Aurora College Currents
Newsletter for Students of Aurora College
Featured
5
Prime Minister Harper
meets AC employees in
Hay River
10
Trades Awareness Program a
huge success
12
Future Teachers learn valuable
lessons on the land
Aurora College Currents - Spring Summer 2013
www.auroracollege.nt.ca
Office of the President
Contents
President’s Message
ARI Holds Fourth Annual Research Poster Display
Electrical Apprentice Wins Gold at Skills Competition
Office Administration Students Get Hands-On Training
PM visits Hay River
Developmental Studies Student Wins Medals
New Staff Announcements
Literacy Week at Aklavik CLC
Trades Awareness Program 2013 A Huge Success
ARI Summer Student Completes Last Summer Internship
Future Teachers Learn Valuable Lessons On The Land
Practice North Career Conference Connects Students with Employers
Space Biologist Visits AC and Local Schools
Jolene Lennie Completes an Internship at ARI
Literacy Week Events at Thebacha Campus
ENRTP Second-Year Students Display Research Posters
Summer Outreach Activities at WARC
Northwest Territories Recipients Honoured During Literacy Week
Student Association Election Results
HEO Instructor Retires After 33 Years
Developmental Studies Pilots New Reading Assessment Tool
www.auroracollege.nt.ca
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Aurora College Currents
Student Newsletter
Message from the President
It’s hard to believe that nearly two
months have passed since the beginning
of the 2013-14 Academic Year. It feels
as though classes have just begun, and
already we are into mid-term exams and
assignments in many programs.
So far, this has been an exciting, busy
year at Aurora College, as you can see by
the many items in this newsletter - and this
only scratched the surface of great things
that are being done and accomplished
by our students and staff. We would like
to continue to celebrate and share those
achievements and events with each other,
our partners and the larger community.
So I encourage you to forward what is
happening in your classes, programs,
schools, campuses and community learning
centres to the Communications Office:
[email protected].
As well, check out our Facebook
page for posting of current photos
and upcoming events.
https://
www.facebook.com/pages/AuroraCollege/131796776862510?ref=hl. Like
us to receive regular updates.
I would like to applaud the organizers
of the Stay Safe Assemblies at Aurora
Campus and Yellowknife North Slave
Campuses. It is important that all
students (and staff) know how to protect
themselves and what their options and
rights are in a number of situations. It
is our responsibility as a College to do
everything we can to help ensure the
safety of everyone in our institution.
These assemblies are an excellent way
to share information and get people
thinking about how to stay safe.
During the next few weeks, Thebacha
Campus and Aurora Campus will host the
Inquiry Exhibit, a then-and-now look at the
impact of the Berger Inquiry on Canada’s
north and the (then) emerging issues of
Aboriginal land claims and environmental
versus industrial concerns. The Inquiry
Exhibit will be on display at Thebacha
Campus from Oct. 28 until about noon
Oct. 31, and at Aurora Campus Nov. 4–7.
This exhibit is open to the public as well
as students and staff of Aurora College.
An opening ceremony will be held at each
campus; watch around campus and on our
Facebook page for more information.
Campus Resources
This newsletter is published
for the students of Aurora
College and is produced by
the Communications Office.
Your contributions and comments
are most welcome. Please send
them to [email protected]
or phone 867-872-7015
Jane Arychuk, Aurora College President
In closing, I would like to remind
students of the many services offered
to them on each campus. The Student
Success Centres, Wellness Coordinators
and Student Counsellors are all there to
support whatever needs you may have:
academic, personal, family, financial, etc.
You are not alone. As well, take advantage
of the many extracurricular activities and
events that are offered at each campus
for students and families. Work hard, but
have fun, too!
For more information on Student Services check out:
www.auroracollege.nt.ca and click on Current and Future students.
Libraries are located at all three campuses and the Aurora Research Institute’s Inuvik location. They contain
more than 25,000 books, periodicals, videos, government documents, and web-based resources. Internet
access and inter-library loan services are also available.
Students have access to fully-equipped computer labs at all three campuses; most Community Learning
Centres have computer labs or work stations. Every student can set up their own “myauroracollege” email
account for their academic and personal use.
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Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
3
The Aurora Research Institute holds 4th Annual Research
Poster Display at the 2013 Inuvik Petroleum Show
By ARI staff
The
Aurora
Research
Institute
(ARI) participated in the 2013 Inuvik
Petroleum Show (IPS) by holding their
annual Research Poster Display. Held
every June, the IPS is a two-day-long
tradeshow and conference that brings
together industry, government and
regional stakeholders to discuss key
issues relating to natural resource
development and extraction in the
western Arctic. The Research Poster
Display is a great opportunity for ARI
staff to showcase relevant research
projects, results, and discoveries in the
Beaufort Delta region.
Posters were submitted by research
groups from across Canada and around
the world whose research is based in
the western Arctic. The Research Poster
Display covered a wide range of topics
this year, including spatial science,
coastal processes, aquatic biology, river
ice, alternative energy, permafrost, and
botany. It was nice to see how motivated
the researchers were to contribute their
work to the display.
There were also several posters
dedicated to research projects that are
led by ARI, including the Indigenous
Seed, Wind Energy Feasibility, and
PeopleACE projects. The PeopleACE
display was interactive, allowing visitors
to use lap tops to search historical
NWT research licenses using an online
database.
There were also poster
displays dedicated to some of the
projects ARI is partnered on, including
our regional air quality, permafrost, and
water quality monitoring programs.
