Annual event offers multiple opportunities for students, employers to engage
The 18th annual Aboriginal Career Fair on Thursday May 3 at UBC’s Okanagan campus will feature a different format than in previous years. The popular event, which draws hundreds of high school Aboriginal students from across the Interior, will be a split between an indoor and outdoor event.
“Traditionally, the Aboriginal Career Fair has been held in either the Courtyard or Commons to accommodate the more than 200 high school students and the many informational booths. But this year, we are taking the opportunity to showcase the Charles E. Fipke Centre for Innovative Research building,” says UBC Aboriginal Student Advisor Johanna Sam, one of the event organizers. “The Fipke Centre offers flexibility in providing space for booths, outdoor food services and the lecture theatre.”
Keynote speaker Robert Pictou will be featured in the Fipke Centre’s lecture theatre. Through CFTK TV in Terrace, in February Pictou launched a 30-minute talk show entitled The Journey. The program documents narratives, inspires understanding and is geared towards creating social change. The speaker encourages communities to continue to learn, grow and develop positive relationships. Highlights from the show are interviews with CBC Broadcaster Carla Robinson, artist Arthur Renwick, carver Dempsey Bob, Gitxsan Hereditary Chief Norman Stevens, Nisga Tsmiks Communication Specialist Sheldon Martin and Nisga’a Nation Executive Director Clifford Azak.
Students will have an opportunity to participate in the Digital Tattoo session led by UBC Librarian Sarah Stang, which explores how a person’s online presence can impact their lives.
“By managing your online identity, you choose how you present yourself to the world,” says Stang. “For example, when a potential employer looks you up online, you want them to see positives and not negatives.”
Aboriginal students from Interior high schools have the chance to enter the grand prize draw for either a laptop computer or an Apple iPad. While visiting the information booths, students gain answers to fill out bingo cards which are used as their door prize entry forms.
The annual event is a community partnership between UBC Aboriginal Programs & Services, Okanagan College and the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society. More than 35 informational booths will be on hand including UBC, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT), Okanagan College, Peace Hills Trust, Scotiabank, Thompson Rivers University, Astral Media, Canadian Mental Health Association, Correctional Services Canada, BC Paediatric Therapists Association, Diving Dynamics, En’owkin Centre, TD Bank, Westbank First Nation and the Southern Interior Flight Centre.
The career fair goes all day. For more information on the 18th Annual Aboriginal Career Fair, contact UBC Aboriginal Student Advisor Johanna Sam at 250-807-8787.
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