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INUVIK
All eyes were trained on the future Feb. 22 as East Three hosted its annual Career Fair and Skills Competition.

"I think it's going very well," said organizer Brigitte Kay. "We have 24 exhibitors here."

The career fair, she said, gives students opportunities to interact with various organizations and to see what kind of education they might need to pursue different career paths.

"It's a fun way for students to interact in a casual friendly environment too."

Government groups were well represented at the event, with displays from the GNWT, Parks Canada and others on hand. Public Health was also in attendance, providing willing participants with information on careers as well as a more hands-on example: quick check-ups with public health nurse Lesa Semmler.

Semmler gave volunteers quick information on important health markers such as oxygen levels, blood-sugar, blood pressure and body-mass index as an illustration of some of the kinds of work public health workers conduct.

The Arctic Research Institute (ARI) was also on hand, demonstrating some of its activities as well as some basic scientific experiments.

One of the students who seemed especially interested in the institute was River Ross. The Grade 8 student correctly estimated the amount of snow required to melt into about 300 millilitres of water. He knew it would take at least three times that amount of snow, since water contracts in liquid form.

"This is really interesting," he said. "It gives me some ideas of what I might want to do for a job."

The institute is the gateway to doing research in the North, explained staff member Jolene Lennie. All permits and applications for research in the area pass through ARI. As well as being the administrative and management centre for science, the institute also carries out its own research and hires out its resources, including staff.

"The students are really interested and engaged in our stuff," said Niccole Hammer, another ARI staff member at the career fair.

Kay said the fair was a good opportunity for students to experience the possibility of good, fulfilling careers in the trades as well. Those kind of careers might also help keep young people in Inuvik, she said, although there were many other jobs that just aren't available locally.

Other organizations were attracting their fair share of interest as well. The Inuvik Youth Centre received a steady stream of visitors. The RCMP also pulled in students for a chat, and so did the Aurora College display.

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