All of the posters from the 2013 ARI
Research Poster Display are on display
in the hallways of the Western Arctic
Research Centre in Inuvik. Anyone
who’s interested in viewing them is
welcome to stop by and take a look.
Electrical Apprentice Office Administration Students Get Hands-on Training
Wins Gold at
Students in the Office Administration events, both large and small.
Diploma
Program at Aurora Campus are
As part of the course, students brainstorm
Skills Competition
working hard on their latest assignment.
ideas, establish terms of reference, write a
School of Trades, Apprenticeships &
Industrial Training student Richard Nearly
took home the gold in the 19th Annual Skills
Canada National Competition.
One of 16 members of the NWT skills
team, Richard won the medal after a twoday competition which tested his ability in
residential and industrial electrical work.
Richard, who currently lives in Yellowknife,
was surprised and humbled by the win.
Originally from B.C., he moved to Yellowknife
over three years ago to work on his electrical
apprenticeship at Aurora College.
This is the 15th time the Northwest
Territories has completed in the event.
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As part of their curriculum, students
are required to plan out and execute a
large special event. Encompassing skills
learned in their certificate year, this
year’s students in the Executive Office
Procedures course are learning all about
event management by planning an
Aboriginal Wellness conference, to be
held in early December.
Instructor Theresa Ross says “it’s a lot of
work for the students, but the skills that
they refine are essential to helping them
succeed in the workplace.” She adds an
administrative assistant will be called upon
to organize and manage many different
Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in Hay River in August to make an announcement about funding for mine training. While in Hay River, the prime
minister and several federal ministers visited the Hay River Community Learning Centre to speak with a former student. He took a few moments out
of his schedule to pose with some Aurora College employees (from left to right). Shannon Laffin, Community Adult Educator (CAE), Hay River, Ken
Latour, Regional Program Head, Akaitcho & South Slave; Janice Mercredi, Divisional Administrative Assistant, Hay River; Yvonne Hopkins, CAE,
Fort Liard; Jane Arychuk, Aurora College President; Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Heather McCagg-Nystrom, Vice President, Community &
Extensions; Laurie Ann Lines, CAE, Ndilo-Dettah; Adam Smith, CAE, Hay River; Dean Harvey, CAE, Fort Simpson; Brandon Ashcroft, Building
Trades Helper Instructor, Hay River.
proposal, develop a budget and then plan
and execute the event. It’s a comprehensive
project that covers everything from
fund-raising, organizational skills, writing
different types of letters as well as following
up and doing some self-evaluation.
This year’s conference will include
aboriginal games and food, along with
such topics as how to manage stress,
developing personal organization skills,
and learning how to incorporate and
balance family wellness.
Students at Aurora Campus and their
families will be invited to participate in
the day-long workshop once a date is set.
Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
Developmental Studies student Michelle Bourke received gold medals for
the highest marks in the NWT on the
English 30-2 and SS 30-2 Departmental
Exams in June 2013.
The medals reveal a clever mind, a
skill with language and a lot of hard
work and dedication. Excellent work
Michelle.
Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
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A
urora College has welcomed a number of new faculty and staff members recently.
We would like to introduce you to some of them. If we have missed anyone,
please let us know so we can include those new employees in the next newsletter.
Dr. Diane Reed, Vice President
of Education & Training
Diane Reed comes to Aurora College with
a professional history which includes roles
in teaching, research, and administrative
leadership in post-secondary education
institutions in Western Canada. These
include Medicine Hat College, the Open
Learning Agency, the Saskatchewan
Institute of Applied Science and Technology,
the Native Education College, and the
University of British Columbia Okanagan.
Most recently, she held the position of
Interim and Founding Dean of the Faculty
of Health Sciences at the University of
the Fraser Valley. Dr. Reed’s academic
credentials include a Bachelor of Science
degree in Nursing from the University of
Saskatchewan, as well as a Master’s degree
in Adult Education and a doctoral degree in
Educational Leadership & Policy, both from
the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Reed’s work experiences in postsecondary education include planning,
development, management, and evaluation
of programs of study. She has worked with
programs in distance, open, and distributed
learning formats as well as more traditional
approaches to organizing curriculum and
facilitating learning, including in institutions
with multiple campuses. Through her formal
education and work in post-secondary
institutions, and in government, Dr. Reed
brings experience with the challenges of
how post-secondary institutions organize
themselves to respond to learner and
community needs, what their academic and
administrative accountabilities are, how
they are governed, and the importance
of partnerships. As a lifelong learner, she
enjoys the challenge of integrating theory
and practice in her professional activities and
helping others do the same.
Trevor Clark, Chair,
School of Business and Leadership
Trevor Clark comes to Aurora College’s
School of Business and Leadership with
a wealth of education, experience and
expertise.
He holds three degrees from the
University of Alberta: Bachelor of Science,
Masters in Business Administration and
an LLB. He has practiced law – both in
private practice and as corporate counsel
– and was a Managing Director for the
Legal Education Society of Alberta.
His instructional experience includes
accounting, business law and economics
at several post-secondary institutions,
including University of Alberta, University
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of Lethbridge, Keyano College and NAIT. In
addition, he has taught at the University of
New South Wales, Australia, and in China.
Clark has also been an Academic Chair at
SAIT. His other accomplishments include
co-authoring the Business Law in Canda
textbook and its companion website.
Clark is committed to academic
excellence and academic integrity. He
strives to incorporate the use of technology
to engage students. As well, he believes
strongly in achieving goals through
teamwork, collaboration and consensus
building.
Marina Devine,
Manager,
Program Development
Marina Devine is responsible for negotiating
and managing the development of new
programs, program evaluations, corporate
funding and third-party projects and will
work jointly with the Director of Finance on
accountability related activities.
