Exhibitors flock to career symposium

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This article was published 19/03/2025 (372 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon Career Symposium opened Tuesday morning at the Keystone Centre, offering students and job seekers a comprehensive look at career opportunities in various industries.

Presented by Assiniboine College, the annual event has made a robust comeback following pandemic disruptions, seeing increased attendance and a growing list of exhibitors.

This year’s event featured close to 100 exhibitors and welcomed more than 2,500 students, surpassing last year’s turnout of 85 exhibitors and over 2,000 students, symposium vice-president Rob Starkell told the Sun at the event.

Starkell, who is also the owner of West-Can Human Resource Solutions and co-owner of the Brandon Job Find platform, said the organizers are committed to making the symposium engaging. One such initiative is a bingo card game, where students visiting booths can enter a draw for gift certificates.

“We’ve done well in expanding the career symposium this year, with a strong rebound from COVID disruptions,” Starkell said. “We are trying to keep it basic, without too many distractions, and it’s great to see students actively engaging with exhibitors.”

For first-time exhibitors like Community Futures Westman, the event provided an opportunity to introduce young attendees to entrepreneurship as a viable career path.

Executive director Bill Hogan said the organization was invited to participate in the newly established Entrepreneurship Corner, which connects aspiring business owners with resources to start their own ventures.

“We’ve given out information on starting a business, including the Small Business Startup Checklist,” Hogan told the Sun. “Some high school students are interested in entrepreneurship but don’t know where to start, so we’re helping to guide them through that process.”

Hogan added that some attendees, including adults exploring business ideas, have scheduled followup appointments at Community Futures Westman’s office.

Another newcomer to the symposium was Compass Credit Union, seeking to increase its visibility in Brandon and attract potential hires.

The credit union attended primarily to recruit member service representatives (MSR) while also raising awareness about their services, MSR supervisor Courtney Millar told the Sun.

“It’s been quite good,” Millar said. “A lot of youth has shown interest in what we do and where we’re located.”

For organizations like Brandon Flight Centre and the Manitoba Truck Association, the symposium has been a staple for years.

It is important for BFC to connect with students early in their career planning, program co-ordinator Jillian Borreson told the Sun.

“This has been a solid year,” Borreson said. “There’s always a lot of interest in aviation, and it’s great to engage with high school students who may not realize they can begin flight training at a younger age.”

Borreson said many students were surprised to learn the Flight Centre offers full commercial pilot training in Brandon, rather than just an entry-level program.

Assiniboine College, the event’s presenting sponsor, used the symposium as a platform to showcase its diverse educational programs, acting recruitment manager Paige Jaenen said.

“We’re proud to deliver programs that are responsive to Manitoba’s job market,” Jaenen said. “This event allows us to make meaningful connections with potential students and help them prepare for in-demand careers.”

Beyond students, Starkell encouraged members of the general public, including job seekers, to take advantage of the symposium.

“We’re not just here to talk to students considering post-secondary education or starting their careers,” he said. “We’re also here for active and passive job seekers in our community.”

With a growing number of exhibitors and attendees, he added, the Brandon Career Symposium continues to cement its role as a crucial event for career exploration and workforce development in the region

The symposium will continue today, “allowing more attendees to explore career and educational pathways,” Starkell added.

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