Hundreds of students expected to attend one of the region's largest job fairs

OSHAWA, Ont. - About 1,200 students and 60 employers will converge on the Oshawa campus of Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) this Wednesday, Feb. 11, for one of Durham Region's largest job fairs.

Companies attending the event include Bell Canada, CIBC, auto-parts maker Linamar Corp., high-tech giant Celestica, Good Life Fitness Clubs, Metroland Newspapers, National Sports stores, Ontario Power Generation, and Paramount Canada's Wonderland. Public-sector employers will also be well represented, including Community Living Oshawa/Clarington, the Durham Regional Police Service, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Lakeridge Health, and the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. Professional associations such as Certified General Accountants (CGA) Ontario and the Victoria, B.C.-based Women in Leadership Foundation will also have representatives at the fair.

Career & Employment Services at Durham College and UOIT, which organizes the annual event, has already registered the maximum number of employers it can accommodate at the fair. Organizations can still be added to a waiting list.

"There'll be great companies here that are related to the students' programs," says Tara Blackburn, director of Career & Employment Services. By attending, she adds, "they meet a qualified pool of candidates, they get their name out in front of students, and they become employers of choice."

The Job Fair primarily attracts college and university students in their graduating year, says Blackburn. "For the graduates, this means jobs," she says. "This means they can graduate with the comfort of knowing they're employed."

The event is also a great opportunity for students in earlier years to research companies and meet recruiters to discuss summer jobs, field placements, or internship opportunities. Some firms, such as Paramount Canada's Wonderland, are looking mainly for summer employees. "It's a great opportunity to get out there and network," says Blackburn. "It gives you a chance to speak to people you would otherwise not speak to in a day-to-day job search."

The Job Fair kicks off at 11 a.m. on Wednesday and runs until 3 p.m. in the campus gymnasium. For general information, contact Career & Employment Services at 905.721.3034, or ces@dc-uoit.ca.

About the University of Ontario Institute of Technology

As Canada's newest university, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology provides a unique combination of academic knowledge, vibrant student life, leading-edge research and hands-on skills. The university offers career-focused degree undergraduate programs and is developing leading-edge research and graduate programs. Sharing selected services with Durham College, the university welcomed its first students in September 2003. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca, or call 1.866.844.8648.

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

Media contact
John Schofield
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.3111, ext. 2162
john.schofield@uoit.ca