She has had a long and varied career
in
northern
public
administration,
communications and higher education.
Most recently, she worked with the NWT
Legislative Assembly as Assistant Director of
Research, Library and Information Services,
supporting MLA committees, reviewing
Auditor General of Canada reports, the NWT
Public Accounts, legislative proposals, and
departmental business plans. She was the
Manager, Adult and Post-secondary Education
at the Department of Education, Culture
and Employment (ECE). Devine has taught
in the Developmental Studies and Bachelor
of Education programs at Thebacha Campus
and worked as the College’s Senior Research
Analyst. Previously, she spent ten years with
NWT Aboriginal groups, as Executive Director of
the Western NWT Aboriginal Summit and the
Native Communications Society, and Executive
Coordinator of the NWT Metis Nation, among
others. She also worked as a print and broadcast
journalist and communications consultant, a
Ministerial executive assistant, policy advisor,
and evaluation research officer.
Devine has lived in the Northwest Territories
since 1975. She has completed a Bachelor of
Arts in Linguistics, including studies in Inuktitut,
from Carleton University; a Master of Arts
in Public Administration, also from Carleton;
and the Aurora College Certificate in Adult
Education. She’s also just three credits short of
a Master of Arts in English from the University
of Victoria, but says completion of that degree
will likely be a retirement project.
Aurora College Currents - Spring Summer 2013
Sharon Miron, Chair, School of Developmental Studies
Sharon Miron is responsible for the
overall academic and philosophical
leadership and management of the School
of Developmental Studies and its faculty
College-wide with particular emphasis
on maintaining academic excellence and
integrity in the School. She works very
closely with the Department of Education,
Culture and Employment as ALBE curricula
is Ministerial approved.
In addition,
Miron will work closely with three ALBE
Senior Instructors located in Fort Smith,
Yellowknife and Inuvik. She is the ALBE/
Access curricula lead for the School of
Developmental Studies.
Miron has a Bachelor of Education
and a Master’s Degree in International/
Intercultural Education. She taught with
Edmonton Public School Board, overseas
in two countries, and with the Faculty of
Extension at the University of Alberta. As a
District Resource Teacher in Bhutan, Asia,
she was responsible for the administration
and implementation of a modernized
curriculum for the elementary schools in
one district of the country.
Miron grew up in Hay River and returned
to the north in 1998 to Aurora College.
She taught in Developmental Studies for
12 years in Hay River, Yellowknife and Fort
Smith as well as in the Teacher Education
Program. While teaching Developmental
Studies in Yellowknife, she was seconded to
develop the Exit Exams for the ALBE English
courses. In 2009, she received the Aurora
College Service Quality Award for her work
in completing the Ministerial approved
ALBE 120-150 English Exit Exams. This past
year, Miron worked as the Acting Chair of
the School of Developmental Studies.
Mike Pickles, Program Head,
Bachelor of Education
Pauline Gordon,
Coordinator, ALCIP
Mike Pickles has taken on the role of
Program Head, Bachelor of Education,
with the School of Education. He holds
several degrees, including Bachelor of
Arts, Bachelor of Education and Masters
of Education. Pickles has two decades of
teaching experience: 18 years in Canada,
as well as stints in Guyana, Ecuador
and Malawi (Africa). In addition, he is a
published author.
Pauline Gordon will be taking on the role
of coordinating the Aboriginal Language and
Cultural Instructor Program this year.
She has an extensive background in
education in the North, including several
years as NWT Assistant Deputy Minister
of Education. We are pleased that Pauline
Gordon has agreed to join us and bring along
her passion, knowledge, and many years of
experience in the field of education.
Dan Brown,
Senior Instructor,
Thebacha Campus
Developmental Studies
Lia Ruttan, Manager/Instructor,
Social Science Research Programs, ARI
Lia Ruttan is returning to Aurora College
in the position of Manager / Instructor,
Social Science Research Programs. She
will also be instructing in the health and
human service programs at the Yellowknife
Campus. Dr. Ruttan lived in Fort Smith
for many years. More recently she has
worked in social and health research with
Aboriginal communities and also taught
university courses in Edmonton, where she
received her doctorate in Human Ecology
from the University of Alberta. Her thesis
involved extensive oral history work with
Elders from Fort Smith regarding how their
perceptions of their own history differ
from Western perceptions and how that
affects interaction with current Western
institutions. Dr. Ruttan has published
articles on research on culturally adapted
substance abuse prevention projects,
homeless
youth,
community-based
participatory research methods and
research ethics.
She is looking forward to connecting
her earlier work with the college and her
interim experience with new work with
the college faculty, staff and students.
Aurora College Currents - Spring Summer 2013
Dan Brown is the new Senior Instructor
of the Thebacha Campus Developmental
Studies Program.
He has spent his working life tending
to the needs of people: first as an EMAII
Paramedic in Vancouver, and then as an
educator in the Northwest Territories.
While working in emergency services, he
successfully competed in First Aid/Paramedic
competitions across Canada and around the
world, winning two World Championship
titles.
After 15 years in emergency services,
he decided to change his profession and
surroundings. He enrolled in the Aurora
College Teacher Education Program at
Thebacha Campus, graduated with honours
and completed his Bachelor of Education at
the University of Saskatchewan, finishing on
the Dean’s List. Brown taught in Behchoko
and Fort Providence before returning to
Aurora College to instruct. He recently
completed the course requirements for this
Master’s in Education Administration, and is
completing his thesis: Experiential Learning
and its Impact on Dene Post-Secondary
Completion.
