On May 17, students at Centre Wellington District High School participated in a career fair Les Aventures en Français, hosted by the Upper Grand District School Board and the Career Education Council.
Presenters were greeted by grade 10 and 11 student ushers. Grade 10 student Iona Howie was the master of ceremonies in French and English. At the end of the afternoon, Howie hosted a French quiz game and handed out prizes. In total, 220 grade 9, 10, and 11 core French and French immersion students attended three different presentations.
Students heard from people from the community about their experiences and how French has had an impact on their career choices and life. The speakers volunteered to spend the afternoon with the students.
Students heard from local business owners, such as Jacques Dion, of the Café Crêperie, and Roger Dufau, of Drew House.
“It reinforced me and my thinking about studying French after high school,” was one student’s comment after hearing from French studies graduate, from the University of Guelph, Alanna Trubic.
Other speakers included Constable Guy Morin, pilot John Lance Howie, policy writer Dorota Osowska, translator Manon Gagné-Kellman, entrepreneur Margaret Markvart, physiotherapist Sarah Eby, artist Julie René de Cotret, and Francine Poissant and Christine Wenger from OMAFRA, and Wellington Health Care Alliance chief executive officer Jerome Quenneville.
Students learned that French enriches one’s personal life, career paths, and travel experiences. Studies have proven that learning a second language increases and enriches brain activity. Learning a language opens new doors, increases cultural understanding, and changes perspectives.
The event was possible thanks to the leadership of Lori Arsenault and Cheryl Faye, from the Career Education Centre, Camille Lockstein, department head of languages at CWDHS and Christina Schilling, curriculum leader at the Upper Grand District School Board.
