M’CHIGEENG—Titled ‘Ready, Willing and Able,’ the 12th edition of the Kenjgewin Teg Educational Institute (KTEI) Career Fair held at the M’Chigeeng complex on Thursday, October 9 boasted its largest number of vendors yet at 40.
Career fair coordinator Brian Bisson of KTEI said the vendors were split evenly, 20 post secondary institutions and 20 organizations, with 160 students flowing through the displays. Mr. Bisson said he was disappointed that student numbers were down this year, and that despite the invitation, Grade 7 classes from Little Current Public School, Assiginack Public School and Central Manitoulin Public School did not attend but he is hopeful that number will rebound next year.
Grade 7 students are invited from all of the Island elementary schools, as well as from Espanola and the North Shore as this is the grade level at which the Ontario elementary school curriculum encourages career guidance to begin.
New to the fair this year were representatives from the Labourers’, Carpenters’ and Pipefitters’ Unions in Sudbury, which, judging by the crowds around them, were hugely popular among the students.
“(The fair) opens the students’ eyes to opportunities, career-wise,” Mr. Bisson said.
The vendors were very encouraged by the fair too, he added, and came from as far away as the Ottawa area
to attend.
“The teachers love it, they really enjoy it,” he said.
“Our theme this year was ‘Ready, Willing and Able’,” Mr. Bisson said, making sure the students are thinking about a career, are willing to make the sacrifice and are able to achieve that goal, no matter what. “Hopefully, we got them thinking about all these things.”
