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Options open at P.A. career fair

Oct 26, 2017 | 10:00 AM

More than 2,500 students converged on the Prince Albert exhibition grounds yesterday for a glimpse into their possible futures.

The sixth-annual Opening Doors to Tomorrow Career/Job Fair played host to students from more than 30 schools and included displays from 57 different organizations, committee chair Patricia Yeske said. The event gives students from Prince Albert and the surrounding area an opportunity to learn about various career opportunities, she said, and lets them participate in some hands-on experiences to give them a real taste of the various jobs.

“It gives them the opportunity to see beyond the walls of their own schools,” Yeske said. “We hope that they’ve made some connections and are looking towards the future.”

Although the fair included displays from plenty of local employers and post-secondary institutions, some of the most popular booths were operated by workers from various emergency services.

Students lined up to try on firefighting equipment and drag a weighted testing dummy through an obstacle course, and Sgt. Travis Willie talked the curious students through the workings of various police equipment. Parkland Ambulance paramedics showed off the inside of an ambulance, and representatives from the Canadian Forces and Correctional Service Canada also had large displays.

Taylor Althouse and Haley Thompson, two Grade 11 students from Meath Park, said they have not yet chosen their career paths. Both girls said career fairs are helpful as they make up their minds, as events like the one in Prince Albert provide exposure to a wide variety of options.

“I find it very interesting, all the things that we have here to explore,” Althouse said. “There’s a lot of pressure. There’s so many choices out there, you don’t know which path to take.”

Althouse said she’s considering law school, so she focused her attention on the corrections and university displays.

Thompson said she was enjoying the wide varity of booths at the fair, but added she was also feeling the pressure. Choosing a career is a big decision, she said, and not one she wants to rush.

“I’m kind of worried that I’m going to mess up and choose a career I don’t want,” Thompson said. “Graphic design is where I’d like to go, but I’m not set on it yet.”

 

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews