CDDHS 2016 Career Fair was a success

June 4, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Marni Walsh

The cafeteria at Centre Dufferin District High School (CDDHS) was bursting at the seams recently with representatives from various employers answering questions from curious students eager to find their career paths as they head towards their final year of high school.

Each presenter was given a table where they displayed information during the fair and shared expertise and experience in their field of work. Students walked about the displays for an hour on May 18 during their mid-morning class.

CDDHS Guidance Councillor Sue Trowel organized the event, along with teachers Heidi Vanderwal and Mark Greenfield, who run the co-op program. The co-op program gives students the opportunity to work outside of the school in local businesses.

Students engaged in the co-op program can earn two to four credits, depending on the length of their involvement.

Ms. Trowel says the Career Fair event is “very helpful to our students who are faced with the important and often difficult decision of choosing their career path.”

Earlier that morning, CDDHS also hosted a co-op employer’s appreciation breakfast, catered by Main Street Café.

Hannah Sine of Towne Fitness, and her husband Jeff, have hosted several co-op students at their business on First Street, and Hannah, who attended the event, commented that she was very impressed with the way the breakfast and the program was handled.

“[I always know the Career Fair is a success] when I hear students talking about the conversations they had, when parents call in referring to comments their children have made, and when the students come in to Guidance right away to make appointments to talk about what they learned and make some informed decisions about their choices for next year – all of which happened,” says Ms. Trowel.

She complimented “the co-op students who were there to share their experiences with their fellow students. I think they did a great job of representing their school and their placements.”

Over 50 employers were invited to attend the event, which the school staff says provides an excellent opportunity to meet people from a variety of fields, as well as college, university and employment specialists.

The event was aimed mainly at Grade 11 students who are in the process of choosing their final high school credits and making directional decisions about post secondary education.

Ms. Trowel says she was “overwhelmed by the support and effort” employers took to attend the event and “looks forward to connecting with everyone again next year.”