Career Planning

The Tłicho Community Services Agency (TCSA) is focused on providing information, experiences and support to students with regard to career planning. All students in grades 7-12 are actively involved in learning about their interests, skills and passions while exploring opportunities in school and communities. Students begin to reflect on how they can become a capable person by creating an individualized plan to help them achieve their goals. Students use a program called myBlueprint to support them in learning about careers and education.

The TCSA partners with Tłicho Government (TG) for the Trades Awareness Program (TAP) offered by Aurora College. TAP begins in grade 9 for students in small high schools. The idea behind TAP is to give students an opportunity to experience different trades, instructional practices and become familiar with different kinds of equipment while building friendships with other students from different regions.

There is a Career Education Advisor (CEA) for the region that also supports students in applying for post secondary education, accessing funding and grants, and deciding on potential career paths. In partnership with Education, Culture and Employment, the CEA visits all schools in our region and is available to support all high school students. Students with complex needs can be supported through the Disabilties Council to access post secondary learning, for example, to Old’s College.

In partnership with the Tłicho Government, students have the opportunity to complete Work Experience within various departments. Students who complete these work experiences can potentially then be hired into paid positions within the Tlicho Government. This is a great opportunity for students to learn and explore different job options within the region, as well as prepare them for participation in the workforce.

Students are able to gain there 25 hours of community service required to graduate by supporting an Elder, helping out with community events, or volunteering in a business environment.

The Schools North Apprenticeship Program (SNAP) is a work experience program for NWT high school students. It provides students who are interested in skilled trades with a way to gain valuable work experience while also attending high school. This program assists students in gaining valuable work skills and exploring career alternatives. Students can also earn money while learning a trade, gain high school credits and have the support of employers and teachers to learn their chosen trade while completing their high school education at the same time!

Exciting things are happening in the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) in Tłicho schools. Projects such as the Knowledge and Nutrients Farm, where students are growing vegetables hydroponically at CJBS with support and training from Ecology North, construction and building projects to help improve our communities, and many other innovative STEM-based activities are happening in the region.