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Zahra Khimji, Senior Instructor, Inuvik
Community Learning Centre
Zahra Khimji is the new Senior Instructor
of the Inuvik Community Learning Centre.
She has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
and a Master’s of Education. Her northern
teaching career began in Hay River,
where she was a supply teacher and the
coordinator of the After School Homework
Club for the Hay River Metis Council. She
continued on to Tuktoyaktuk, Fort Good
Hope and Inuvik. In Fort Good Hope, Khimji
taught high school math and science and
organized the school science fair.
In 2006, she began working as an Adult
Educator in Tuktoyaktuk; her efforts to help
learners succeed earned her the Aurora
College Innovation Award. In 2009, Khimji
left Aurora College to join Samuel Hearne
Secondary School in Inuvik as the Senior High
Math and Science teacher. During her time
at Samuel Hearne Secondary School, she
organized the school and regional science
fairs, launched the Brain Gain Program, and
travelled with her students to an orphanage
in Ehiopia. Her students have won two
bronze and one silver medal at Canada
Wide science fairs and the Minister’s Award
for Academic Achievement in Biology 30
and Math 30-2.
NWT Literacy Week at Aklavik CLC
(Left) Edward
McLeod celebrates
Literacy Week
2013.
Search Aurora
College on
Facebook and
Like Us today!
(Right) Theme
for NWT Literacy
Week 2013
is ‘Financial
Literacy’.
New staff members 2013/2014 Academic Year
Lisa Gosse
Leah Desjarlais
Janet Ferguson
Eric Hoogstraten
Kumari Karunaratne
Greg Nissen
David Tilley
Kathleen Mullin
Jonathan Wood
Shane O'Kane
Christopher Camenzuli
Mahalia Villibrun
Charlene Elias
Instructor, Bachelor of Education Program
Instructor, Thebacha Campus Developmental Studies
Instructor, Bachelor of Education Program
Instructor, Inuvik Learning Centre
Instructor, ENRTP
Instructor, Housing Maintainer
Instructor, Inuvik Learning Centre
Student Life and Wellness Coordinator
Student Life and Wellness Coordinator
Counsellor
Information Technology Technician
Asset and Inventory Officer
Security-Custodian Thebacha Campus
Thebacha Campus
Thebacha Campus
Inuvik CLC
Thebacha Campus
Aurora Campus
Inuvik CLC
Yellowknife Campus
Aurora Campus
Aurora Campus
Yellowknife Campus
President's Office
Aurora Campus
While discussing tactics during a WWII history lesson, Bachelor of Education students were ambushed by instructor Peter Kikkert.
Feel out of the loop? Check out: www.auroracollege.nt.ca
www.auroracollege.nt.ca And
Event schedules • Program information
News Stories • Contact information
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Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
much
more...
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Trades Awareness Program 2013 A Huge Success
Students from across the South Slave were
in Fort Smith September 23-27 to participate
in the popular week-long Trades Awareness
Program (TAP) at Aurora College, Thebacha
Campus in Fort Smith.
More than 50 students gained hands-on
experience as they rotated through several
trades, including Cooking, Heavy Duty
Equipment Technician and Carpentry. TAP
is a partnership between Aurora College,
the South Slave Divisional Education Council
(SSDEC) and GNWT Education, Culture &
Employment - South Slave Region.
“Aurora College’s Thebacha Campus has
skilled instructors and well-equipped shops
that make this a real skill-building opportunity
for the program participants,” says Diane
Reed, Vice President, Education & Training.
“Students who attend these programs will
have a unique understanding of what it takes
to be successful in the trades field after they
graduate from high school.”
The Trades Awareness Program exists to
give students in small high schools access to
the trades shops, equipment and instructional
expertise available at Aurora College, as well
as the Fort Smith business community.
“Typically, because of their small size, many
schools in the NWT are not able to offer a
variety of trades programs,” notes Curtis
Brown, Superintendent of the SSDEC. “Our
students benefit greatly by this. Student
interest is definitely there. Our partnership
with Aurora College and the ECE Career Centre
in Fort Smith has benefitted hundreds of South
Slave students since its inception.”
The partner organizations believe this
form of hands-on trades exposure will assist
youth in planning for their futures. Jacqueline
McLean, EC&E Regional Superintendent
for the South Slave remarks, “We welcome
the opportunities that these partnerships
present for providing youth with work related
experience, skills development and career
related resources that are meaningful for
students.”
Since 2005, the Trades Awareness Program
has provided exposure to the trades and other
College program offerings to junior and senior
high students in the South Slave. The program
is now in its eighth year.
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Aurora College Currents - Spring Summer 2013
Jasmine Brewster finishes her last summer as a
summer student at the ARI
By Erika Hille and Jasmine Brewster
At the end of August 2013, Jasmine
Brewster completed her last summer as a
summer student at the Aurora Research
Institute (ARI). Since she started her Biology
degree at St. Francis Xavier University in
2009, Jasmine has been spending her
summers working at ARI in Inuvik. In her
own words, “This job has not only given me
the experience I needed to continue on to a
Masters program, but it has also opened up
connections in the research world that I hope
to use in the future.”
