Students explore futures at symposium

Students at the Brandon Career Symposium did not just collect brochures and souvenirs — in some cases, they were already mapping out their future.

From health care to skilled trades and emergency services, conversations between the students and exhibitors at the Keystone Centre revealed strong interest in sectors tied closely to real-world demand.

The steady traffic seen at The Learning Company booth reflected both curiosity and intent, education co-ordinator Raine Patrick told the Sun on Tuesday

“We’ve had at least 100 students come by today,” Patrick said in an interview. “I spoke with a mix of graduating students and younger attendees exploring options. A lot of them are just coming for information right now.”

Among those stopping by, health-related programs stood out. Courses such as health care aide, unit clerk and massage therapy drew the most attention, far surpassing interest in business programs, she said.

That trend was echoed at the Red River College Polytechnic booth, where student recruitment officer Lyndsay Lambert said health sciences and skilled trades dominated discussions.

“Since this morning, we’ve probably chatted with about 200 students,” Lambert said. “There’s a real demand for health programs right now, especially nursing and diagnostic ultrasound, and we also see strong interest in trades like electrical, plumbing and transportation.”

Lambert said students are increasingly focused on job security when considering post-secondary education.

“They want to make sure that if they’re investing their time and energy, there are real employment opportunities at the end, and industry partnerships and labour market demand continue to attract students to those programs,” she said.

At the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre booth, conversations ranged from general curiosity to firm career intentions.

Many students were exploring options such as paid education through the Regular Officer Training Plan, Petty Officer (Second Class) Heather Kitson told the Sun.

“About 20 students I spoke with are already considering a future in the military, and some already know they want to go that route,” Kitson said. “Others are just learning what’s available and trying to see if it’s right for them.”

Interest in service-oriented careers also surfaced at the Manitoba Emergency Services College booth.

“One of the first students I spoke to said, ‘I want to give back to my community — this is how I’m going to do it,’” representative Marie Greer told the Sun.

While only a smaller percentage appeared ready to commit to emergency services careers, she said many were drawn to related fields like paramedicine or nursing, showing a broader interest in health care and public service.

Symposium chair Rob Starkell said creating those conversations is exactly the goal of the symposium.

“With close to 90 exhibitors and about 140 booths, this is about exposing students to what a career in different industries actually looks like,” Starkell said. “Even if employers aren’t hiring, they’re here to help students understand the opportunities.”

This year’s event introduced “symposium dollars,” an initiative designed to encourage students to engage more actively with exhibitors by asking questions and participating in conversations. The incentive, paired with prize draws, appeared to boost interaction across the floor.

“We’re seeing students really engage,” Starkell said. “Schools are also giving them tasks to complete while they’re here, which helps drive those conversations.”

Despite challenging weather, organizers expect around 2,500 students from Brandon and across Westman to attend over two days, along with a growing number of public visitors.

The key is to “stay curious,” Lambert said.

“Don’t limit yourself to one area,” she said. “The more you explore, the more you learn about what’s out there and about yourself.”

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