ThereB次元官网网址檚 rarely a shortage of Saanich Peninsula trades calling for educated and eager new employees B次元官网网址� as our recent PNR series of stories on the chamber of commerceB次元官网网址檚 Tour of Industry continues to reinforce.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 why a small group of people are resurrecting a trade show thatB次元官网网址檚 geared to employers in the manufacturing, tech and other industrial sectors operating on the Peninsula B次元官网网址� and students in area high schools.
After an almost 20-year hiatus, EduTech is making a comeback next week in Sidney. Erin Bremner-Mitchell, a Sidney Town councillor and member of the TownB次元官网网址檚 Economic Development Commission (EDC), is helping bring the event back. Its main goal, she says, is to connect students with those commercial and industrial sectors and present careers in those fields as a viable option.
The group organizing EduTech has reached out to local high schools and their career counselors, and have invited students from across School District 63 (Saanich). Bremner-Mitchell said they are expecting around 300 students at the day-long trade show.
Twenty vendors have been confirmed B次元官网网址� from large employers to small ones B次元官网网址� and they will set up at the SHOAL Centre on Resthaven Drive in Sidney. Bremner-Mitchell said students will arrive throughout the early part of EduTech B次元官网网址� between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. B次元官网网址� time thatB次元官网网址檚 been set aside for students only.
B次元官网网址淭he school district has been very supportive,B次元官网网址� she said, adding business at the event are looking for youth who are interested in careers in the trades, and can offer opportunities for them to learn and work in their own communities.
For students who are still sitting on the fence about a career path, Bremner-Mitchell said EduTech has an B次元官网网址渋nspirational cornerB次元官网网址� where vendor participants have eight minutes or less to convince students that thereB次元官网网址檚 a good opportunity for them here.
She said employers like Quadrant Marine, based in Sidney and Vancouver, offer apprenticeships and eventually leading to good jobs right in peopleB次元官网网址檚 backyards.
Between 3 and 4 p.m., Bremner-Mitchell said thereB次元官网网址檚 an invitation-only function that will put Peninsula politicians and community leaders in front of the participating business owners. She said this came at the request of both parties, so they can discuss issues facing business B次元官网网址� including workforce issues like housing. At its root, itB次元官网网址檚 a way for them to connect and learn.
From 4 to 7 p.m. EduTech is open to the public B次元官网网址� and itB次元官网网址檚 free.
SidneyB次元官网网址檚 EDC embraced EduTech late last year and the Town had made EduTech an official part of the EDC mandate. That, Bremner-Mitchell said, gives the trade show a bit more cachet.
Bremner-Mitchell added sheB次元官网网址檚 happy with the 20 businesses who have agreed to be part of the EduTech job fair atmosphere.
B次元官网网址淐ome and discover the amazing companies you might not know are right here on your doorstep.B次元官网网址�
EduTech takes place Thursday, Feb. 15 at the SHOAL Centre in Sidney, from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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