Redeemer students, alumni, staff and faculty were part of Hamilton’s largest ever job fair. More than 7,000 students from Redeemer, McMaster University and Mohawk College attended the 2014 Connect to Careers Job Fair at Hamilton’s Careport Centre on January 23, 2014. Hamilton’s three post-secondary institutions, along with Workforce Planning Hamilton, worked together to offer students, public job seekers, and more than 140 employers an opportunity to connect with each other at the job fair. Everything from small, family-owned businesses to some of Hamilton’s largest employers, such as ArcelorMittal Dofasco, the event’s platinum sponsor, were present. “This was a fabulous day for our students,” said Jennifer Pringle, Redeemer’s Director of Co-operative Education and Career Services and one of the organizers of the event. “It was a fantastic opportunity for them to network with employers, learn about career possibilities, have their résumé critiqued and talk directly with employers who are recruiting.” More than 130 Redeemer students, from just about every academic discipline, took part in the event, and many alumni were also present. Redeemer had two booths at Connect to Careers. The Human Resources department was there as an employer, and Pringle and her team were there representing Redeemer as a partner of the event. “I was able to initiate relationships with so many new employers!” she said. “As we expand our business co-op program, and look to create more experiential learning opportunities for students in all majors, cultivating these relationships is invaluable.” As one of the partners, Redeemer had a large delegation at the event, and their presence was noted. “As a team we definitely raised awareness of Redeemer and increased our profile in the community,” noted Pringle. “Many of the employers I talked with were attracted to attend because three schools were involved, and they were delighted to see and meet Redeemer students.” The event garnered a lot of attention throughout Hamilton. Besides causing traffic chaos all day because of the large numbers of visitors, it was also covered in the Hamilton Spectator, CBC Hamilton, and other media outlets. A video of the event has also been posted on the Hamilton Economic Development website. “This was an exciting event and we are very pleased to have partnered with McMaster, Mohawk and Workforce Planning Hamilton on this initiative,” says Richard Wikkerink, Redeemer’s Associate Provost, Co-Curriculum and Student Development. “It is encouraging to see Redeemer recognized as one of the city’s key educational institutions and we are proud to be a part of this event.”