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ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD - Mitch Berreault knows he wants to work with helicopters. His career choice was cemented during a tour of the Dehcho Regional Helicopters and Great Slave Helicopters base in Fort Liard on Dec. 10.

Berreault, a Grade 11 student, said he learned about helicopters from base manager Lance White including how fast they can climb and how the turbine engines work.

Cheryl Bertrand, centre, introduces students to career possibilities with the Northern Store during a career fair at the Echo Dene school in Fort Liard. - photo courtesy of Ken Nowoselski

"I'd like to learn more about it," said Berreault.

The tour of the helicopter base was part of a career fair organized by the Echo Dene school. This year's fair was different than those run in the past, said Ken Nowoselski, a program support teacher who organized the fair.

For several years Aurora College has invited people from the community to speak with senior students about their jobs. This year's event, held on Dec. 3, had a higher profile and included all students from Grades 6 to 12.

The change is partially in response to the land claims process the Acho Dene Koe First Nation is working on.

In November Chief Steve Kotchea spoke with some of the students about the process and about the new jobs the band will need staffed as a result.

"They want the students to be aware there's a wide range of jobs available," said Nowoselski.

The school organized the fair to emphasize to older students that an education will allow them to pursue a meaningful career, he said.

A total of five organizations attended the fair and set up displays including the Northern Store, Spectra Energy from Fort Nelson, the Fort Liard Health Centre, Aurora College and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

"They came in on a professional level and talked about relevant issues the kids need to know about," said Nowoselski.

Topics included the range of jobs available, job expectations and ways to advance within a company.

"We were aiming more for the kids being engaged and learning relevant information," he said.

After each booth students were expected to have a sense of whether or not they'd like to work for that company, said Nowoselski.

One presenter was Cheryl Bertrand, an office clerk at the Northern Store in the hamlet who graduated from Echo Dene school this spring.

Bertrand talked to students about job titles within the company, salaries and personal qualities they need to have. The students asked a lot of questions, she said.

The students benefit from career fairs organized by the school, she said.

"They get to ask about the jobs there and learn more about it," said Bertrand.