Over 150 local students filed in to the College of New Caledonia (CNC) Lakes District Campus last week to attend the college's 2011 J.O.I.N. (job opportunities in the North) Career Fair.
Students from Lakes District Secondary School, Granisle the Southside and the College of New Caledonia Burns Lake campus were told by presenters that there would be 1.1 million jobs available in B.C. over the next ten years and were encouraged to embrace the post secondary education and job training opportunities available in the North to prepare themselves for future employment.
A number of local and regional businesses set up booths at the college. Company employees from Hampton Affiliates, Rio Tinto Alcan, Tahtsa Pellet Inc, Mount Milligan Mine, Pacific Northern Gas, Northern Health, Lakes District Maintenance, Royal Bank of Canada Burns Lake branch, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Bulkley Valley Credit Union, Elizabeth Fry Society, Statistics Canada, Village of Burns Lake and RCMP Burns Lake detachment were all on hand to advise students how to gain employment in their respective businesses.
Staff from Rio Tinto Alcan, Hampton Affiliates, Northern Health, Tahtsa Pellet Inc. and Mount Milligan Mine also gave a panel presentation discussion advising students of the job application process for employment within their organizations.
Carla Fox, CNC instructor said the college was extremely pleased with the turnout.
We were expecting about 120 students but the number of people here has greatly exceeded that," she said to Lakes District News during the career fair.
Students were able to see the number of job opportunities available to them in the surrounding area and determine what educational path they would need to take to get a foot in the door.
Students were able to pick up job application forms and informational packages at each booth set up at the college.
Company officials from all represented organizatons were also present at their booths to answer all student questions.