WHITEHORSE – Yukon College is joining forces with Alexco Resource, Yukon Zinc and Capstone Mining (collectively “the Producers”) and the Advanced Education Branch of Yukon Education to place more local workers in jobs at the territory’s three working mines.

The College is currently accepting applications to the new, forty-four day Introduction to Mining Operations program. It has been designed to give students a clear pathway to employment upon completion.

The program will give students a unique opportunity to experience a two-week shift rotation. It follows an overview of the entire mining process, an orientation to the working environment in an underground and surface mine, heavy equipment training, and essential certifications in safety awareness.

This new approach to job-skills training comes from collaboration with industry partners to address specific skills gaps in Yukon workers.

WHITEHORSE – The Yukon College Board of Governors is pleased to announce Geraldine Van Bibber as the new college chancellor. Van Bibber takes over the role from veteran businessman, Rolf Hougen, who has held the post since 2008.

“My son and daughter have both attended Yukon College and my husband Pat achieved his Red Seal in automotive mechanics in the early days of the College, so I know first-hand the positive impact the College has on the lives of Yukoners,” said Van Bibber.

“I appreciate this opportunity to support Yukon College with my best advice and opinion over the next two years.”

“From her previous role as commissioner and her lifetime of experience Geraldine has a solid reputation as a positive advocate for many issues of importance to Yukoners,” said Paul Flaherty, chair, Yukon College Board of Governors. “The College will certainly benefit from her advice and counsel.”

Whitehorse – The Yukon/Stikine Regional Science Fair (Grades 4-12) takes place at Yukon College on Saturday December 1, 2012. For the first time in ten years, students from Chief Zzeh Gittlit School in Old Crow will participate in the annual event.

“We are very much looking forward to seeing what our budding scientists will investigate this year. The variety and quality of the research questions asked never fail to impress the judges,” said Heather Dundas, Chair of the Yukon/Stikine Regional.

Ten schools are participating in the science fair program this year: Atlin, Chief Zzeh Gittlit, Christ the King, Emilie Tremblay, FH Collins, Hidden Valley, Holy Family, Jack Hulland, Porter Creek and Teslin.

Select winners of the Science Fair (Grades 7-12) will have an opportunity to compete in Lethbridge, Alberta at the Canada-Wide Science fair in May 2013.

WHITEHORSE – Students across Yukon are learning new practical skills that will provide opportunities for them to find employment and make a difference in their community.

Yukon College has created a number of new courses unique to each community. The courses cover a range of skills from outdoor power equipment maintenance to trades exploration to cultural arts.

The programs are funded by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) Northern Adult Basic Education (NABE) program announced earlier this year.

“This new funding has helped us address a desire in our communities to try different approaches to education and skills training,” said Dr. Karen Barnes, Yukon College president. “As a result, our community campus staff has been able to move very fast to implement these new training opportunities.”

WHITEHORSE – The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) announced a new student award of $1,000 this week.

The PDAC bursary will be awarded at the end of the academic year to a Mineral Resources student who has excelled in the program and will be pursuing a second year.

“It is great to see this level of support offered to students,” said Chad Bustin, a first year student in the program.

Bustin intends to enter the second year and continue onto a Bachelor of Science in Geology before entering the mineral resource industry.

As well as the full-time course load, the 24-year-old also works two jobs to cover rent and tuition – Banquet Supervisor with the High Country Inn/Gold Rush Inn and on-call Security Officer at Yukon College.

“This could mean the difference between working a job until midnight with class in the morning and getting a good night’s sleep and going to class rested and focused,” he added.

WHITEHORSE - Yukon College is hosting 70 researchers in Whitehorse this week to discuss ways of reducing the social costs to communities of resource development in the North.

The second annual workshop of the Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic (ReSDA) research network is being held in Whitehorse, November 22 and 23 at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre.

The main focus of ReSDA’s research is on finding ways to ensure that a larger share of the benefits of resource development stay in the region with fewer costs to communities.

This workshop is an opportunity for social science researchers, government representatives and community organizations to discuss existing research and determine what is needed to address the emerging challenges facing northern communities as resource developments in Canada’s North continue to expand.

WHITEHORSE - A new student award from Kaminak Gold Corporation aims to encourage more women to get involved in mining and exploration.

On Tuesday November 20th, Rob Carpenter, Kaminak Gold President and CEO, will present a $2,000 cheque to Dr. Joel Cubley, coordinator, Mineral Resources program at Yukon College.

Female students in the program are eligible to apply for awards of $1,000.

“Geology is an area I have always had an interest in, but it just seems like a guy thing,” said Jutta Hopkins-Lecheminant, a Mineral Resources student who is swapping her desk job with the City of Whitehorse for a rock hammer.

She was encouraged to enter the program after talking with a handful of women working in the industry and said she was hooked from the first field trip.

“Awards like this show that the industry is welcoming to women, and are fantastic encouragement to stay focused and do well,” said Hopkins-Lecheminant.

WHITEHORSE – Cheques will be handed out and the academic achievements of 34 students will be acknowledged tomorrow evening at the Yukon College Awards Ceremony.

A total of $32,000 will be awarded to Yukon College students in 2012. The awards range from bursaries of $200 to a full year of tuition. The annual event brings bursary donors together with the students who have earned them.

“The event is a wonderful opportunity for donors to hear how important their generosity is directly from the students who are receiving it,” said Bente Sorensen, Financial Aid advisor and event coordinator.

"Every little bit helps," said Talyce Henkel, an Electrical Pre-Employment Certificate student. "This will go towards books and tools."

WHITEHORSE – Yukon Government has appointed Carol Geddes to the Board of Governors of Yukon College for a three-year term. Geddes is an award-winning filmmaker and member of the Teslin Tlingit Council.

"For Yukon First Nations people, learning traditional knowledge and skills from our elders has long been our institution of higher education," said Geddes. "But in order to fulfill the mandate of self-government we also now require the expertise and experience formal post-secondary education can give."

"Carol Geddes brings a thoughtful, creative approach to the Yukon College Board," said Paul Flaherty, chair of the Board of Governors. "We welcome her enthusiasm, perspective and experience."

WHITEHORSE – “The world needs more conscious elders,” says PhD candidate Larry Gray.