During her time at ARI, Jasmine has
worked with many research groups and has
been exposed to a broad range of research
disciplines. For example, this past summer,
Jasmine worked with a Masters student
from McGill University, whose project
looks at the effects of shoreline melting
and slumping on the invertebrates living in
streams. “This has given me a preview of
what life in a Masters program will be like,”
she says. Jasmine has also worked with field
research teams investigating the ecology
of Noell Lake, collecting water, chlorophyll,
and zooplankton samples. She says, “This
allowed me to experience different methods
of sampling, whether it was sampling from
land, a boat or a helicopter. Also, working
on this project has taught me a lot about
the important components of natural lakes
and how they’re analyzed.” Other unique
experiences Jasmine had this summer
included surveying beluga populations in the
Arctic Ocean and taking part in Ocean’s Day in
Sachs Harbour.
ARI summer student, Jasmine Brewster, geared up to college invertebrates from streams near
Fort McPherson
After she completes her Biology degree,
Jasmine would like to pursue a Masters
degree in Marine Ecology. “Working at
ARI has uncovered my interest in marine
ecology, and has pushed me to continue
my education in this field,” she says.
“Working at ARI has opened me up to so
many opportunities. I’ve developed many
useful skills which will aid me in the future.
Not only have I acquired the skills and
experiences of a lifetime, but I have also
developed close relationships with the ARI
family. The memories and experiences I’ll
take away from working here are some of
my best.”
Everyone at ARI wishes Jasmine nothing
but the best as she moves on to the next
stage in her research career!
Newsletter story ideas? We are publishing another
newsletter in early 2014. Please send story ideas to:
[email protected]
Aurora College Currents - Spring Summer 2013
11
Future Teachers Learn
Valuable Lessons On The Land
Bachelor of Education students complete culture camp
Students help set up MacPherson tents.
Francois Paulette teaches instructor Peter Kikkert how to make a moose call.
Bachelor of Education students were joined by Elder Fracois Paulette on a three day Culture Camp. Pictured (left to right): Ken Tourangou, Francois
Paulette, Peter Kikkert (instructor), Paige McDonald, Aleda Lafferty, Mike Pickles (Program Head), Alexa Linaker, Deanna Johnson, Scott Lough and
Sonia Minoza.
Sonia Minoza, Deanna Johnson and Aleda Lafferty smile for the camera.
The Slave River remained calm and pristine throughout the culture camp.
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Alex Linaker and Deanna Johnson share a laugh on dish duty
while being supervised by instructor Peter Kikkert.
Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
Water for coffee and tea boiling over a campfire.
Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
Sonia Minoza locks and loads for the rabbit hunt.
Francois Paulette referred to these two friendly buffalo as the protectors of the camp.
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Practice North Career Conference connects students with employers
The Aurora College School of Health and
Human Services, in partnership with the
GNWT Department of Health and Social
Services, held a Practice North Career
Conference Oct. 2 in Yellowknife.
Almost 170 students from the Masters
of Nurse Practitioner (MN-NP), Bachelor
of Science in Nursing (BSN), Social Work
(SWK) and Personal Support Worker (PSW)
programs had the unique opportunity to
meet with health authorities, government
departments and non-profit organizations
to discuss field practicum and employment
opportunities upon graduation. Non-profit
organizations in attendance included
the Registered Nurses Association of the
Northwest Territories and Nunavut, NWT
Social Work Association, Aurora Research
Institute, Yellowknife Association for
Community Living, Side Door Youth Centre,
Avens, Centre for Northern Families,
and the Territorial Treatment Centre. All
these agencies have a long-standing and
successful partnership with the School of
Health and Human Services. In addition to
meeting the NPs, Nurses, Social Workers
and PSWs of tomorrow, many agencies left
with a roster of potential volunteers for
their many programs.
One particularly popular booth was
the Aurora College 2013 new graduates.
Graduates from the BSN, SW and PSW
programs spoke to students about the
process of searching for and securing a
job, sharing tips from their experience. All
the graduates have secured employment,
demonstrating yet again how Aurora
College prepares students for demanding
and rewarding careers in Health and Social
Services.
The Aurora College Student Services
Department, GNWT Student Financial
Assistance
Program,
and
GNWT
Department of Health and Social Services
shared information about funding
opportunities to students. A highlight
for the students was the opportunity to
interact with representatives from some
of the GNWT health authorities. The
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Thebacha Campus and Fort Smith schools were visited recently by the Canadian Space Agency’s Tomatosphere – a hands-on experiment that
challenges students to think about life support systems in space. Since its inception 11 years ago, more than 14,000 classrooms have participated
in the program. One of its developers, Dr. Mike Dixon of the University of Guelph, posed with students from JBT Elementary School in Fort Smith
after his presentation. Dr. Dixon is a world leader in research and technology for using plants and microbes in life support systems in space. He is
also the project leader for a research team investigating the biofiltration of indoor air as a method for reducing “sick building syndrome.”
Jolene Lennie Completes an Internship Year at ARI
Students and presenters rubbed elbows at the Practice North Career Conferece in Yellowknife.
Beaufort Delta, Tlichio, Deh Cho, Fort
Smith and Yellowknife Authorities were
a strong presence, invigorating students
with ways in which their communities
could meet their needs in a student
placement and as a professional in the
demanding health and social services
field. Lisa Balmer, a second year BSN
student stated that the conference
was “helpful to see what is out there
for practicums and employment in the
north,” adding that the energy in the
room was exciting.
The afternoon was spent engaging
in detailed discussions with the
health authorities about professional
opportunities as well as attending sessions
delivered by representatives various GNWT
departments on resume writing, interview
skills, bursary programs, population health
and cultural awareness. All sessions were
well attended and presenters provided
students with excellent opportunities to
build their career search skills as well as
learning more about how to meet the
needs of the people of the Northwest
Territories.
Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
By Jolene Lennie
In the past year I’ve had the opportunity to
be a GNWT Northern Graduate Employment
Program Intern at the Aurora Research
Institute (ARI) in Inuvik. In my time here at
ARI, I’ve had the opportunity to do various
jobs throughout the building - although I have
to admit I have a passion for being out in the
field. I’ve had the chance to assist in many
research projects, and to visit many field sites.
Experiencing my first helicopter ride was most
definitely a highlight of my internship.
I’ve now lost track of how many times I’ve
flown in helicopters. I’ve also taken part in
a lot of field work at Noell Lake, northeast
of Inuvik. When we’re at Noell Lake we take
a lot of water samples and data profiles of
things like temperature and conductivity both in winter and in summer. Winter work
is most definitely a harder, more strenuous
job because it includes a lot of shoveling, ice
auguring and wet, cold hands! Kudos to the
ARI technicians who do this type of work year
after year.
At ARI there’s also a library that’s chock
Jolene Lennie, ARI
Intern, measuring
over-ice snow depth
at Noell Lake.
full of interesting and rare materials. I’ve
had the opportunity to take on a role in
organizing the library and making it more
user-friendly for the public and students.
This involves some very time-consuming
tasks such as repairing damaged books,
inventorying the map collection, ordering
new products to make the library more
user-friendly, and of course, a ton of
shelving! We’re all hoping that more
Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
students and members of the public will
come and check it out, as it contains a lot
of interesting and valuable material.
All in all, my year as an ARI Intern flew
by. I’ve learned a lot of new things, and
I’m happy to report that my internship
has turned into a casual position – so
I continue to work at ARI, in both the
library and the field.
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NWT Literacy Week
at Thebacha Campus
September 23rd-27th was a busy
NWT Literacy Week 2013 at Thebacha
Campus.
Story Time - We had 50 little visitors
over the week, as the Head Start and
Nursery School programs made the
campus library a field trip destination.
Each year our B.Ed. students read to the
preschoolers – the kids love it and it’s
great practice for our student teachers.
They all did such a wonderful job! It’s not
easy keeping 3- and 4-year-olds engaged
for a half hour, but they managed it (with
the occasional escapee – especially if a
mother happened to walk by).
The annual Book Give-Away Table
in the campus foyer was emptied and
re-filled daily, with many great donations
from staff offering a little something for
everyone. Another staple, the Question
of the Day, brought a steady flow of
contestants and prizes for the lucky
winners.
Writers’ Showcase featured six Aurora
College students and staff who presented
some of their writing to a lunchtime
crowd of 50 in the library: Dan Brown,
(Senior
Instructor,
Developmental
Studies, led the line-up with a powerful
poem he wrote about his days as a
paramedic in Vancouver’s Downtown
Eastside. DS students Charles Mantla
and Elizabeth Beaulieu were inspirational
with their posters they had created in
English class, both of them speaking
on the imagery they used both visually
and textually to convey their emotions.
B.Ed. student Jamesie Fournier read an
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Students and staff were treated to a lunch hour Writers Showcase during Literacy Week 2013.
excerpt from his short story, “Children
of the Strike,” published in the 2012
NorthWords anthology, Coming Home:
Stories from the NWT. Janet Ferguson,
brand new to Aurora College and teaching
in the School of Education, précised her
September 2013 Education Canada article
on project-based learning. And Mike
Pickles, Bachelor of Education program
head, wrapped things up with a story
from his recently published book, Hug
Someone You Love Today, about his time
teaching in Guyana.
Digital Literacy was a special focus in the
B. Ed. Program this week: students Della
Beck, Heather Burch, Jamesie Fournier,
Kristen Froese, Theresa Kakfwi, Alexa
Linaker, Scott Lough and Treeva Richardson,
participated in an in-class presentation in
which they had to incorporate Technology
Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
into Literacy Week for their computer
course 440-107. “The students have
a great awareness of the importance
of literacy and that technology is an
amazing tool to help spark the interest in
reading among our students,” remarked
instructor Mike Pickles.
Many thanks go to all the students and
staff who participated in this year’s NWT
Literacy Week celebrations at Thebacha.
Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
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ENRTP Second-Year Student Display Research Posters
Summer Outreach Activities at the Western Arctic Research Centre
By ARI staff
Craig Robinson explains to Kevin Smith (ENRTP Program Head) how human disturbance, predators, and weather can affect Piping Plovers nesting along a populated
beach in Nova Scotia. His findings are expected to help Bird Studies Canada develop better management plans for the recovery of this species at this beach.
Even though the Western Arctic Research
Centre (WARC) has been open for a couple
of years now, a lot of the kids in Inuvik
haven’t had a chance to see the inside of
the building yet. Often the best part of
having them come visit WARC is seeing
how they react to all the different rooms
- and the people working there! One
highlight is typically the Research Library.
Kids love exploring the different types of
maps in the map collection, and looking
at the archaeological finds that are on
display from all across the Mackenzie Delta.
Another highlight is the labs. On most days
during the summer, the kids will be able to
watch lots of researchers working in the
three WARC labs. Researchers are always
open to sharing their work with the kids
and answering questions – in fact, for many
of our researchers, this is a highlight of
working at WARC.
During the summer of 2013, WARC hosted
a number of children’s groups, including the
Inuvik Preschool Society, the Inuvik Youth
Centre, and the Kivuni Summer Day Camps.
Each group visited WARC for a few hours to
tour the building and do some interactive and
educational science activities with the ARI staff.
The youngest age groups got to make lava
lamps in the lab, and volcanoes in the yard.
