Career Fair Smoky Lake was well attended

By Irene van der Kloet

High school students will come to a point where they need to decide their future. To help them make a decision, the Smoky Lake Career Fair was held on April 21st. Students from grades 8 – 12 from Thorhild, Waskatenau, Smoky Lake and Vilna were invited to attend this event in the Smoky Lake Complex. The event was hosted by Aspen View School Division, Holy Family School (Lakeland Catholic) and Careers: The Next Generation. The objective was to host a hands-on, try-a-trade Career Fair, exposing students to careers or trades that they may not be well familiar with. Most of the exhibitors were inside, but some, like the Fire Department, were set up in the parking lot so students could experience extinguishing a fire.

There was also the opportunity to try welding in the parking lot. The event was well attended by exhibitors as well as students. A wide variety of trades presented themselves: a local artist had set herself up in the foyer next to a social worker, an environmental company and a training centre focusing on architecture. This latter exhibitor had asked students what they loved about architecture, design and engineering and here is what students had to say:” The fact that you can build anything,” “I love designing things that make a person happy,” “Designing new fun things,” and “You can make so many amazing things.” The paramedic’s van saw a constant coming and going of students interested in the EMS services. Portage College showcased its enormous diversity of educational choices, sparking the interest of potential students. Students interested in a career as a power line technician could try on the gear and touch electronics. Aesthetics programs explained why it is essential for students to complete their grade twelve though the programs will admit students as of grade nine. A family physician challenged students to name the bones in the human body and try CPR. Students showed interest in uniformed careers such as the Armed Forces, Fish and Wildlife and the RCMP. So many careers and trades presented themselves that it is impossible to mention them all, but students did not seem overwhelmed. Some had already decided about their future before attending the career fair, whereas others browsed and left the decision to a later date. Karen Holowaychuk, the junior and senior support teacher at Vilna school, comments:” We evaluate this event with the students two-fold. The first question is: what did you like or dislike, and will you change your mind about your future? The second question is: If you would enter a grade 7 class today, what would you tell them about the career fair? The answers to those questions will help perfect the career fair in future years”. Karen further adds that they tried to focus on local businesses and the area, as they would like kids to stay in their communities. It had been a long time since a career fair was held, and the plan is to make it an annual event that circulates in the region.