Good Spirit School Division and Parkland College were proud to co-host Career Explorations 2012. The third annual education and career fair encompassing East Central Saskatchewan was held at the Gallagher Centre Flexihall in Yorkton on Nov. 14.

Career Explorations 2012 is one of the most vibrant education and job fairs in the province. About 80 exhibitors from across Saskatchewan, Western Canada, and North Dakota attended this event. Approximately 2,000 high school students from Yorkton and the surrounding area visited their booths throughout the day.

“We’re picking up more and more momentum with each year,” said William Litchfield, Director of Advancement at Parkland College. “The number of exhibitors has increased again, and we’re very pleased to have more schools on board to offer their students a chance to check out all the possibilities under one roof.”

In October 2008 Good Spirit School Division and Parkland College signed a Learning Alliance which led to the creation of Career Explorations. The Division and the College work together to complement and enhance the services they provide.

“This event is just one of the ways we serve our students,” explained Norm Casavant, Deputy Director of Education with Good Spirit School Division. “A lot of students need some guidance when deciding on a career path. We’re getting positive feedback telling us that Career Explorations is succeeding at delivering the information they need.”

Not only does Career Explorations offer immediate access to dozens of educational institutions, but it also provides face-to-face interaction with area businesses.

“It’s important that we give students access to all the options so they can make an informed decision for the future,” Litchfield noted. “Universities and tech schools are here, but lots of companies are hiring right now and they can be a good fit for many young people.”

Numerous employers had booths set up, including companies from the mining, agriculture, construction, and service industries, among others.

Close to two dozen exhibitors also made presentations to visitors over the course of the day. In total, there were 40 information sessions, each lasting 30 minutes. The presentations took place in convention rooms throughout the Gallagher Centre.

A new feature this year was a late-day family portion of the event. Exhibitors re-opened their booths from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to give working parents an opportunity to visit them with their teens.

“We had many families interested in attending an evening session and we want to accommodate them,” Casavant said. “As this event evolves and grows, we are committed to bringing these options right to families in the best way possible.”

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Contact information:

Brendan Wagner, Communications Officer
Parkland College
Phone: 306.728.6595
Email: b.wagner@parklandcollege.sk.ca

Lynel Martinuk, Communications Coordinator
Good Spirit School Division
Phone: 306.786.5501
Email: lmartinuk@mail.gssd.ca

Yorkton, SK – During the week of November 12-16, 2012, Parkland College joins educational institutions from across Canada and over 100 other countries in celebrating International Education Week (IEW).

IEW is an opportunity to raise awareness and understanding of international education and its significant benefits to our social, economic, and cultural well-being. This year’s theme is “Canada Engages with the World: Realizing Our Potential through International Education.” It is estimated that international students generate $8 billion for the Canadian economy each year.

Parkland College continues to work on expanding the scope of its program for international students. The initiative began in the 2009-10 academic year with a lone student from Chile. It has grown steadily since then, and in 2012-13, the college is hosting 31 learners from Jamaica, Bangladesh and India. These students are taking classes at the main campus in Yorkton in the program areas of Business, Office Education, Continuing Care Assistant and Intensive Academic English. International students must meet the same program standards as any other student, along with an English requirement.

“Parkland College offers better opportunities for international students to get more knowledge,” said business student Gaganpreet Kaur Dhaliwal. “The college really supports and guides us.”

Parkland College will participate in IEW with several events, including an International Tasting with staff and students encouraged to bring a sampling of food from their culture. The college will also be selling scarves that were made in Nepal. The proceeds from the sales will be used for girls’ education around the world.

“Our international students look to us for the best educational experience and we’re dedicated to providing that,” said Lisa Cadieux de Larios, International Coordinator at Parkland College. “But these young people are also learning about our local customs and what it means to be Canadian. They really get a well-rounded experience here through their interaction with other students, instructors, and the entire community.”

Parkland College is the only Saskatchewan Regional College authorized to offer the Off-Campus Work Permit Program. The program allows international students to take on part-time jobs during the week (to a maximum of 20 hours per week) and full-time employment during holidays and breaks.

About Us:
Parkland College offers an array of educational services to adult learners in East Central Saskatchewan. Students can choose from trades training programs from SIAST and other institutes, the province’s most diverse off-campus university offerings, as well as Industry programs, Adult Basic Education, Literacy, English as an Additional Language, and Career and Student Services.

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For more information contact:
Lisa Cadieux de Larios
Coordinator, International
Parkland College
Phone: 306.786.2586
Email: l.larios@parklandcollege.sk.ca

Melville, SK – Parkland College offered special guests a unique opportunity Tuesday to tour its Emergency Services Training Site near Melville and to participate in exciting demonstrations. The event celebrates how far the college’s training programs have come in the last five years and emphasizes the vast improvements made at the training site.

“Our programs are expanding based on provincial demand and we are thrilled to share how we have been developing our facilities to meet those needs,” said Larry Pearen, Parkland College’s Manager of Post-Secondary Programming.

The open house brought together donors, potential sponsors, college board directors, and members of the community. The event was held in conjunction with the Emergency Services Training Advisory Committee’s second meeting in Melville.

(L to R) Larry Pearen, Parkland College's Manager of Post-Secondary Programming; Walter Streelasky, Mayor of Melville; Dr. Fay Myers, Parkland College President; Bob Maloney, Mayor of Yorkton.

Parkland College has run two SIAST Heavy Equipment Operator programs at the site to level the ground, remove all vegetation, build berms, and improve drainage. Pearen noted that it was an excellent hands-on project for students learning to operate large equipment such as graders, bulldozers and rock trucks.

Among the other improvements:

• The site is now secured with a chain-link fence and gates.
• A quonset is fully constructed for cold storage of two fire trucks, an ambulance, and a dangerous goods trailer.
• A shipping container structure has received two coats of paint with doors, windows and roof vents installed. Stairs will continue to be added for further training.
• Two circular prop bases have been installed with a three-dimensional fire prop and a large flange walkway. More industrial props will be installed in time for spring.
• A road structure is scheduled to be built in the spring.

(L to R) Walter Streelasky, Mayor of Melville, Dr. Fay Myers, Parkland College President, and Larry Pearen, Parkland College's Manager of Post-Secondary Programming, perform the ribbon-cutting at the Emergency Services Training Site.

Parkland College has offered the only full-time professional firefighter training program in Saskatchewan since 2008. Parkland College acts as a broker to provide the NFPA 1001 program in cooperation with Lakeland College in Vermilion, AB. The 14-week program provides a comprehensive blend of theory and practical skills required for entry-level firefighter positions. Eight platoons have completed the program at Parkland College with the most recent class having graduated in June. The next program offering is scheduled to begin in March 2013.

The site is also used by students enrolled in the SIAST Primary Care Paramedic program at Parkland College’s Melville Campus. The 18-week certificate program trains students in recognizing and managing medical and trauma injuries, physical assessment, pharmacology, and professionalism and leadership in Emergency Medical Services. Graduates work in ambulance operations, fire services (in conjunction with fire training), industrial sites, mining sites, military departments, or special care facilities.

About Us:
Parkland College offers an array of educational services to adult learners in East Central Saskatchewan. Students can choose from trades training programs from SIAST and other institutes, the province’s most diverse off-campus university offerings, as well as Industry programs, Adult Basic Education, Literacy, English as an Additional Language, and Career and Student Services.

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For more information contact:
Larry Pearen
Manager, Post-Secondary Programming
Parkland College
Phone: 306.786.2582
Toll Free: 1.866.783.6766
Email: l.pearen@parklandcollege.sk.ca
www.parklandcollege.sk.ca