Career Fair Exceeds Expectations

Written by admin on 16 September 2010

1st Annual Red Rock Indian Band Carreer Fair

Part of the OETIO's booth, very popular with attendees.

NIPIGON, ON – Wednesday, September 15th, rhythmic Pow Wow drumming echoed through the Nipigon Arena today sounding off Day 1 of the First Annual Red Rock Indian Band Career Fair, keeping participants and visitors entertained and enthused. Approximately 40 booths; government agencies, a variety of unions, educational and training services, and other employee and student serving or seeking groups filled the floor which officially opened shortly after 1pm following an Opening Prayer and Grand Entry for the Pow Wow.

The theme for this first for the Red Rock Indian Band was “Creating Pathways Today for a Brighter Tomorrow” and though it was organized to serve band members, the benefits to Nipigon and area residents was evident. Career Fair Coordinator Jason Thompson was pleased with the response from booth participants and attendees “[Participation] has exceeded our expectations” said Thompson (an interview with Thompson can be viewed below).

Among those who offered information, advice and inspiration to attendees were several booths equiped with heavy equipment simulators;

Confederation College with a delimber simulator projecting onto a giant screen;
Operating Engineers Training Institue of Ontario (OETIO) with an excavator simulator that looked like a scaled down version of the actual machine rather than the video game style simulaters used by most. Would-be operators sat in the machine which had an actual physical arm and bucket, assisted by an OETIO trainer they learned to dig in a basin of sand;
Ontario Civil Construction Career Institute (OCCCI) with a smaller caterpillar excavator simulator.

Jessica Steffler Director of Career Promotions OCCCI (left) assists a student in using the excavator simulator.

Part of the OETIO's booth, very popular with attendees.

These three, good examples of the variety of employment and training services offered by presenters; OETIO offering, explained Director of Marketing Carla St.Louis, specialized job specific training, most often at the request of employers though not exclusively; OCCCI being able to provide students or job-seekers with assistnace in regards to establishing what a specific construction sector career would require in regards to training, education, certification, ect and finally Confederation College, an education institue offers post-secondary and adult studies in a variety of formats including traditional on campus, in class tutelage or custom created, need-based training like that which is scheduled to begin in Marathon later this month (see video below). Each table, in addition to offering a plethera of printed materials, provided attendees with real world examples of how their organization could serve to further a person’s career.

Other organizations having representatives and booths at the fair included;

Cook Engineerin
Province of Ontario
Ontario Civil Construction Careers Institute
Superior-North Community Futures Development Corporation (SNCFDC)
Ontario Power Generation
Negahneewin College of Academic and Community Development
Construction & Allied Workers Union 607
Lakehead Adult Education Centre
Dilico
Millwright Local Union #1151
Nipigon District Memorial Hospital
Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers #128
Canada Border Services Agency

And many more which readers can visit themselves by attending Day 2 of the 1st Annual Red Rock Indian Band Career Fair today, from Noon until 8pm.

Ontario Power Generation seminar introducing the many sectors in which careers can be found within their organization, sharing details of how to apply online and more.

Throughout the day there were information sessions offered by the various organizations in the arena’s Multi-Purpose Room; some included information regarding how to apply, the various fields of study employed by specific organizations and more. Day 2 will feature a free Resume Workshop which will no doubt, offer much useful, and up-to-date, information to serve both new and experienced workers.

The day would up with a Participant Feast in the Arena at 5:30pm as well as several presentations made at closing.

This Career Fair is just one of many endeavours being pursued by the Red Rock Band which focus on eliminating barriers to employment. Other ongoing projects include a sawmill/bio-energy/greenhouse project, a Professional Business Complex, and the development of a Marble quarry. In addition to the connections which will be made through the career fair, preparation of community members by the Red Rock Band for these initiatives includes participation in partnership programs with Anishnabek Employment and Training Services.

Elementary school kids could not resist dancing to the drums of 'Spirit Wind' one of the groups who performed during the Pow Wow.

The Red Rock Indian Band 1^st Annual Career Fair has reinforces the Band’s position as a responsible partner, business leader and a progressive community.