Explore your future: CEC hosts North Wellington Career Fair

April 19, 2023

MOUNT FOREST, ON – On April 18, 2023, grade 8 students from the Upper Grand District School Board headed to the Mount Forest Sports Complex to gain valuable insights into possible career pathways.

Hosted by the Career Education Council (CEC), the goal of this fair was to allow students to explore the “diverse career, employment, and community pathways available in North Wellington.”

According to William Gardiner, the Employer Liaison and Engagement Specialist at the CEC, “grade 8 [students] are targeted for this event because it follows the Career Education Council’s history of ‘Pathways’ events that we typically hold in Guelph. Pathways events are designed to highlight the regional opportunities available for youth in as many sectors as we can muster together. This year, for the first time ever, we are proud to have partnered with the County of Wellington, the Town of Minto, and the Townships of Mapleton and Wellington North to bring this opportunity to the county schools.”

Employers and vendors at the event included Conestoga College, Linamar, South Wellington Community Lions Club, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), the University of Guelph, Capital Paving, Workforce Planning Board, Green Legacy, the Township of Wellington North, CEC, 2nd Chance, Mount Forest Library, Farm Fresh Poultry, Ontario Sand Stone and Gravel, County of Wellington, Saugeen Economic Development Corporation, Dana Thermal Group, Town of Minto, Viking-Cives, Libro, Wilson – Ford Surveying, Mount Forest Chamber of Commerce and TG Minto.

According to grade 7/8 teacher Angela Novikow at Minto Clifford Public School, “The CEC event is a great way for students to explore what local opportunities are available to them as they start planning for [their] future education, apprenticeships, and jobs. Also, the possibility of students being introduced to a career path that has not previously been considered is exciting. To top it all off, we were pleased our students had the opportunity to attend a pathways event so close to home.”

Students who attended the fair from Spencer Avenue Elementary School had great things to say including, “I liked the booth about being part of your community government. You could plan things and improve your town and community” and “I thought career day was kind of cool, there were many things to learn about.”

Thank you to the CEC for hosting this event and we hope that it inspired some young people to start thinking about their career options.