WESTLOCK – Exploring job opportunities, training, education and programs was in the spotlight as more than 400 students and residents from around the region took in the inaugural Westlock and District Chamber of Commerce trade show and career fair April 26 at the Rotary Spirit Centre.
The event featured 50 booths that included chamber members, local organizations, post-secondary institutions, and businesses from across the province, with many of them providing displays, demonstrations and information about training, programs and job opportunities.
Area schools and post-secondary organizations including R.F. Staples School (RFS), St. Mary School (SMS) and Barrhead Composite High School (BCHS) along with post-secondary institutions and organizations in attendance such as Careers Next Generation, the University of Alberta and the Educational Liaison Association of Alberta (ELAA), partnered with the chamber.
“We were thrilled to see all the students come through and it’s been very good,” said chamber president Graeme Harrington. “It’s been really great. We’re thrilled with how many (people) we’ve been able to get out. The displays have been amazing.”
The event, which ran from early afternoon to early evening, welcomed hundreds of students in Grades 7 to 12 from RFS, SMS, and BCHS for the first half, many who learned about post secondary programs and training opportunities, as well summer job opportunities with local businesses.
Some of those in attendance were Grade 11 students from BCHS Kirstin Pulleyblank, Emily Hodgetts, and McKenna Golden, who made a stop at the Westlock Employment Services booth.
“I’ve been asking about things involving careers like resumes and cover letters,” said Golden. “It gives you lots of information about post-secondary school and possible jobs and careers,” Hodgetts added about the trade show.
Other students were also inquiring about job opportunities and training programs they were interested in learning more about.
“I was talking with (Westlock County Protective Services) about opportunities to join and get training to be a fire fighter in the future” said Grade 11 student at R.F. Staples Devin Kraychy. “(The trade show and career fair) is definitely a very good place to get job opportunities and learn a lot about future jobs.”
Travis Clews, a millwright with Shell Canada, was born and raised in Westlock and was on hand to talk with students about some of the equipment Shell uses on the job, as well as the significance of trades in Alberta. He thought the trade show was a great idea.
“There was a lot of interest in the trades (from students),” said Clews. “There’s a lot more vendors than I was expecting with people from Calgary and Red Deer in attendance. I wish they would have had this when I was growing up in Westlock.”
Harrington said chamber members embraced the idea of a trade show and career fair with local schools, and was grateful to town staff for help with the venue and setting up for the event, which they plan to bring back bigger and better next year.
“We’re looking forward to doing it again,” said Harrington, noting they will put more focus on promoting the event in 2024. “We’re planning it to be a yearly thing and hopefully grow it year over year and get the students back, get the schools back, get more businesses and more chamber members out.”