The 5 and 6 year olds from the Kivuni Summer
Day Camp used Ziploc bags and lard to make
a glove that mimics the blubber found in
seals, beluga whales and polar bears. They
were able to test these Blubber Gloves using
the walk-in freezer at WARC. This activity
demonstrated how marine mammals in the
Arctic keep warm in the winter. The 7 and 8
year olds learned what a food chain is and,
using examples from the Arctic, were able
to make their own. The oldest group, the 9
to 12 year olds, played an active game that
Davie, from the Inuvik Preschool Society, watching
his homemade lamp in action.
demonstrated a common behavior seen in
polar animals, Selfish Herding. The staff at ARI
has just as much fun facilitating the science
activities as the kids have participating in
them!
Northwest Territories Recipients Honoured During Literacy Week
Loren Hudson, working with ENR Forest Management Division in Hay River, discusses with Danny
McDonald, a fellow colleague in the program, the economic value of the logging industry in Northwest
Territories, so his research is geared towards understanding tree growth under different conditions at
a site (Western Boreal Growth and Yield) that has been monitored over the last 20 years.
Katie White, who worked as a summer assistant for
Parks Canada Agency at Wood Buffalo National
Park (WBNP), is focusing her research on Canadian
Toads to understand why populations dramatically
fluctuate at the edge of their distribution. She is
determining what special properties, if any, at
this hibernaculum site in WBNP allow toads to
overwinter.
Recipients of the Council of the Federation
Literacy Award and the Ministerial Literacy
Awards were honoured during the annual
Adult Learners’ Luncheon in Yellowknife.
The awards, created by the Minister of
Education, Culture and Employment in
2002 and the Council of the Federation in
2005, recognize adult learners who have
overcome learning and literacy challenges or
championed literacy to learners of all ages.
The award recipients for 2013:
Baa! Kara Hendrie got an opportunity to work
with biologists from ENR Wildlife Division
in Norman Wells to survey Dall Sheep in the
Sahtu Region. She is looking to relate hunter
observations to numbers present in this region.
18
Pierre Berube worked for the Polar Continental Shelf Program in Resolute Bay, Nunavut this past
summer. This job allowed him to network with a biologist from Government of Nunavut, and to
participate in an aerial survey to estimate Peary caribou numbers and habitat usage on Bathurst
Island during a critical period for this endangered animal.
Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
Kathleen Taylor - The Ministerial Literacy
Award is given to NWT youth learners
(ages 16 to 25) who have demonstrated
exceptional commitment to their own
literacy development and who have been
role models for other youth.
Simone Gessler and Rachel Gauthier
- The Ministerial Literacy Award is given
to NWT teachers, tutors or literacy
facilitators, who have demonstrated an
outstanding dedication to literacy.
Tuktoyaktuk Public Library - The
Ministerial Literacy Award is given to
NWT organizations, literacy committees
or programs which have advocated for
literacy and improved literacy levels in
their communities.
Bertha Goulet - Council of the
Federation Literacy Award is given to an
adult learner who has overcome obstacles
and demonstrated outstanding progress in
the pursuit of literacy skills in any of the
NWT official languages.
Announced earlier this summer, this
is a special medallion awarded in each
of Canada’s thirteen provinces and
territories to celebrate outstanding
literacy achievements. The award is
customarily presented to an adult
learner. Goulet is a mother of four from
the community of N’dilo. She recently
returned to school after many years
and has just completed the eight-month
Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
“Believe in Yourself” program, which
is a first step towards pursuing postsecondary education. This program is run
through the N’dilo Community Learning
Centre, operated by Aurora College.
Goulet is a leader in the classroom and
a role model in her community, and
always encourages her peers to do their
best and pursue their goals. Despite her
many family and work obligations, she
maintained a perfect attendance record
for all of her courses this past year. In
recognition of her outstanding success
in her studies, she was chosen as this
year’s class valedictorian. Goulet plans
to continue her education and pursue a
career in the health field.
The awards luncheon, provided by Aurora
College and hosted by the NWT Literacy
Council, is a highlight of NWT Literacy
Week. It is supported by funding from
the Department of Education Culture and
Employment.
19
Student Association 2013/2014
Election Results
Student Association 2013-14 Election results are listed below. A big thank you to all who ran and congratulations
to our winners. Students association representatives work tirelessly on behalf of our student body. Please show
your support for Student Association events. If you are interested in putting your name forward to fill a vacant
position, please contact the Student Association on your campus.
