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Hundreds check out career and education opportunities in Maple Ridge – Maple Ridge News

Hundreds check out career and education opportunities in Maple Ridge - Maple Ridge News

More than 35 companies and post secondary institutions handed out information and accepted applications from people searching for the perfect career in Maple Ridge on Thursday.

The Black Press Media Career and Post Secondary Education Event was held at the Golden Ears Winter Club and hundreds of job seekers took advantage of the opportunity to talk with company leaders and learn about the opportunities that are available.

Black Press Media’s events manager, Ranee Pal, said at previous events more than 1,500 attendees have come through the doors who are looking for career changes and post secondary education.

“It’s a one stop shop. It really is,” she said.

Reanna Haddrell, 20, was looking for employment opportunities in business.

“I really like working with people and I’m great at organization and I wanted to look for something in business,” said the Maple Ridge resident.

“There’s so many opportunities and colleges I have never even heard of and they have wonderful programs with in-person and online offers,” she said of the career fair.

Langley resident Troy Edwards, 17, was at the fair just getting an idea of employment opportunities in the workforce. He said he is more interested in the “high-paced jobs, not the sitting down jobs”.

Edwards was checking out a booth for concrete scanning company Xradar and he was also interested in learning about ironworking after talking with ironworker Danielle Shaw about the industry.

Black Press Media has been hosting this event in the community for the past seven years, although Pal advised, during the COVID-19 pandemic they pivoted to a virtual event.

Some of the companies and post secondary institutions at the event on Thursday included: B.C. Corrections, cement company Lafarge, Vancouver Community College, Capilano University, and the City of Maple Ridge.

“It is important to let the community know that there are jobs out there for them,” said Pal about the event.


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Ironworker Danielle Shaw, was explaining the ins and outs of her industry to interested visitors to the Black Press Media Career and Post Secondary Education Event. (Colleen Flanagan/The News)

Ironworker Danielle Shaw, was explaining the ins and outs of her industry to interested visitors to the Black Press Media Career and Post Secondary Education Event. (Colleen Flanagan/The News)

A representative of Archway gives out information. (Colleen Flanagan/The News)

A representative of Archway gives out information. (Colleen Flanagan/The News)

A man checks out the booth for the City of Maple Ridge. (Colleen Flanagan/The News)

A man checks out the booth for the City of Maple Ridge. (Colleen Flanagan/The News)

Ironworker Danielle Shaw, was explaining the ins and outs of her industry to interested visitors to the Black Press Media Career and Post Secondary Education Event. (Colleen Flanagan/The News)

Ironworker Danielle Shaw, was explaining the ins and outs of her industry to interested visitors to the Black Press Media Career and Post Secondary Education Event. (Colleen Flanagan/The News)

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Hundreds of kids participate in free fishing event in Barrie

Hundreds of kids participate in free fishing event in Barrie


Barrie’s waterfront was lined with hundreds of young anglers on Sunday for the return of a popular family-friendly fishing event.


After a two-year pandemic pause, the annual Rotary Kids Fishing Day returned to the shorelines of Kempenfelt Bay Sunday. The event, put together by the Kempenfelt Rotary Club, is a tradition the club looks forward to every year.


“It’s a fabulous way for us to give back to the community,” said Joan Bell-McKee, the club’s incoming president. “It’s a free day for the kids; free fishing rods, free bait, pizza supplied by Domino’s and all provided by our wonderful sponsorship by TD.”


Participants were required to register ahead of time, with nearly 1200 people expected to attend the event, which Bell-McKee says would not be possible without months of hard work by dedicated volunteers.


“This is an event that kids come back to year after year with their parents, their grandparents and their siblings,” she said. “It’s wonderful to have this event again. It’s something that everyone in our Rotary Club looks forward to.”

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Lethbridge Pride events attract hundreds to celebrate the community

Lethbridge Pride events attract hundreds to celebrate the community

Breanne Otis (she/her), who was at Pride in the Park celebrating, says she she loves it. “I love celebrating pride both with my friends and just being a part of a big, large, happy community that is, you know, kind of not really visually seen too much inside Lethbridge,” Otis said, “but it’s great to see the big engagement we have.”

That engagement is needed according to Otis, as the recent events in the United States have her concerned about what could possibly happen in Canada.

“The right to autonomy to our bodies, especially what’s happening in the States right now. We are in charge of our own rights. The government doesn’t really have, shouldn’t have a say to what I do with my body,” said Otis. “I think it’s really important to remember that it takes a community, and a village to support each other. And having the viewpoint of, you know, some person is telling me I can’t do anything with my body that I want to do with it isn’t right. And I want to definitely show my support and I want to stand against that and help people keep their bodies autonomous to themselves and all the services they can get for themselves.”

River Stone (they/he) also took part in the celebration today, and they say it’s important to attend Pride and show support for the community.

“It’s a good celebration of finding not only people within your community, but also celebrating that community in and of itself, and I think that’s really important,” Stone said. “I like coming out, showing my support for my fellow queers, and getting some protected public recognition.”

Stone added that with this being the first in-person celebration in two years, it’s extra important to show up and support those who were impacted by the pandemic, as it was especially hard on certain members of the community.

“The pandemic really took a toll on all of us, but especially the immunocompromised and disabled,” said Stone. “So, for all of us to be able to come out and be together, without a whole lot of worry about the pandemic anymore, I think it’s really important that we get to see each other, because everybody lost community over the pandemic. So, I think this is a good revitalization of that.”

If you’re interested in taking part in any of the Pride events happening around Lethbridge this weekend, you can visit the Lethbridge Pride website.