Mr. Speaker, the importance of workplace safety cannot be understated. The Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission works to emphasize this message in many ways, like through partnerships with organizations that share similar audiences and values. One such organization is Skills Canada Northwest Territories, which the WSCC has an ongoing, multiyear partnership with. Their recent territorial Skills Competition and Career Expo provided an opportunity for direct engagement with the youth.
As part of the career expo, the WSCC hosted a TryATrade activity, which enabled Yellowknife, N'dilo, and Behchoko high school students to experience what it is like to be a safety officer and conduct a mock inspection. Students were taught how to properly use personal protective equipment and how to identify hazards in the workplace. Students observed a traditional workplace with a beading station and an area for blocking hides as part of the activity. The WSCC helped students to observe the workplace and identify areas where potential hazards could occur. Students also learned about their three safety rights as workers: Their rights to know; their rights to participate; the right to refuse; and, who to talk to about safety in the workplace.
Mr. Speaker, over 250 high school students participated in WSCC's TryATrade activity, and they were curious, engaged, and excited to participate. Many students recommended their friends try the activity on the second day. The WSCC also helped organize the workers place safety territorial competition. Participants were tasked with completing an inspection of mock warehouse observation, other skill competitions, and identifying hazards and controls and research on a safety issue and delivering a toolbox talk. Yellowknife competitor, Liam Miller, worked hard and was rewarded with the gold medal in the safety workplace for their students. Liam moved on to the National Skills Canada competition and represented the Northwest Territories. The WSCC's partnership with the Skills Canada Northwest Territories continues to target the young workers since youth tend to be newer in the workforce and less experienced. Due to the factors, they can be more at risk and feel pressure to impress their employers, making them more vulnerable to injury risk. By supporting this important event and organizing them, they learned the experience that to work safe in a safety workplace and what that looks like and get valuable safety information. The WSCC offers a free young worker safety certificate course, online program that provides general safety certification.
Skills Canada Northwest Territories promotes careers in skilled trades and technology within the workplace that often present more hazards by promoting workplace safety and reminding all participants and organizations of its importance in the workplace. We all hope to foster even safer workplaces for our younger workers. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Deputy Premier.
