During Education Month, a variety of Fairs, Programs, Events, and Presentations were made available to the community. There was truly an opportunity for everyone!
The Lifelong Learning Centre (LLC) is a unification of Sagamok Education’s previous departments of Employment, Education, Skills Development, Training, Adult Education, Secondary and Post-Secondary. The LLC staff organized and facilitated two full-day events at Sagamok’s Multi-Educational Centre; a Career Fair on May 8, and Trades Day two weeks later, on May 22. Both Fairs were held from approximately 9am to 3pm, welcoming the community to attend for knowledge gathering, job applications, and to explore the booths set up by partner organizations who were present. And of course, there was lots of fun swag to be collected, and a tasty smorgasbord of lunch options and snack-time treats to be enjoyed! Each Fair was well attended by community members and provided an interesting social outlet and on-site resources.
Both the Career Fair and the Trades Day respectively offered an assortment of booths and specialized Trades people, College/Universities, and Organizations. It is important to note these opportunities are relevant to anyone, no matter if you are still in school, looking for a new career, or retired! A special visit by Biidaaban senior students and high school students attending EHS happened at both events, allowing students to explore career pathways they perhaps haven’t previously considered, test out some unique equipment and gear, ask questions one-on-one, and find our more information on how they can be supported by the Life-Long Learning Centre Guidance & Career Coaches to fulfill their dreams and ambitions at whatever stage they are at.
Other attendees found it helpful for looking into transitioning from their current career pathway. For those who are retired from the work force, it was an opportunity to meet up with other Sagamonians, have lunch, and learn about emerging employment and industries on-and off-reserve. Equipped with resumes in hand, or not, visitors were able to apply, enquire, and meet potential employers in real time! This personal and intimate setting helps many people to ‘break the ice’ and allows employers and employees to meet and come to understand each other on equal, friendly turf. Questions are always welcome, and a nice way for booth presenters to interact with community members, learn more about unique Anishinaabe cultural practices, and add interest to their day-long activity of booth management.
The Career Fair saw approximately 134 registered visitors come through the doors with 67 of those in the Youth age demographic. Some of the booths present at the Career Fair, were:
- Colleges – Sault, Cambrian and Confederation
- Universities – Laurentian, Nipissing, Ottawa and Ontario Tech
- Service Canada and Contact North
- Centre for Indigenous Theatre – travelled from Toronto! school offering acting, singing, performance instruction and opportunity
- Indigenous Art School
- Forensics
- Royal Bank of Canada – investigations, fraud, investments and Future Launch program information
- Ontario Geological Society
- NOSM (Northern Ontario School of Medicine) Students – Joel Pitre and Emelie Cote currently in Sagamok on placement to gain exposure to/learn Anishinaabe culture/practices/beliefs to help them better understand and serve FN patients when practicing and attempt to remove ignorance/racism
- Sagamok HR and CFAU, Glencore, Kenjgewin Teg, ONECA
- Canadian Armed Forces – cool platoon gear to try on/get pictures in
- Delsy, who travelled from Peru, (she was first met during Gimaa’s trip in early spring and came to visit Sagamok) offered hand-made stitched items for sale to raise funds for her village; she discussed life in Peru, their remote community, culture, practice, and survival methods, stories about the meaning, colours used, and the person who created some of the products displayed
If you missed the opportunity to update or create your resume during the month leading up to the Career Fair, the Guidance & Career Coaches at the LLLC confirm that they offer on-going services to support community members. Call and book an appointment (705-865-2421) or drop by and say hello when the time is right for you; they are always happy to meet you! The LLLC is open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm and is located at 717 Sagamok Road. If you are not sure what career pathway is right for you, the staff are very knowledgeable and can offer a STRONG Assessment; a free aptitude style testing that only takes 30 minutes to complete. If you seek tutoring for your Grade 12/GED diploma, post-secondary education, bursaries, grants, or financial assistance to set you off on your personal pathway in a good way, the LLLC staff can help point you in the right direction. . YOUR vision, YOUR life journey – the LLLC staff are here to help light the path to YOUR future.
Trades Day was equally well attended (104 registered visitors) by members from all walks of life – looking to learn, discover, or share their trade with others, and snag some nice swag as well! LLLC provided customized Sagamok Education bags for visitors to put their brochures and goodies into; pens, chocolates, wooden seed boxes, excavator shaped stick drives, etc. Shout out to Espanola High School student and Sagamok’s own, Julien Kiernan, who ambitiously manned a booth at Trades Day. He had his SHSM (Specialist High Skills Major) construction project -- a hand-built shed -- on-site for visitors to inspect. Julien is a Grade 11 student at Espanola High School and was the 4th place winner out of ~25 competing students at the recent Skills Ontario Competition in Toronto! Awesome work, Julien, and congratulations to you! Your workmanship and enthusiasm towards your trade are inspirational! Julien described the SHSM program to visitors at his booth, noting that it is a hands-on learning style, provides opportunity for excursions/travel/exploration, and participation in the SHSM aids with scholarships and co-op placements. He recommends it to youth, and it was wonderful seeing him at the Fair representing his age demographic and what can be accomplished in the trades field.
Hydro One, Sault College, APSIP, Glencore, Vale, and many other interesting trade-related partners were also present. ZEI had a booth with representatives highlighting positions in the trades they were looking to fill and enlightening visitors on credentials, education, and where to go/what to do to get certified for employment with them. They included their Education Month Bingo Cards that were in play from May 1 to 26, which registrants could take with them to events all month long in an attempt to complete a winning row or card, earning them ballots for fantastic prizes. Miigwech to ZEI for hosting this game and offering enticing prizes to encourage participation in all the events planned by departments of Sagamok in May! The LIVE draw took place May 30 with winners announced and shared on the Members of Sagamok Facebook page. Congratulations to all of the winners!
The Student Research Fair, held at Biidaaban on May 29, was the third engagement of its sort this month, with this fair being organized by Biidaaban staff. It showcased careers researched by students in Grade 6, 7, and 8, displayed in informative and eye-catching booths. Visitors from the community attended to view the student projects, learn where students’ career interests lie, ask questions, and gain feedback from students about their research and career choice. Some of the careers presented included:
- Police Officer
- Heavy Equipment Mechanic
- Baker
- Race Car Driver/ Dirt Bike Racer
- Artist / Cartoonist / Actress
- Pharmacist / Oral Hygienist
- Gun Smith
- Miner
- Carpenter
- Zoologist
- Video Game Developer
- Lawyer
- Mental Health Worker
- Surgeon
- Astronaut
- Astrophysicist (Say that 3 times quickly!)
- Transport Truck Driver…
There are so many interesting and diverse career paths developing in the minds of our youth here in Sagamok! It was exciting to see their enthusiasm and confidence igniting during the fair! Whatever career path they find themselves on in the future, may they continue to feel supported, guided, and encouraged by family, peers, community members, and education leaders. Great work, students! Chi miigwech to Biidaaban Staff for offering students this personal opportunity to showcase their talents and career knowledge through an interactive community event.
