Byrne Creek career fair sees ‘genuine display of community engagement’

BURNABY, B.C. — A career fair in Burnaby, B.C. at the Byrne Creek Community School was a great success thanks to genuine community engagement.

“The Byrne Creek event was a little different from the fairs where you can have a sit-down with folks who come down in a class,” said Rene Ragetli, director of project operations with the Construction Foundation of B.C. (CFBC), in a news release.

“This one was similar to a typical career fair, quite loud in the atrium of a new school but there was a great energy in the room.”

Ragetli and CFBC organized the event with the school and saw 17 employers and more than 150 attendees.

“What stands out in my mind from this event was the trio of employers who were all packed and ready to go at the end of the day. We had some adults trickling in late to the fair and these three stopped what they were doing and engaged in conversations with the adults.

“They didn’t just hand these people pamphlets and say, ‘Call me.’ I literally saw them having a conversation in the parking lot.”