Opportunity for Students to Explore Careers

Within the District Strategic Plan, the Career Development priority is focused on developing the skills and competencies necessary for each student to succeed in a career pathway of their choice. In alignment with this priority, the SD83 Careers Department has organized upcoming events to assist students in learning more about various career opportunities.

For example, SD83 Careers Department and B.C.’s Emergency Health Services will be hosting an information meeting on Thursday, February 22nd at 7 p.m. in the J.L. Jackson Library for parents and students interested in one of the District’s latest dual credit courses, the Emergency Medical Responder Program.

This program will be hosted at J.L. Jackson Secondary in Salmon Arm starting in February 2025. There is a hope the program, over time, can expand to the southern part of the district as well. The program is open to all district Grade 10-12 students but older students will be favoured in the interview process.

The one semester course is sponsored by the JIBC (Justice Institute of BC), BC Ambulance and SD83. The program is geared towards students interested in the following careers: Paramedic, Firefighting, Law Enforcement, Medicine, Nursing, and working in remote resource camps where industrial first aid attendants are required. At the end of the course, students who achieve over 75% will receive their EMR ticket and then be able to license as an EMR.  The EMR ticket is a prerequisite for the PCP (Primary Care Paramedic) license which is a prerequisite for more advanced and specialized tickets.  Students will also receive four credits towards high school graduation. The course will be taught by JL Jackson Teacher Greg Seed, who will be trained as an EMR this summer.  Students will work with real ambulance equipment and likely have assistance from real paramedics in the community to help teach different parts of the course. As this is a dual credit course, tuition for students is free but there will be a fee for the main textbook and other administrative fees.

BC Emergency Health Services Youth Project Coordinator Deborah Roberts will be in Salmon Arm to present an overview of the course, answer any questions and lay down expectations for students accepted into this rewarding but demanding course.

Throughout the months of February and March, SD83 students will have the opportunity to participate in the following events:

• SD83 Careers will be touring secondary schools throughout February to explain the expanding opportunities occurring in dual credit programs.
• District high schools will attend post-secondary tours at UBC-Okanagan and Thompson Rivers University on February 20, 2024.
• The Canadian Institute of Actuaries and SD83 Careers will be hosting virtual events for secondary and middle school students. Eagle River Secondary math teachers are scheduled to host the secondary event on February 21, 2024, while Shuswap Middle Grade 8 math teachers will host February 22 and 23.
• A recruiter from the Centre for Arts and Technology in Kelowna is scheduled to visit District secondary art classes from February 28 to March 1, 2024, presenting on career options in the digital arts field.
• The Council of Forest Industries, Adams Lake Sawmill, and SD83 Careers, will be hosting students from J.L. Jackson, Salmon Arm, and Eagle River secondaries for a facility and yard tour, outlining the different red seal, technology, and academic career options that exist in the forest industry.
• The Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists and SD83 Careers will be hosting a province-wide virtual seminar on Thursday, March 7, 2024, highlighting the career options in health-care technology.
• SD83 and Go2Hr are hosting a full-day field trip for Grade 10-12 students interested in Tourism and Hospitality Careers. The event will take place on Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Prestige Harbourfront Resort in Salmon Arm.

If you or your student are interested in any of these events and would like more information or to sign up, please contact the career coordinator at your neighbourhood school or you may reach out to District Career Education.

If you are interested in sharing information about your career with SD83 high school students, please contact Coordinator George Richard at 778-824-1188 (via text or phone) or email District Career Education.