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Mixing and mingling at job fair
French business organization's Cafe Emploi a successful networking event

Thandiwe Vela
Northern News Services
Published Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Employers and job seekers mixed and mingled the evening away last Wednesday at a Cafe Emploi job fair.

NNSL photo/graphic

NorthwesTel Inc. manager Sean Healy and Yellowknife newcomer Jennifer Rafferty strike up a conversation at the Cafe Emploi job fair on Oct. 24. - Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo

The event, held at Office Compliments on Franklin Avenue and hosted by French business organization Conseil de developpement economique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (CDETNO), drew more than 50 people, making it quite a success, said Gabrielle Moncion, CDETNO career development officer.

"I saw a lot of people who gave their business card or resumes, so I think it was a big success for that," Moncion said.

New to the city from Ontario, University of Toronto graduate Jennifer Rafferty was among those circulating business cards and resumes at the event. She appreciated the opportunity to meet so many potential recruiters in one room, in the casual setting.

NorthwesTel Inc. and the GNWT were among the employers present at the event, which was also organized in partnership with Office Compliments, Genesis Group, the Academy of Learning, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and Aurora College.

In addition to networking, the job fair gave attendees the opportunity to learn more about the city's French community, cultural diversity, and for newcomers like Rafferty, the opportunity to learn more about the city's business climate, Moncion said.

The theme for the Oct. 24 Cafe Emploi was cultural diversity, and the event included a keynote address about cultural diversity in business from NorthwesTel executive Mark Walker.

A representative from Citizenship and Immigration Canada also spoke at the event.

CDETNO aims to offer a Cafe Emploi job fair twice per year.

The latest Cafe Emploi drew more than double the amount of attendees of the last job fair in March, which had about 24 people in attendance, Moncion said.

The next Cafe Emploi is being planned for next spring.

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