14TH ACESS Conference hosted by the Social Service Worker Program in Cambridge Bay

(Members of the NAC presentation team: Jim Watkin, Fiona Buchan-Corey, Emily Angulalik, Maureen Doherty & Margaret Sullivan)

Educators from Quebec, Ontario and Alberta gathered in Cambridge Bay from May 21 - 24 to have their first ACESS conference in Canada’s North.  The association has been active for over fifteen years and the Kitikmeot Social Service faculty have been active participants in the association for over ten years.  The 14th Conference was met with high praise and gratitude to the organizers who planned a unique conference rich with Inuit culture and traditions.  The organizers included members of the Social Service Worker and Inuit Language programs.

Participants at the conference were treated to Cambridge Bay’s warm hospitality and participated in many cultural activities, with the highlights being a morning trip on the land and an afternoon tea with local Elders.  The purpose of the conference is to bring together Educators from the Social Services/Social Work diploma programs across Canada to discuss current research, best practices, curriculum reviews and strategies for program development. Various members of the group presented on these topics, including Nunavut Arctic College Social Service Worker team. The NAC presentation included an overview of the re-developed Social Service Worker curriculum and how Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is reflected throughout the program.

Overall, the conference was a success and it was not only a chance to network, but also an opportunity to highlight Nunavut Arctic College’s Social Service Worker program in a National spotlight!  Special thanks to the NAC administration team for their support of the conference.