The second annual Trades and Industry Carnival at the NLPS Trades Exposure Centre in Bonnyville gave students a hands-on and interactive place to.

At least that’s what Nadya Scannie-White from Kikino believes.

The Journeys Learning Academy student said the trades carnival was useful.

“I think it’s really awesome. It’s a good way to get information out and even hands-on practicing. That really gets the attention of people, getting younger kids to what they want to do when they get older,” said Scannie-White.

“It got me interested in welding. I like going in the trades. It’s good to have the hands-on and that to kind of know what you’re doing.”

Scannie-White was one of over 200 students from roughly 15 schools who arrived Thursday morning at the Trades Exposure Centre from schools in Bonnyville, Cold Lake, Lac La Biche, Kehewin, and Frog Lake.

AECOM, Astec Safety, B&R Eckel’s Transport, Comec, Edcon Power Tongs, Lakeland College, North East Alberta Apprenticeship Initiative, NES Sure Flow, Portage College, Primco Dene, Seven Lakes Oilfield Services, and Sure Shot Wireline partnered up for the trades carnival with welding stations, scaffolding, and information booths.

This year, the trades carnival focused on Indigenous students and encouraged schools to bring them first, said Mark Centazzo, NLPS dual-credits coordinator.

“There’s a focus on Indigneous education, reconciliation it’s all part of that. We’re very cognizant we’re on Treaty Six lands, we’re hoping to have the Kehewin drummers, we’re very cognizant of the importance on that relationship,” said Centazzo.

Bill Driedger, NLPS associate superintendent, said this will consistently be a yearly event so students are exposed to what industry has to offer and to remind them why they’re working to graduate in the first place.

“You get bogged down in the everyday life of social or math or calm classes. But it’s all working toward something. When you have these kind of events, it helps our students to recognize that what they’re doing in school connects to what happens in life after school,” said Driedger.

“We did this last year, kids walked away from this, staff walked away from this, industry walked away from this saying what a great opportunity it was for for students, and also for the industry as well. So we’re excited to offer that again.”

One of the main features, which was demonstrated at the trades carnival, is the service rig. Last week the first cohort of Lloydminster students camped at the site for training.

“I love the fact that they are so engaged with with industry, which means that industry is doing the job and making this a hands on interactive kind of opportunity for kids. A lot of excitement in the air before for the like today,” said Driedger.

NDHS principal Vince Spila said it shows students another path after high school.

“I think the kids are understanding that you don’t necessarily always need to go to university to get a job and to make a living.

“When we talked to some gentleman who started a job at you know, 1200 dollars a month and he retired at making a quarter of a million dollars working in one of the trades the eyes of the kids opened up to that, just shocked. So it’s just an exposure for them to know there’s more to life than school,” said Spila.