Making a Difference in Watson Lake

Community Training Funds are helping to re-build communities in the Watson Lake area.

Following downturns in mining and forestry, the local training committee shifted priorities towards job entry, re-training, and local capacity building.

Regular community meetings are used to identify local capacity needs and possible future opportunities. Training plans for the coming year include early childhood development, bookkeeping and accounting, skilled trades, truck driving, and mine training. The Training committee has been successful in leveraging over 50% of training funds through partnerships.

"More than three quarters of the people we have trained in the past ten years secured jobs or increased roles at their present job," said Shirley Bauer, chair of the training committee.

"Many of our community members fall through the cracks in the support system, but there is a job for them if they can get training or upgrading. We have been able to really make a difference in people's lives."

Advanced Education
Department of Education
Government of Yukon
Box 2703
Whitehorse, Yukon
Canada Y1A 2C6

Phone: (867) 667-5455
Toll free (In Yukon):
1-800-661-0408, local 5455
Fax: (867) 667-8555

david.power@gov.yk.ca