The first-ever T'it'q'et Career Fair brought together adults seeking employment and agencies offering information on careers in a number of fields.

The fair was held at Julianne Hall on Saturday, Jan. 28.

T'it'q'et education co-ordination Susan Napoleon was one of the organizers of the event, which drew representatives from the Ministry of Forests, Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Social Development, T'it'q'et Health, the Association of Aboriginal Financial Officers and the Lillooet Employment Centre. Neal Mason was on hand to talk about careers in counselling and social work and Arnold Adolph offered advice on careers in independent financial planning.

NVIT (Nicola Valley Institute of Technology) and CN had to pull out of the fair, but organizers say they are hoping schedule another career fair in May.

Napoleon told the News the Fair drew people who are currently unemployed or unemployed and looking for work, rather than teenagers seeking a career path.

The DFO table was one of the busiest tables when the News dropped in at the fair.

The DFO's Eric Zimmermann said hatchery, fish monitoring and summertime creel survey jobs are available through DFO's Conservation and Protection Branch. He said entry level jobs typically involve counting the number of fish caught to determine how many fish are reaching the spawning grounds.

Zimmermann told the News a high school graduation certificate is required for most entry level jobs, but people still in high school qualify for some of the resource management jobs. Habitat positions require a degree in biology or some other post-secondary certification.

He said scholarships and programs are available to assist aboriginal and non-aboriginal people interested in working for the DFO. For example, the Pacific Fishery Officers Society raises funds for scholarships for students.

Kevin Duncan from Lytton is a natural resources officer working with the St'at'imc and Nlaka'pamux tribal organizations. He said there is “always the potential for fisheries jobs” with those organizations. Duncan has been a natural resources officer for three years and also enjoys the educational aspect of his job, which includes the “Coho in the Classroom” program.