WHATI/LAC LA MARTRE
Last week’s career fair in Whati aimed to show both students and residents the employment opportunities being offered in the territory.

Avis Vallis, community safety strategy co-ordinator with the NWT Department of Justice and Vincent Casey with the North Slave Correctional centre, provide information to students and residents during a career fair in Whati last week. - photo courtesy of Marie Jr.

Jim Stauffer, adult education instructor at the Aurora College campus in Whati, organized the fair, which was held at Mezi Community School on Nov. 26 and 27. He said in addition to showcasing potential careers, the fair was also intended to tell high school students about the courses required for entry into post-secondary education and jobs.

“The goal of having a career fair is to help, especially the students, make educational choices that will leave a career path open to them in the future,” Stauffer said. “There is some importance about the high school courses you choose.”

A variety of industry and government organizations were represented at the fair, including the Tlicho government, trucking companies and aviation companies, Stauffer said.

Mineral development companies also had information booths, as well as the RCMP, the NWT Housing Association, Northwest Territories Power Corporation and territorial government departments, such as the Department of Justice and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Stauffer said the fair also provided potential employers and staff from other areas, such as Yellowknife, with an opportunity to experience a small community.

“It’s really good for the people who are in these various companies to see things at a community level,” he said.

The fair was open to the general public as well, which allowed residents to browse through information booths and speak with company and government representatives. Stauffer said being able to speak one-on-one is a great networking opportunity for both community members and employers.

“This is an opportunity to go beyond just e-mailing a resume, this provides some face to face contact between either people who need services, or people who are offering their services with potential employers,” he said. “Yes, there is literature and information and websites to read, but face-to-face contact establishes a bit of a personal relationship with someone in the company. You’re not a total stranger the next time you make contact.”

Stauffer said establishing a relationship with possible future employers is great for students, too.

“We tried to create a bit more interaction and have them ask questions that would give them information,” he said.

Grade 11 student Gary Sewi said he enjoyed being able to speak directly to business and government representatives.

“They’re all in one room and you can speak to anyone in the profession and they can guide you and tell you prerequisites,” he said. “I thought it was pretty fun doing that.”

Sewi said he was impressed by how many industries and government departments were represented at the fair.

“There were a lot of different professions there, which was pretty amazing,” he said.

Katie Wedzin, Grade 12, said while she knows she wants to get into nursing or law, the fair helped highlight other possibilities.

“I noticed there were a lot of options career-wise,” she said. “It opened my eyes to how many jobs there are and what to go for.”

Teacher B.J. Clark-Hurley said the timing of the career fair coincided with a career focusing module students were working on in their career and life management class. Clark-Hurley said the class is intended to help students identify what they enjoy doing and how they can stream their possible career choices.

“It’s about finding what the students love, what their passions are and how they can fit that into a career,” he said.

In addition to their participation, students and staff at Mezi Community School were essential in keeping the fair running, Stauffer said.

The school’s tourism class made breakfast and lunch for the delegates and students also helped set up and tear down booths, he said.

The Tlicho government and Whati community government also helped make the fair a success, he added.

Stauffer said though it’s early, discussions about next year’s fair have begun.

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