Aurora Campus (Inuvik)
Thebacha Campus (Fort Smith)
President
Nicolena Minakis Vice-president Sasha Firth
Secretary
Richard Tetso
Treasurer
Tommy Gordon
OHS
John Koe Program Representatives:
Program Representatives:
Program representatives:
Business Administration
Maja Haogak, Vacant (alternate)
Bachelor of Education
Vacant
Developmental Studies
Vacant, Vacant (alternate)
Business Administration
Tamara Schaefer
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Year 1 Ashley Debogorski
Year 2 Daniel Gunn
Year 3 Caroline Chenier
Year 4 Violca Memedi
ENRTP
Alicia McRae, Katherine Norad
(alternate)
Business Administration Access
Vacant
Developmental Studies
English Simpson Tabassum
Developmental Studies
Justin Labell
Social Work Year 1 Leslie Marie, Alyssa Carpenter
ENRTP
Jeanette Lockhart
Business Administration Access
Vacant
Nursing Access
Vacant
Nursing Access
Vacant
Office Administration
Maureen Anikina
Business Administration Year 1
Vacant
Trades Access
Vacant
Business Administration Year 2
Vacant
Nursing Access
Lyle Storr, Vacant (alternate)
Office Administration
Bambi Amos, Vacant (alternate)
Social Work Access
Phoebe Ruben,
Renie Edwards (alternate)
Teacher Education
Maribeth Pokiak, Priscilla Haogak
(alternate)
Teacher Education Access
Vacant, Vacant (alternate)
Trades Access
Vacant, Vacant (alternate)
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President
Vice-president Communications VP
Secretary /Treasurer Activities Coordinator
Yellowknife North Slave Campus
Felicia Beaulieu
Aleda Lafferty
Vacant
Nadine Kodakin
April Manuel
President
Vice-President
Treasurer
Secretary
Claire Brookes
Martin Jorge
Melanya Grigoryan
Vidya Tripatai
Personal Support Worker
Vacant
Social Work Year 2
Vacant
Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
Gordon Mercredi’s last HEO class. Pictured (left to right): Allan Browning, Instructor Kevin Young, Instructor Mickey Hamilton, Senior Instructor
Gordon Mercredi, Richard Lambert, Max Fuentes, Steven Lafferty, Brenda Lafferty, Cory Minoza, Howard Elleze, Kayla Harwood, Pierce Lepine,
Francis Rabesca, Danny Edda. Missing from photo: Joeseph Tobac.
Gordon Mercredi Celebrates Retirement
After 33 years of Instructional Excellence
Gordon Mercredi, Senior Instructor
of Aurora College’s Heavy Equipment
Operator (HEO) Program, will retire
September 30, after a total of 33 years
of instructional excellence. Mercredi,
who lives and teaches in Fort Smith, first
worked with Aurora College in 1977.
The Heavy Equipment Operator
Program can be traced back to Aurora
College’s beginnings. The first program
offered by what is now Aurora College,
the HEO program continues to be one of
the most popular. Over the years the HEO
program has evolved to offer courses in
communities throughout the Northwest
Territories.
“Instructors like Gordon have been
integral in helping hundreds of NWT
residents get post-secondary training and
great paying jobs,” says Jane Arychuk,
President of Aurora College. “He is one of
the unsung heroes of our organization and
he will be missed.”
Mercredi is currently wrapping up his
last HEO class. His plans for retirement
include working on his home in Fort Smith
and relaxing.
Gordon Mercredi retires after 33 years of teaching.
Developmental Studies pilots new reading assessment
For approximately the past six
months, the School of Developmental
Studies has been piloting a new reading
assessment tool that could help make
the process of placing Adult Literacy
and Basic Education (ALBE) students in
the correct level of ALBE English courses
quicker, easier and more accurate.
The Nunavut Adult Placement
Assessment (NAPA) is set up so that
it aligns with the current ALBE English
Curriculum, as set out by the GNWT
Department of Education, Culture and
Employment. As well, it is designed in
and for the north, with northern themes
and northern stories, making it more
culturally relevant than other available
tools.
Sharon Miron, Chair of the School
of Development Studies, says the tool
Aurora College Currents - Autumn 2013
is of high quality, is user friendly and
easy to administer. While there are
currently no plans to discontinue using
the current placement tool (Canadian
Adult Reading Assessment), Miron says
that NAPA could be another assessment
or placement tool that could be useful
to help correctly place ALBE students.
21
Invest in your future!
W
hether you are
graduating from high
school or are a mature
student looking for a better
future, Aurora College has
a program for you.
Apply
Today
All of our campuses are currently
accepting applications. Apply early,
as seats in programs and housing
are limited.
Aurora College has a program for you!
School of Arts and Science
•
•
•
Environment and Natural Resources Technology (Diploma)
Environmental Monitor Training
Contaminated Sites Remediation
Coordinator
School of Business and Leadership
•
Business Administration
(Certificate and Diploma)
• Office Administration
(Certificate and Diploma)
• Northern Leadership Development Program
School of Education
•
•
•
Bachelor of Education (Degree)
Teacher Education Program (Diploma)
Early Childhood Development
(Certificate)
• Certificate in Adult Education
• Aboriginal Language and Cultural
Instructor (Diploma)
School of Health
and Human Services
•
•
•
•
Master of Nursing, Nurse Practitioner
Primary Health Care Stream (Degree)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Degree)
Social Work (Diploma)
Personal Support Worker
School of Trades,
Apprenticeship and Industrial Training
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Apprenticeship Carpenter
Apprenticeship Electrician
Apprenticeship Plumber/Gasfitter
Apprenticeship Housing Maintainer
Apprenticeship Heavy Duty Equipment
Technician
Observer Communicator Training
Building Trades Helper
Camp Cook
Heavy Equipment Operator
Introductory Carpentry
Introductory Plumber/Gasfitter
Oil Burner (TQ) Special
Pre-Apprenticeship Carpentry
Pre-Apprenticeship Heavy Equipment Technician
Introduction to Underground Mining
Underground Miner Training
Mineral Process Operator Pre-Employment Training
School of Developmental Studies
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Business Administration Access
Environment and Natural
Resources Technology Access
Social Work Access
Nursing Access
Teacher Education Program Access
Trades Access
Trades Access II
Application
Information:
Aurora Campus (Inuvik)
1 (866) 287-2655
Thebacha Campus (Fort Smith)
1 (866) 266-4966
Yellowknife North Slave Campus
1 (866) 291-4866
Our network of 23 Community Learning Centres deliver Adult Literacy and Basic Education (ALBE) and skills-based programming.
Contact the Community Adult Educator at your local Community Learning Centre for more information on current and future programming.
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www.auroracollege.nt.ca