Thursday’s briefing in front of MLAs was a key moment for Aurora College, defending its decision to close the NWT’s community learning centres.
That decision was made by a board of governors formed in 2023 to place the college at arm’s length from the NWT government. Territorial politicians appeared to be taken by surprise when it was announced, and many regular MLAs have voiced disapproval.
As a result, the briefing had a somewhat sombre atmosphere. For some MLAs, the mood was not lifted by a choice of phrase in the college’s opening remarks.
College president Angela James, explaining why the institution is choosing to close the community learning centres at the end of June, told MLAs: “Over the past 10, 15 years, community learning centres have become increasingly problematic – with low enrolment, high cost, especially top-heavy in its regional administration, and being out of scope of Aurora College’s purpose to provide adult upgrading.”
The word “problematic” caught the attention of Sahtu MLA Danny McNeely and Mackenzie Delta MLA George Nerysoo, each of whom represent multiple small communities.
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“In your presentation, you used the word problematic. So to me, you’re saying the staff, the students, and especially the communities are problematic to you,” said Nerysoo.
“That’s how I take it. It’s a very strong word.”
McNeely added: “I’m looking at that word, problematic. I’d be scared to go downtown in Fort Good Hope and say, ‘You’re a problem.'”
McNeely and Nerysoo each expressed broad disagreement with the college’s approach to moving online instead of maintaining the community learning centres, even as the college insisted that young northerners were now used to virtual learning and would thrive in that environment.
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“We didn’t even know,” said Nerysoo, referring to regular MLAs. “It came as a shock to us, and I can’t imagine how the communities felt.”
McNeely said the community learning centres appeared, through his conversations with people involved, to have had limitations placed on what they could reasonably offer to communities.
“To be open and honest with you, I don’t agree,” he told college bosses of their decision to close the centres.
“I’m still accepting, but I don’t agree with this decision made.”
