Students expolore occupation options at EPIC Day

Southern Alberta students attended EPIC Day or Exploring Possible Industries and Careers earlier this week. Career Transitions’ 13th annual event hosted 39 schools and 660 students from primarily Grades 9 and 10.  

Executive Director Judy Stolk-Ingram says the whole day is about career exploration. “It’s about awareness and to be able to connect with the high-quality employers in our region that are going to want to hire these kids in just a few years.” 

“Because it’s a wide open exploration, we want to see younger kids who don’t have much of a connection to the world of work. This is a bit of that introduction and to understand there are so many options and opportunities.” 

Career Transitions is a not-for-profit organization that serves 67 schools and six school divisions across southwest Alberta from the Crowsnest Pass to Milk River to Vulcan.  

“There’s a lot of great learning that comes through an event like this,” adds Stolk-Ingram. 

According to Stolk-Ingram, students check out exploration zones in groups of six and experience five occupations, including trades, agriculture and environment, STEM, healthcare and a wildcard occupation. “The idea is, in these groups, kids get to spend 20 minutes learning from that professional. We’ve got a whole range of professionals. They get to learn, but even better, they get to experience something hands-on and it gives them a sense of what is involved in that occupation.” 

Students also spent part of the day touring local businesses to see first-hand what the daily operation of a business is like. 

The event, Stolk-Ingram says, has helped students understand there are plenty of career options out there and where a student starts on their career path doesn’t necessarily mean that is the end point and students can change their careers at any time in life.