Lab West high school grads not used to uncertainty

They have ambitions tobecomea nurse, an electrical engineer and an automotive technician, but three graduatingstudents from Menihekhigh in Labrador City say it's becoming less likely they'll be working and living in their hometowns once their education is completed.

Julia Barry, Jake Barbour and Brady Sladeare all residents of the neighbouring communityof Wabush.

St John's Morning Show5:49Lab West-students talk

CBC reporter John Gaudi talks to three graduating students in Labrador West about their futures, in light of the severe downturn in the area's iron ore industry.

They are among the 120 students who will graduate from the school this spring,beginning a new chapter in their lives in an era of great uncertainty in Labrador Westwhere a downturn in the iron ore industry has hit hard over the past year.

They shared their feelings recently during an interview with CBC News.

While expressing a deep hope that the economic situation will rebound, they also fear the worst scenario is very likely.

"It's just been really hard on everybody," saidBarry, who would like to return to Labrador West to work as a nurse, but acknowledged,"It's not looking so good."

"I don't think there's going to be much of a future here, honestly," addedBarbour, who will begin engineering studies at a university in New Brunswick this fall.

I wish we could all say we're coming back to live and make money and do well, but as it is right now it's not looking good for us.- Brady Slade

"It's only a matter of time beforeit all shuts down."

Sladeplans to study at a college in Gander or Prince Edward Island this fall, and admits he won't be returning unless the situation improves.

"I don't think anyone's really going to bother to come back,"Sladestated.

"As sad as it is to say,I wish we could all say we're coming back to live and make money and do well, but as it is right now it's not looking good for us."

An area on edge

The neighbouring communities are located in an isolated area of western Labrador, and depend entirely onthe iron ore industry.

The area is accustomed to greatprosperity, and it's common to hear stories of several generations of family members working at one of the mines.

But the boom has nearly turned to bust.

The iron ore mine inWabushclosed in 2014, displacing nearly 500 workers, while 150unionizedworkers at the Iron Ore Company of Canada mine in Labrador City will lose their jobs in June as a cost-cutting measure.

The entire area is on edge, wondering how far the situation will deteriorate, and whether the IOC operation, which employs hundreds of people in good-paying jobs, will suffer the same fate as the mine inWabush.

Enduring hardship and uncertainty

Many families have been affectedby the job cuts and resulting slowdown in the business community.

Barry said her father is one of just four people still working at Wabush Mines. Many of her friends have had to endure hardship and uncertainty because their parents have lost their jobsor were forced to leave the area for work elsewhere.

Barry said she loved growing up inLab West, and is saddened that its future so so much in doubt.

"I know I want to come back because I love it here,"she said, adding, "If there's nothing here, than what's the point, really."

Barbourhas dreams of returning to work at IOC as an engineer, and raising his own family in the area.

"We grew up hunting and fishing around here and I always seen myself growing old here and teaching my kid to hunt and fish," he said.

"You'd never think you'd have to leave your hometown. You think you could be here for as long as you wanted to."

A difficult adjustment for many

Opportunities like summer jobs with the mine companies have alsodried up, putting added financial pressure on students and their families as they prepare forpost-secondary education.

In one sense, the Menihik high grads of 2015 are lucky, said Slade, because they can more easily change career paths and pursue opportunities wherever they emerge.

It's not so easy for those have invested so much of their lives into careers, homes and other commitments in Lab West, he added.

"It's going to be hard for them to adjust if something happens. It's not like they can just packup and start all over again if they have families and responsibilities here," he said.

All three say the future for Lab West is largely out of their hands, but if it's a bright one, they would like to be part of it.

"We'll find out in a few years, I guess," said Barbour.