Focus Area/Work Exp/Volunteer Ongoing Opportunties

The BC Ministry of Ed has identified 8 Career Focus Areas

  • Business & Applied Business
  • Fine Arts, Design & Media
  • Fitness & Recreation
  • Health & Human Services
  • Liberal Arts & Humanities
  • Science & Applied Science
  • Tourism, Hospitality & Foods
  • Trades & Technology

WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FOCUS AREAS

If you’re interested in anything listed here please see Mr Wiens or Mrs Sekhon in the Career Centre. (Click links for Focus Area details)

Business and Applied Business Focus Area

  • Hunter Dickenson Mineral Exploration and Mining Co. – Work experience placements in seven different departments in their downtown Vancouver office. Applications are due in January, for placements over March break.
  • Teck Resources Mining, Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Co. – Work experience placements for six students in four areas of their company. Applications are due in February, for placements over March break.

Fine Arts, Design and Media Focus Area

  • BCIT Broadcast Career Program – A four-day introduction to broadcasting that allows students to sample the different programs BCIT offers. Sessions fill up quickly, so please see Mr Wiens during the first week of September, to book a spot.
  • New Image College of Fine Arts – Career prep camps in Make-Up Artistry, Acting for Film and TV or Spa/Esthetics during spring break and summer holidays. Independent Feature Film Job Shadowing and Videographer opportunities as well.
  • News Day in BC – Students in grades 10 – 12 from across metro Vancouver meet CBC personalities and learn about TV and Radio broadcasting as well as web-based journalism and writing for the Vancouver Sun newspaper. Students attend a workshop and then an audition in January. If selected, they take part in several other sessions at the CBC or Vancouver Sun buildings in downtown Vancouver. At the end of March, students do either a final broadcasting or publication presentation.
  • Shaw Cable TV – Work experience filming local municipal, recreational and community events.
  • Structured Work Experience And Training (S.W.E.A.T) Program at The Art Institute of Vancouver – Lots of program theme in Animation, Culinary, Film, Music, Fashion, Design, Game Art, Visual Effects and more. February application deadline for spring break camps.
  • VanArts Boot Camps – Career prep in Broadcasting for Radio and TV or Acting for Film and TV. February application deadline for spring break camps.
  • Vancouver Opera – be involved behind the scenes from start to finish with one of Vancouver Opera’s performances.
  • Vancouver Community College Fashion Boot Camp – Career prep camp for 13 – 18 year-olds in fashion design and its processes.

Fitness and Recreation Focus Area

  • SFU Summer Camps – Many sports and recreation-themed camps to choose from. Application deadline is mid-May, for summer camp work/volunteer experience.
  • Grouse Mountain Leaders in Training Program – Open to 15 – 18 year olds who have an interest in skiing and snowboarding and who wish to apprentice with the Grouse Mtn Snow School. Application deadline is in November.
  • Hemlock Valley, Cypress youth WEST and Mount Seymour – Also offer work experience for high school students. 
  • Community Fitness and Recreation – If you already have a volunteer role in fitness or rec, please see Mr Wiens about setting up a formal work experience placement so you can earn Work Experience 12 credits at the same time!
  • The following 2 items are taken directly from the City of Maple Ridge Children and Youth Services website. The first program is extremely popular and fills up each year. Registration is done online ( www.recreg4u.ca ), in person – at the Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre or Maple Ridge Leisure Centre – or by phone at 604-465-2470. As mentioned below, it is a great resume enhancer. It is also a valuable asset for scholarship and post-secondary applications.
  • Youth Futures Leadership Development Program – Great resume enhancer! A summer program geared towards youth entering grades 8 to 12. Learn what leadership means and how to plan and implement games and crafts for children. Youth participate in practical components to gain leadership skills. There is an orientation, training seminars, and 8 to 10 hours of weekly volunteer experience.
  • Youth Futures Alumni Program – A successful training program for youth 14 to 19 years to increase their skills and experiences through interaction in day camps, children’s programs and special events. Youth will learn how to lead activities for children 3 to 12 years. There is a requirement to participate in weekly Practicum during July and August. Participants are selected through an interview process.

