EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Hosted by WWestnet, Integrating Essential Skills into Training Materials combined hands-on sessions with presentations and networking opportunities. Over the course of the two days, delegates learned techniques for integrating essential skills into training, worked through a wealth of activity examples, learned about resources that can be accessed to assist with essential skills training, heard a presentation on the Ready to Work North program that is now available for delivery, were updated on the training situation for the Mackenzie Gas Project, and heard about an innovative new program being piloted in a remote community in British Columbia. The event was officially opened by Dan Daniels Deputy Minister of Education Culture and Employment, Government of the Northwest Territories.

At the end of day one, delegates had an opportunity to network with colleagues some of whom they had previously known only through electronic or telephone communication. They exchanged ideas, shared experiences and enjoyed complimentary appetizers.

Integrating Essential Skills into Training Materials was developed based on the feedback from the May 2005 Yellowknife conference Essential Skills and the Northern Oil and Gas Workforce and on the results of consultations with Aurora College, the Northwest Territories Literacy Council and the Government of the Northwest Territories – Education, Culture and Employment. The May 2005 conference was very well received and the feedback was excellent but many delegates saw a need for a more intensive, hands-on train-the trainer approach and the discussions with Aurora, the Literacy Council and the GNWT-EC&E confirmed the support for a ‘workshop’ focused event.

The goals of the event were to increase the understanding of the role of essential skills in improving training outcomes and to increase the confidence of participants so that they could proceed with integrating essential skills into training materials and incorporating essential skills into delivery strategies. All of the speakers at Integrating Essential Skills into Training Materials put a great deal of time and effort into their presentations / workshops and it was this effort that ensured the event goals were accomplished. The quality of the information delegates received was very high and this was reflected in the level of satisfaction expressed in the evaluations.

WWestnet wishes to recognize and to thank:

• The National Literacy Secretariat (Human Resources Skills Development Canada) for their major contribution to the workshop funding and for their continued support of WWestnet.
• The Government of the Northwest Territories: Department of Education, Culture & Employment for their assistance with planning and for their funding contribution.
• The Mackenzie Gas Project Proponents for their commitment to the project, assistance with planning and contributions to the funding.

Without this support and assistance Integrating Essential Skills into Training Materials would not have been possible.