CAMBRIAN COLLEGE OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Cambrian hosts expanded Career Fair Conference, names winner of Employer Award of Distinction

Northern Ontario's largest career fair got a little bigger this year. The annual Career Fair Conference at Cambrian College grew to a full two days of programming.

The career fair launched Monday (Feb 3) with the day-long Employer Solutions Conference, powered by Scotiabank. The expanded programming included workshops, a panel discussion, dinner, and a keynote address from Sari L. Springer, Founder and Managing Director at PembertonLane PC, who has expertise in human rights and employment law.

On Tuesday, thousands of students met with more than 130 employers on the floor of the Career Fair Conference. It was an opportunity for students to network and apply for that important first position in their chosen careers.

During the Employer Breakfast, sponsored by Palladino Auto Group, Cambrian named this year's recipient of its annual Employer Award of Distinction. This award recognizes an organization, company, or individual that has demonstrated exemplary support for Cambrian, its students, and graduates.

The 2025 award was presented to Geoscience Laboratories (Geo Labs). Located in Sudbury as part of the Ontario Geological Survey, Geo Labs offers a comprehensive range of inorganic chemical and mineralogical services and analysis to clients in government, academia, and the private sector. The data produced by Geo Labs is used for use planning and mineral exploration.

"We are very honoured to receive this award," says Geo Labs Manager, Mario Paventi. "We have a very strong partnership with Cambrian through offering co-ops and other learning opportunities to students, in addition to hiring Cambrian graduates from programs such as Chemical Engineering, Mining Engineering, and Environmental Technician. On average, we hire six students or graduates a year for various roles. One third of our full-time technologists are Cambrian graduates, and over the past five years, all our full-time new recruits have come from Cambrian College programs. This underscores our dedication to nurturing talent and fostering long-term professional relationships with Cambrian College graduates."

"We are quite pleased to recognize the exceptional contributions of Geo Labs to Cambrian College," says Hadi Fergani, Coordinator of Cambrian's Chemical Engineering programs. "Their unwavering support and active involvement have significantly enhanced the educational experience of our students and the overall quality of our program. Moreover, the generous donation of analytical equipment from Geo Labs has transformed our laboratory facilities. Their dedication to education, professional development, and industry collaboration sets a remarkable example for others to follow."

Cambrian College thanks its sponsors for this year's Career Fair Conference: Scotiabank, Palladino Auto Group, Vale, Côté Gold: An IAMGOLD Mine, Cambrian College First Step Centre, Paramed, Walden Group, Freelandt Caldwell Reilly LLP, Patrick Group of Companies, Sandvik, Futurescape Landscaping, and SCR Mining & Tunnelling.