The Assiniboia and District Chamber of Commerce hosted its 15th annual Career and Business Fair for students and job-seekers at the Curling Rink in the Prince of Wales Centre in Assiniboia on September 26. Students from schools in Assiniboia and around the district attended.
During the morning, the Chamber organized 25 different speaker presentations in addition to the keynote session. The speaker sessions took place in meeting rooms throughout the POW and students could select which speaker session they wished to attend. Speakers brought information about careers in the trades, the Armed Forces, RCMP, health regions, universities, banks and companies like SaskPower. The students had a chance to learn more in depth about careers and opportunities before browsing the booths for educational opportunities later in the day.
The keynote speaker was John Robinson, principle designer and partner from Robinson Residential Design. He has worked in the architectural design profession since 1977. His designs are featured on HGTV and television documentaries. In his presentation, Robinson showed the tiny house designs with unique provincial themes. The Saskatchewan design, modelled to look like a Prairie grain elevator, has garnered great popularity online with 100,000 likes on Facebook.
Students had a wide range of exhibits to explore during the afternoon, including universities and colleges, businesses, and organizations. There were 44 exhibitors representing three provinces and the U.S. There were a few new attendees this year that attracted attention. MC College with six locations including Saskatoon represented various careers in the beauty industry. The Western Academy of Broadcasting in Saskatoon attended to snag the students’ interest in the broadcasting industry. The college offers an intensive program that prepares its students for television and radio. Both colleges offered some of the shortest training times for careers. Universities and colleges were well-represented including locally from Saskatoon and Regina as well as from Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Minot. Smaller colleges like St. Thomas Moore and St. Peters College were also popular with students.
Trades continued to be the education and career trend for this year with both institutions and trade companies well represented. Sask PolyTech, Western College of Remedial Message, as well as organizations like Conexus, CIBC, Five Hills Health, Southland Co-op and Canalta Hotel saw healthy volumes of students at their booth.
Some booths were educational in a different way. SGI brought a driving simulator as part of the Safe Communities booth. Students had a chance to “drive” at the driving station and experience on screen what it means to drive impaired and distracted. Although it was a fun exercise, the students went away with a better understanding of driving.
The Assiniboia and District Chamber of Commerce’s Career Fair wrapped up successfully for another year.
