was completed just before the November Geoscience conference in Yellowknife. It was presented by Janine Blain at a workshop on the Introduction to Prospecting for the benefit of participants. The video was also used by ITI at Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada in March 2019. The Mine Training Society has posted it to its Facebook page, and shall renew it every month until June.

The Yellowknife/N’Dilo/Dettah delivery (June 23 and 24) had 20 registrants, thirteen of whom attended the first day, and ten the “prospecting” day at the Ranney Hill trail. The regional delivery had seventeen registrants with 14 showing up for the theory day and 13 participating at the Ranney Hill site. All participants were given prospecting tools (hammer, glasses, compasses, magnetic pens, and loupes) as well their prospector’s license and a first set of tags.

Jessica Bjorkman continues to lead the courses with the goal to inspire as many new prospectors as possible. She provides the perspective of both working in industry and optioning properties to mining companies as a prospector. She believes in gold fever and boots on the ground to be a successful prospector and instills each participant with the hope that he or she is capable of finding a mine.

Ranney Hill Project

The Mine Training Society was asked by the Ranney Hill Working Group to administer its Ranney Hill trail project, with funding from Industry, Tourism and Investment.

The purpose of the project was to install walkways, interpretive trail markers, and benches along the Ranney Hill Trail, which is accessible by driving up the Vee Lake Road. The hiking trail is 2.5 kms long and is a popular destination for tourists, students alike.

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A view of Yellowknife from the top of Ranney Hill

Ryan Bachynski, a Yellowknife-based geologist was hired to be the part time Project Manager. He was flexible in dealing with changing schedules, negotiating with suppliers, changing scopes of work as well as working with volunteers.

The original flagging for the trail was removed by Yellowknife Scouts and a donation was made to the Scouting group based on the number of hours worked. So too, did the Yellowknife Ski Club High Performance Team volunteered to assist with the laying of gravel. It was a particularly wet summer which assisted in identifying locations on the trail that became muddy and difficult to walk in. Acasta Helicopters provided service to the project by slinging the gravel bags to the remote locations along the trail.

All seven school boards and districts in the North Slave used the trail as did Aurora College and MTS for education purposes. Numerous tourists, tourism groups and local residents have used the trail. The Ranney Hill trail is used by MTS in its Introduction to Prospecting Training.

Part of the project was to install posts for interpretive signs along the trail. The posts for the signage were drilled and installed by the summer students from the NWT Geological Survey.

Construction was actually delayed due to nesting season.

An interpretive App is under development and testing for use by tourists visiting the area. The Mine Training Society received $3,675.00 for its administrative work.

Phase II of the project is slated for the summer of 2019.

Diamond Empowerment Fund

The Diamond Empowerment Fund was established in 2008 to assist youth in the diamond mining communities of the World. This fund is now available to youth living in the Northwest Territories and the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut. 19 Page

We were approached by the Diamond Empowerment Fund in 2018. They provided the Mine Training Society with $25,000 (USD) for five scholarships. Minister Schumann recommended to the Diamond Empowerment Fund that the Mine Training Society be contacted to administer the fund.

The Subcommittee of the Board of Directors, namely Winter Bailey, Jason Snaggs and the General Manager, developed terms of reference for the distribution of the funds.

The fund was announced in March 2019 at the Kimberlite Centre. The announcement was done jointly with Minister Wally Schumann (Industry, Tourism and Investment), Nancy Orem (Diamond Empowerment Fund) and Winter Bailey, in her capacity as a Director of the Mine Training Society.

The Diamond Empowerment Fund has been established to give back to the communities that are within the geographical location of diamond mines. The fund has been established to assist youth in seeking additional training and/or education in:

• Vocational training (for example, trades training, skills training) • Entrepreneurial training for setting up businesses: Aboriginal Business and Entrepreneurial Training (BEST); Management Studies; NABE program (6 week entrepreneurship) Maker Space; working to a business plan. • Post-secondary education: high school students entering first year must provide letters of acceptance (Areas of Interest, STEM, health care and mental health, addictions counselling)

Funds can cover traveling and accommodation costs. The fund shall be made up of five $5,000 scholarships based on the following eligibility requirements:

Applicants must: • Be resident of the Northwest Territories or the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut; • Be between the ages of 18 to 30 at the time of application; • Submit a cover letter explaining the need for a scholarship and the career project he/she wants to undertake • Provide two references (either a teacher, former employer, band counsellor). Please note references from family members will not be accepted. • Provide letter of acceptance to vocational, entrepreneurial or post-secondary education or training. • Attend full time or e-learning opportunity • 70% on TEE, 70% overall average, proof of attendance • Transcripts

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A Personal Note

This is my last annual report for the Mine Training Society.

I would like to thank our amazing Board of Directors who show such great dedication to our organization; our present and former Chairpersons (Alan Harman, Iris Catholique, Gaeleen MacPherson, Kelly Arychuk, Grant Douzieh and Brad Enge) for all their thoughtful insight, support and direction given to me.

I also want to thank all the wonderful staff I have worked with over the past 13 years. I have learned a lot from them – patience, joy, out of the box thinking as well as laughter.

It’s time for me to hang up my skates and turn the captaincy of the team over to Shari Caudron.

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