​KDSS Job Fair showcases benefits of co-op work placements

Kincardine District Senior School hosted its first Co-operative Education Job Fair since the COVID-19 pandemic, June 3, in the school library.

The event featured a number students with displays about their co-op work placements and what they learned during their semester in the program.

Private (trained) Carter Snobelen and Private (trained) Maddox Burgess spent their co-op with the army, taking courses at the Owen Sound Armoury and through the infantry program in Meaford. They also trained with the Grey and Simcoe Foresters. Both are considered reservists with the Canadian Armed Forces.

“We knew we were enlisting when we signed up for this,” said Snobelen. “It’s been a rewarding experience. We learned time management ant attention to detail.”

While Burgess is seeking full-time employment in security at Bruce Power, Snobelen wants to go to university and study philosophy, politics and economics.

Isabella Geberdt enjoyed her co-op placement at Huron Shores Optometry in Kincardine, but said she likely won’t become an optometrist because it takes eight years of school. She is returning to KDSS in September for a fifth year.

Cara Middelkamp worked as a student teacher at Ecole Elgin Market Public School in Kincardine. She plans to become a pediatric physiotherapist.

Ava Gratto brought her dog, “Eddie,” as part of her display about the Ripley-Huron Vet Clinic. She enjoyed the co-op and plans to become a veterinarian. She is returning to KDSS for a fifth year.

Abby Johnson completed her co-op at Kincardine Dentistry and enjoyed it very much. She wants to become a dental hygienist.

Eden Anderson enjoyed her co-op placement at Kincardine Veterinary Services, especially watching the surgery. She plans to become a paramedic.

KDSS co-op education teacher Amy Snobelen says there were 50 students involved in the co-op program this semester, from February to May, with another 25 involved in the new Nuclear Innovation Institute nuclear energy co-op.

She has 100 students already enrolled in co-op in the 2024-25 school year.