More than 2,000 Grand Erie students expected to gather next week for Epic Jobs conference

BRANTFORD– Epic Jobs 2024 promises to be the largest yet, giving more than 2,000 area students a firsthand look at exciting careers in the trades.

Epic Jobs 2024 will be held Wednesday, May 22 at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre in Brantford, taking over one inside rink (Rink 2) and a parking lot

About 50 companies, unions, associations, post-secondary schools, and other organizations related to the trades and other in-demand careers will be participating. Most represent the four trade sectors: advanced manufacturing, construction, motive power and service, all of which offer apprenticeships

Students will learn about dozens of careers through numerous hands-on, interactive and fun activities, such as soldering copper pipes, wiring, operating a welding simulator, making a toolbox, using power tools, putting on firefighter gear and trying out virtual reality goggles. Some companies bring large vehicles used in their work, from forestry equipment to cranes, backhoe, ambulance, and hydro, redi-mix, transport and fire trucks

Epic Jobs is organized by the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie, Organized Kaos, Grand Erie District School Board, Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) and Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program of both school boards.