Mahsi. Mr. Speaker, 2008 is the 40th anniversary celebration of Aurora College. On September 12, graduates, faculty and supporters from past and present gathered at the Legislative Assembly to remember the past 40 years of the college and look towards the future. Throughout the year the celebrations will continue at each of the campuses.
The college has come a long way since 1968, when a single vocational centre was formed in Fort Smith. People travelled from all over the North, including what is now Nunavut, for the opportunity of adult education.
Now there are three main campuses in major communities, the Aurora Research Institute and learning centres across the Northwest Territories. The college has grown with the needs of northern students. Getting educated in the North will help Northerners to lead the wage economy in the Northwest Territories and be leaders and managers in all sectors of our economy.
The college offers a wide variety of courses, with subjects ranging from environmental monitoring to teaching and nursing bachelor degrees. Recently the college won awards for educational innovation for its diamond polishing program.
Mr. Speaker, innovations like the Mobile Trades Training Lab, the new residence in Inuvik and the new Underground Miner Training Program will ensure that the college keeps up with the needs of our growing industry and territory.
The future of the college looks bright. We should all recognize the important role that Aurora College and its graduates play in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
