Expo highlights numerous career opportunities for youth
- Angela Hill | February 08, 2019
High-school students walked up and down past 95 booths of possible work and education opportunities at the Future is Yours Career Expo in Saskatoon on Feb. 6.
About 1,200 students from communities across the province attended the event – 200 less than expected as freezing temperatures made travel not possible for some.
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Those who attended were able to speak with employers and academic advisors about their hopes and plans for the future. The students heard from a panel of students in post-secondary education and from special guest speaker Jordin Tootoo.
It’s about having youth “understand that there are opportunities for each and every one of them,” said Lorna Arcand, the event coordinator.
She added that as much as the career expo is to give young people tools to “succeed in modern society,” it “encourages employers to consider our youth.”
Lisa Mooney, senior advisor of strategic inclusion for the company Nutrien spoke directly to the students during the opening session.
“This is your opportunity to shape your future,” she said. “The investment you make today can change your whole life.”
Darrell Daniels travelled to the career expo from One Arrow First Nation because he likes to see the programs.
“It’s a pretty nice experience,” he said, after trying on a bullet proof vest at a Saskatchewan Polytechnic booth. “I can find things I can do.”
A game of Mario Cart drew youth over to the University of Saskatchewan Engineering display. The program’s academic advisor explains that everything that gets the game ready to be played is a product of engineering.
“We’re trying to overcome that idea that ‘engineering is hard and I’m not smart enough,’” he said.
They weren’t the only program with real-life examples of work. Some heavy machine programs had simulators that shook under the feet of students trying to drive. Students could try pipetting or look at x-rays at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic medical diagnostics booth. At Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies set up, youth could try a flight simulator.
“They like the hands-on activity and talking to people about the programs,” said Lorian Kennedy, SIIT’s director of strategic initiatives.
They have been coming to the event since its inception 5 years ago.
Saskatchewan Tribal Council supports the event, and tribal Chief Mark Arcand spoke at the opening session about why the career expo is important.
“It’s for young people to have the opportunities to get to the next level,” he said. “You’re the future, you’re the next generation. You have to take the bull by the horns.”