Secondary and post secondary career event addresses growing need

You have to provide a continuum of exposure to the skilled trades.The students have to be aware that these options are available to them and that they could have very rewarding careers in the skilled trades if they apply themselves.
– Nick Kotsos, former representative of the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

In 1999, Human Resources Development Canada introduced CCMI to several industry sector councils, to hopefully use our youth social marketing skills to help traditional industries educate high school, early college and university students about careers in their fields. Based on anecdotal and formal research with the target audiences, including guidance counselors and parents, it became apparent that inaccurate myths persisted about these types of jobs.

Additionally, since then our audiences have expressed concern for the increasing numbers of high school students failing to pass updated curriculum courses. Often, hands-on and real life-based teaching can help these students learn. Also this is the style that engenders best learning by most females, due to their cognitive functioning. All these young people need to find careers that can utilize their skills and knowledge, and boost their self-esteem.

At first, we discussed a curricular approach to impart the updated and exciting information about the various career options. However, we finally decided a hands-on, fun event would more successfully introduce students to necessary skills and knowledge. Universities or colleges offering relevant courses would host the 1-2 day event, and older students would mentor younger students during the activities. The event has been named Survivor Career Challenge, as students will learn skills and knowledge to help them survive in today's competitive workplace. By keeping the event contemporary and interesting to today's youth, the various industries will become attractive to them. A CD/DVD is also planned.

The first sector council we chose, after several years of discussions with them and other representatives of their industry, was MITAC (Mining Industry Training and Adjustment Council). Mining has become a high tech, global industry offering jobs from entry level requiring high school credits to university-degree engineers. Positions can be found in urban, rural, remote, northern, and aboriginal communities. A large part of the existing workforce is set to retire over the next years.