CAF career options on display at Skills Canada Alberta
June 12, 2023 - WO Jesse Obee, Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Prairies and the North, Detachment Edmonton
On May 3 and 4, approximately 60 members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) participated in the Skills Canada Alberta event held at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
The members were there as part of the attraction team on behalf of the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Calgary, Detachment Edmonton. The attraction team was composed of recruiters from Canadian Forces Recruiting Group (CFRG), as well as supporting units representing a variety of occupations the CAF has to offer.
Skills Canada Alberta was created in 1992 with the intent of helping Alberta compete successfully in a drastically changing world market. Its mission is to promote skilled trades and technologies to Alberta youth. Skills Canada Alberta is the largest event the Edmonton recruitment detachment participates in annually. This year’s event had approximately 17,000 students registered, with over 700 student competitors, and several leaders from industry, education, government and labour to invest in the future of Alberta.
The CAF was represented with three major exhibits. HMCS Nonsuch was located at the entrance of the EXPO Centre with a display featuring a selection of naval equipment. Sailors were also on hand to provide students with information on their respective occupations and life in the Navy. Alongside this Navy focused display was a field kitchen provided by 1 Service Battalion.
Inside the EXPO Centre a Light Armoured Vehicle 6.0 (LAV 6.0), provided by 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (1 PPCLI), and a CF-188 Hornet cockpit display from CFRG were available to be interacted with by all present. The display members from 1 PPCLI, CFRG, and 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron provided excellent information and guided tours for the students waiting in line by the dozens. In particular, the students thoroughly enjoyed having their photos taken with pilots and aircrew members in the seats of the cockpit.
Caption
The Canadian Armed Forces exhibit featuring Explosive Ordinance Disposal equipment, a Light Armoured Vehicle 6.0 and CF‑188 Hornet cockpit at the 2023 Skills Canada Alberta event May 3 and 4 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
Photo by Robert Schwartz, 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton Imaging
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Brigadier-General Steve Graham, Commander 3rd Canadian Division and Joint Task Force (West) (at right, in blue), participates in a welding demonstration at the 2023 Skills Canada Alberta event May 3 and 4 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
Photo by MCpl Cass Moon, 3rd Canadian Division Public Affairs
Not to be outdone by their Air Force peers, the LAV 6.0 crew was equally busy with numerous students crawling through the rear of the vehicle and occupying turret positions.
Though not as “flashy,” the final piece to this year’s event was the numerous CAF members interacting with the thousands of participants. The one-on-one interaction with prospective members was the key to educating the public about the unique lifestyle and multitude of career opportunities the CAF has to offer.
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Warrant Officer Roxanne Caron, Maintenance Operation 1 Service Battalion, and Sub‑Lieutenant Fahad A. Kabir, Director Naval Personnel, Staff Officer Royal Canadian Navy Attractions, at the 2023 Skills Canada Alberta event May 3 and 4 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
Photo by Sgt William Laurendeau, Canadian Armed Forces Recruiting Centre Prairies and the North Headquarters
Caption
A member of 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron engaging with a student in the CF‑188 Hornet cockpit display at the 2023 Skills Canada Alberta event May 3 and 4 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
Photo by Robert Schwartz, 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton Imaging
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