Opportunities Exchange Fair to connect students and community groups

September 12, 2012

WHITEHORSE – Volunteers are the life-blood of many community organizations and non-profit groups in Yukon. On Thursday September 13th over 20 of these community groups will be at Yukon College to share their work with students and members of the public.

The Opportunities Exchange Fair takes place in The Pit and upstairs lobby between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. It is a joint event created by Volunteer Yukon and Yukon College.

"It’s an opportunity for our students, many of whom are new to Whitehorse, to connect with and participate in their community," said Ann Bowen, event organizer for Yukon College.

"Volunteering with a non-profit or community group provides people with a chance to develop their confidence and skills, and build their resume."

Landis Cornett agrees. Cornett is in charge of communications at Bringing Youth Towards Equality (BYTE) in Whitehorse. He graduated from the College in 2011 with a Multimedia Communication certificate and credits his employment success to a volunteer work placement he participated in during the program.

"It was incredibly beneficial to gain real world experience, insight into office life, and just to be accountable for your work in a real life setting while still a student," said Cornett.

"I was able to build a professional portfolio and resume and landed a job with BYTE soon after graduating."

Special Olympics, Second Opinion Society, Women in Trades and Technology, Yukon Arts Centre, Fair Vote Yukon, Yukon Learn and the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition are just some of the groups who will be at the event.

Food and snacks will be provided by Alpine Bakery and Yukon Aboriginal Sport will be demonstrating traditional sports throughout the day. The event is part of Yukon College’s student orientation activities, but members of the public are very welcome to attend also.

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For more information, contact:

Michael Vernon
Communications Coordinator
College Relations
Yukon College
867 668 8786
867 332 4722
mvernon@yukoncollege.yk.ca

Kirsti Wallace
Acting Director
College Relations
Yukon College
867 456 8619
kwallace@yukoncollege.yk.ca