YORKTON – Parkland College held an open house on March 16 at their Trades and Technology Centre in Yorkton.
Several businesses were in attendance for the event to deliver information to potential employees.
"It's an opportunity for students to find out about all of the programs that we offer," said Jenna Niebergall Manager of Public Relations and Marketing for Cumberland College & Parkland College.
"We have employers here as well – employers who employ our students after completing a program," said Niebergall, adding, "they can get some good information on what kind of careers they could end up with by taking one of our programs."
Six local employers were present at the event including the Yorkton Tribal Council, Pattison Agriculture, Potzus Construction, the Sask. Health Authority and Sask. Crop Insurance.
The event also featured virtual careers simulations from Regina Work Preparation, "a non-profit, charitable, community-based organization specializing in helping people look for, find and maintain work," read a statement from RWP's website.
"It's an opportune way to try out a career virtually, so that's something that we're hoping people can try out," said Niebergall, adding, "we have lots of students that aren't sure what they want to do so it's always nice when we can try it."
The event also featured incentives for potential students, including a $1,000 rebate off tuition.
"Right now we have a tuition rebate, so if you apply to a program you'll have a one in five chance to win a $1,000 tuition rebate right off your tuition," said Niebergall.
"Today there is no application fee to apply to a program – we'll have admission workshops so you can get help applying to a program," added Niebergall.
The open house comes on the heels of the Sask. Government's March 10 announcement that the province has the second lowest unemployment rate in the province.
"Statistics Canada released February labour force figures that indicate Saskatchewan's continued growth, with 9,400 new jobs when compared to February 2022, an increase of 1.6 per cent," read a news release from the province.
"The seasonally adjusted provincial unemployment rate remained at 4.3 per cent, which is the second lowest among the provinces and below the national average of 5.0 per cent. February's unemployment rate is down from 4.6 per cent in February 2022 and is unchanged when compared to January 2023," continued the release.
"It's never too early and it's never too late to be thinking about the choices that you have," said Niebergall, adding, "we find that it's really valuable when we get students and potential students into our building — walking and really seeing what the campus is like, meeting our staff — knowing if it's a good fit or not."
With the pandemic effecting education across the country for several years, Niebergall said things are about as "back-to-normal" as they can be.
"There's definitely some changes," said Niebergall, "we now have more innovative ways to deliver programming — in some cases we have more hybrid opportunities — but our programs are still face-to-face, especially trade programs."
"We do have some abilities to be flexible when needed."
For more information on Parkland College and their programs visit their website.
