Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 22/02) - Students and job hunters from all over the Beaufort Delta got a chance to peer into the workplace of dozens of companies and organizations last week during Career Quest.

Organizer Jeanette Dou-cette said the interest from students and exhibitors has been wonderful.

Becky Donly takes a peek through a microscope at a mineral composition at the Shell Canada booth.

Around 400 people made their way through the 40 exhibits over the course of the two-day event held at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex.

"It's a chance people to come and find out about the range of employment and training opportunities there are," Doucette said. "From entry-level to highly skilled and highly educated positions."

"We've encouraged the exhibitors to show that range; not just, 'shoot for the stars,' " she said.

Doucette said the show offers something for everyone and the exhibits got a fresh look with some new decorating touches.

"This year is the first year we've used the trade show drapes and it really makes it look a lot more professional," she said.

"The students have been asking a lot of good questions and that's what it's all about," she said.

Doucette said the students spend the most time at the booths with something interactive.

"We've tried to encourage the exhibitors to bring something that draws them in and not just prizes and give-aways -- something that makes them think a little bit and encourages questions."

"We want them to leave knowing more than when they came in."

Becky Donly, 21, has graduated high school, but came to Career Quest looking for some ideas about a possible future career.

"It's just neat so see all the options out there," Donly said.

Linden Lokos, a Samuel Hearne Grade 7 student enjoys art and might consider a career in graphic design, but enjoyed seeing the variety of occupations at the fair.

"It's pretty cool," he said. "I don't really know what I'd like to be, but this helps and I'll figure it out one day."

Carson Atkinson, the principal of Samuel Hearne secondary school, said of the event:

"I think it's been set-up very well and we've had a better representation of students from the rest of the delta than last year," he said. "The kids have enjoyed it very much."

The students were required to fill out a questionnaire prepared by their teachers on the booths set up at the fair.

"That's part of the idea, to have them do some planning and have some understanding off what their career path might be and to realize what they have to do to achieve that," he said.

He says the fair gets graduates and future grads to plan a little, but also sets goals for those who want to aim high.

"We had about 18 speakers in the school and they get the opportunity to ask questions; to dream a little bit and hopefully, to guess at what they'd like to be."