NLPS high school students from Bonnyville and Cold Lake had the opportunity to try out a variety of trades and learn about post-secondary and career opportunities at the Lakeland Students Trades Fair held Tuesday and Wednesday at the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre.
"The energy in the building was amazing," said Karen Draycott, NLPS Director of Learning - Grades 7-12 Instructional Support. "The students loved all of the hands-on opportunities provided by the vendors and had some great conversations about the different careers they may want to pursue after graduation."
The trades fair was co-hosted by Northern Lights Public Schools and Lakeland Catholic with sponsorship from Strathcona Resources Ltd., Cold Lake Bus Lines, City of Cold Lake, Pathways Alliance, Canadian Natural, Dark Horse Media, Thinkwerx, Town of Bonnyville, and the MD of Bonnyville.
"We are grateful for the support we received from local industry and the community for this event," said NLPS Board Chair Karen Packard. "It's so important for our students to have the opportunity to explore future careers and help them connect that with what they are learning in school. These are the kinds of experiences that encourage our students to persevere and inspire them to pursue paths they may not have even known were possible."
This year's participants included Imperial, Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority, Lauden Mechanical Innovation, Overdrive Heavy Duty Services, Alberta Wildfire, Work Wild, GenMec and Comec, CEDA, Tron Construction and Mining, Canadian UAV, Women Building Futures, 4 Wing, Pathways Alliance, STRIKE, Careers Next Gen., MD of Bonnyville, Town of Bonnyville, Federation, NAIT, RhPAP, Portage College, LICA, RCMP "K" Division, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Parks, and Strathcona Resources.