Health and Human Services Focus Area

  • Heart and Stroke High School Summer Research Program – Canada’s only intensive cardiovascular research mentoring program for grade 11 students with a strong interest in biology or medicine.
  • Maple Ridge Fire Department Youth Academy – Open to students aged 16 – 18 in grade 11 or 12 with a C+ average, who want a career in Fire Service.
  • New Westminster Student Police Academy – Nine-day Career program for grade 11 and 12 students with an interest in law enforcement. Applications due in March for July program.
  • RCMP Youth Academy – Open to students aged 16 – 18 who are interestd in police work and law enforcement as a possible future career. Application deadline is in November for the 9-day camp over spring break.
  • Ridge Meadows Hospital Volunteen Program – an excellent opportunity for students, aged 14 – 18, who wish to pursue a career in Health Care. school-year (in May, for the summer program)
  • Sprott-Shaw Community College – Sprott-Shaw offers job shadowing opportunities to students in grade 11/12, interested in becoming a college instructor.
  • St John’s Ambulance Youth Program – Join at the Cadet or Crusader level, become certified in First Aid and gain experience volunteering with St John’s in the Community. Earn high school credits by completing the Grand Prior’s Badge.

Liberal Arts and Humanities Focus Area

  • Forum for Young Canadians – Brings students, aged 15 – 19, to Ottawa for a one-week intensive academic adventure that immerses them in the exciting world of national politics and public affairs.
  • House of Commons Page Program – Open to Canadian citizens or permanent resident students who are graduating from a secondary school and commencing studies at one of the four National Capital Region universities in the fall (with no academic interruptions).
  • Explore French Language Spring/Summer Program – Discover another region of Canada and use this opportunity to improve your knowledge of French. www.myexplore.ca
  • Maple Ridge Public Library Student Council – Meets one Wednesday per month and students serve in an advisory capacity to improve upon and develop collections and programming for teens. Students commit to volunteering for the school year, but their level of involvement can rise and fall, depending on the amount of time they have to give.

Science and Applied Sciences Focus Area

  • Agri-Career Quest – A 4-H program open to members and non-member students aged 16 – 22. Offered every other year, this five day program allows students to explore careers in the agriculture industry. Most of the program takes place on a charter bus to allow for agriculture tour stops of different regions of BC. Participants also have the opportunity to sharpen their career building skills.
  • BCIT Biotech Career Awareness Program – Grade 10, 11 & 12 students with an interest in science take part in lab workshops and industry visits. Students apply and are accepted for one 5-day workshop in either December or April.
  • Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment (DEEP) Summer Academy at the University of Toronto – Provides gifted and highly motivated high school students from across the world with the opportunity for advanced study in a variety of engineering, technology, business and science disciplines.
  • Gene Researcher for a Week – Grade 11 & 12 students are eligible to apply by Dec 31, for this program that supports emerging scientists who dream of excelling in human genetic disease reaserch. Overall grade average of 85% required. Students apply and there is a selection process.
  • Geneskool Summer Camp at Capilano U – Each week-long day camp enables participants to explore the exciting world of forensics by investigating a “murder mystery”!
  • Hatch Engineering (Consulting firm for the Resource Sector) – Offers 9 postitions for Work Experience over spring break.
  • Moli E-One – Work Experience for highly motivated and strong science students at local research and development facility.
  • Science World – If you would love to share your passion for science and are a “people person” this is the work experience for you. Students sign up for a 2-week session and by the end have completed 80 of the 90 hours required for their Work Experiece course. Summer opportunities also available.
  • Society for Canadian Women in Science and Tech (S.C.W.I.S.T.) – Hosts a variety of educational, social and fundraising events throughout the year.
  • Shad Valley – Four week campus experience in residence at a top Canadian university, in science, engineering, technology, entrepreneurship and leadership programs.
  • Vancouver Aquarium – Ongoing opportunities throughout the year as kiosk attendants, parking greeters, assisting with visitor surveys or children’s activities, operating touchpools or helping with lineups. All applications require an up to date resume and cover letter.

Tourism, Hospitality and Foods Focus Area

  • Canadian Tourism College Career Prep –  Located on King George Blvd in Surrey, the College offers two, 3-day sessions in October and April, each year. It’s an excellent experience for Grade 11 and 12 students interested in pursuing Post Secondary education and career opportunities in the Tourism, Hospitality & Foods Focus area. Limit 35 students.

Trades and Technology Focus Area

  • Hatch Engineering (Consulting firm for the Resource Sector) – Offers 9 postitions for Work Experience over spring break
  • Hunter Dickenson Mineral Exploration and Mining Co. – Work experience placements in seven different departments in their downtown Vancouver office. Applications are due in January, for placements over March break.
  • Teck Resources Mining, Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Co. – Work experience placements for six students in four areas of their company. Applications are due in February, for placements over March break.