KELOWNA – More than 2,000 students attended an education and career fair in Kelowna on Monday. The grade 10-12 students in attendance explored job opportunities and post-secondary education options.
With more than 60 exhibitors on hand, there were plenty of ideas to consider. The animation industry is one of them. It’s considered by insiders as a very viable career option especially right now.
“Absolutely phenomenal,” says Anne Denman with Bardel Entertainment. “I have been in animation for 26 years. This is the best time for animators and B.C. is the hub of animation worldwide. There is no way you can argue that if you are in Vancouver, you throw a rock, you will hit an animator and Kelowna is following suit”.”
Training schools like the Interior Heavy Equipment Operator School were also on hand
“There’s a lot of B.C. labour market research out there. They are forecasting thousands and thousands of jobs by 2020,” says Christine Bay with the operator school. “B.C. is looking, in my opinion, to become the new ‘it’ province. We are stepping out from our shadow of our big brother Alberta next door.”
Noticeably absent at this year’s career, companies representing the oil and gas sector in Alberta.
“This year due to the economy crashing in oil and gas, we are seeing a trend with them holding back and maybe waiting until next year until they have time regroup and get economy stronger,” says Lily Chang with the career fair.
While the event caters mostly to students, anyone looking for work was welcome to attend and some took advantage of the invite.
“It’s a bit different than our larger cities like Abbotsford and Vancouver where it’s mostly the youth,” says Chang. “Here we are seeing a broader range. In Kelowna, we’ve seen many more adults looking for work.”
The career fair takes place in Kamloops on Tuesday before moving to Alberta.
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