Friday, May 28, 2004 - Highlands Courier, Patricia Reilly, Editor, Bancroft

What is now becoming an annual Spring event, the Career Fair for post-Secondary School studies and Career Opportunities was held this past May 11, 2004, in Bancroft’s Royal Canadian Legion.  Sponsored by the Community Futures Development Corporation of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin, the fair is a part of the CFDC’s initiatives aimed at youth.

Area young people in the intermediate-senior levels of school were given a break from their regularly-scheduled classes to explore the Legion Hall.  There were presenters from Industry, Community Colleges, Provincial and Federal Government Ministries, and the entrepreneurial private sector.
One such entrepreneur at the event was Kevin Thomas, also known as Charlie Juggles.  While entertaining the crowd in the hall, this talented juggler, stilt walker and member of the Rainbow Man Theatre Troupe, regaled his audience with stories about traveling internationally and teaching his trade in New York during the summers.  When asked which he preferred, performing on stilts or juggling, he laughed, saying, “Stilts - it pays more money than juggling!”  Charlie Juggles definitely presented a non-traditional career to the attendees.
Also refreshing was the presentation by the Ontario Youth Apprentice Program (O.Y.A.P.).  Catering to those students that may want to enter the trade professions rather than attend university after high school, O.Y.A.P. combines on-the-job hours worked in conjunction with schooling, in order to teach apprentices a skilled trade.  Skilled trades are a much needed commodity in today’s job market, as tradespeople retire out of the market. Possessing a certificate of trade can be a wise employment move in the Province of Ontario, as tradespeople are in demand in all area markets.