Rick Nielsen says he dismissed the idea of applying for the $20,000 Action Canada fellowship about 100 times.

At 52, as intrigued as he was by the public policy development program, he wasn't sure he fit within its stated mandate of recruiting 'exceptional young Canadians.'

But a secondary criterium for the program is for the candidates to be at an early stage of their career. And Nielsen says he felt he met that selection point.

Nielsen has worked in the trades for years. He served as a director with the Whitehorse and Yukon Chambers of Commerce. He has also worked on aircraft and flew as a commercial pilot.

He's been working since graduating from high school, but despite his eclectic employment history, he says he never sat down and did a resume until he applied to Action Canada. He never needed to.

It has only been over recent years, while he has been serving as the chief of staff for Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie, that he says he has settled into what he sees as a career.

He isn't sure, though, where exactly that career path will take him. But he is hoping his 10 months with Action Canada may help him figure it out.

'It will be something that I want to learn about, rather than something I have to learn about,' Nielsen said in an interview last week. 'I like that idea at this point in my life.'

Action Canada focuses on public policy and leadership, based on the notion that leaders need to be nurtured to ensure the future of the country.

'Action Canada will be an ongoing resource of new leaders and new ideas for Canada to meet the challenges of the new century,' states the program's website.

Fifteen participants have been selected to take part in this year's program.

After completing interviews in Vancouver and Ottawa, Nielsen came out as a finalist and has signed the contract to take part in Action Canada's workshops and research over the coming year.

'I'm quite excited about it,' he says. 'I'm humbled by the opportunity and in some respect, I'm a little intimidated by it.'

This year's participants come from across the country and include economic consultants, musicians, composers, political scientists, law school graduates, Ph. D. students and physicians.

Much of the program is structured around idealistic thought and creating far-reaching vision and policy proposals for the country, says Nielsen.

'Canadians want our country to be the finest in the world; the best place to live and work,' says the program's website. 'We also want to contribute to a world that shares what we ourselves cherish.'

The participants will spend the year taking part in working conferences, investigations and mentoring programs.

Nielsen says one of his biggest concerns about going into the program is to not to become a 'crusty' old man.

'You become hardened with life and opinions on things and you can become less broad in your thinking,' he says.

Even during the interview process, when Nielsen had the opportunity to meet with some of the candidates, he says he found himself feeling some of the younger people's thoughts were idealistic in nature.

'But I was fascinated by the idealistic thinking, the keenest to understand and to try to comprehend things. It was actually a little bit foreign to me.'

He says, though, he wants to be conscious of minding his views during the program and not become too set in a position.

'I'll be careful to not be too assertive with a position or thought,' he says. 'These are pretty capable people, genuinely interested and some have different perspectives.

'It's not going to be a bad place to start a forum in trying to change or improve things.'

Nielsen says he relates to the goal of the program to improve Canada.

As a founding member of the Canadian Alliance of Apprenticeship Forum and a past chairman of the Yukon Apprenticeship Advisory Board, he says he is most interested in effecting change for young people in Canada.

'I've always been a supporter of trades training and now it is kind of en vogue,' he says.

Part of Action Canada's requirements is for each participant to propose a project. One of the projects is than selected to work on for the year.

The theme of this year's program is Enterprise in Canada, which will include a focus on economic and business development, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Nielsen suggested a project to look at aboriginal inclusion and trades training in Canadian enterprise.

The participants haven't yet selected what project they will be working on for the next 10-months.

A previous Action Canada project is the DreamCatcher program, which is used at several high schools in the Yukon, to match students online with mentors in the career field they would like to enter.

'You have to remind yourself that the sky's the limit,' he says. 'I'm fortunate to have this opportunity.'

Nielsen will be keeping his job in the premier's office while he takes part in the program. Its structure is designed so participants are able to continue with their employment or academic studies.

He stresses his participation in program has nothing to do with his job in government.

'It will be my own time,' he says, likening it to taking an evening course at the college.

When it's all said and done, Nielsen says he might like to pursue a university-level education something he has yet to add to his C.V.

'My oldest boy is headed off university and I told him that I would go with him,' he says, adding. 'So my son's excited I'm doing this; that I'm not going to school. He thinks this will keep me busy for a bit.'