BFF: A Solid Investment in Our Youth

Blueprint for the Future (BFF) is a series of national career fairs designed to attract First Nation, Métis and Inuit high school students to the wide array of potential careers available in all employment sectors.

As Aboriginal youth are the fastest growing segment of the Canadian population, it is imperative that we continue to introduce First Nation, Métis, and Inuit high school students to the world of career opportunities in Canada.

Blueprint for the Future - Prince George 2010

 
Blueprint for the Future - Thunder Bay 2010

Blueprint for the Future - Saskatoon 2009

One-Day Event

Two career fairs are offered annually in different Canadian cities for students in Grades 9-12. Each career fair can accommodate up to 1,800 students. The day is comprised of three parts:

I. Role Models, Key Note and Motivational Speakers – there are keynote speakers at the opening ceremony, lunch, and closing program. Motivational speakers tell students how they realized their own dreams, and are excellent role models for the youth in attendance.

II. Career Workshops – career workshops ranging from business/finance to science and technology are facilitated throughout the day. There are approximately 100 workshops led by knowledgeable individuals in their respective fields. These speakers include dynamic individuals from diverse sectors of the economy; for example, Aboriginal physicians speak to students about medicine as a career, applying for medical schools, the areas of specialization that exist, and where the medical trends will be when students graduate.

III. Trade Show - there is a booth/trade show area featuring educational institutions, government agencies and departments, corporations and a multitude of other professions who each provide information and one-on-one guidance about careers in their areas of specialization. Students also meet senior executives from the financial world, engineers from the mining industry, trades people, psychiatrists and social workers, and leaders in new technology, all of whom show them the most up to date industry trends.

Proven Track Record

More than 32,000 Aboriginal students from across the country have attended the Foundation’s career fairs over the event’s history. Students from Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Iqaluit, Winnipeg, Montreal and elsewhere have had the opportunity to meet industry experts to learn about individual career options, the education and training required to attain various careers, and the employment trends in these areas. The career fairs are geared to provide students with the incentives necessary to set their individual career paths. This important link is a first step toward their entry into the Canadian workforce.

Blueprint for the Future Career Fairs - Goals and Benefits

One of the primary goals of the BFF career fairs is to increase the high school graduation rate and subsequent employment among Aboriginal youth as well as to facilitate the transition from school to employment. Aboriginal youth face numerous personal and educational barriers in mainstream society. The competitive job market demands definite transferable work skills, knowledge, and education in order for employers to consider Aboriginal youth as attractive work candidates. Through the career fairs, Aboriginal youth realize the importance of higher learning, motivation, work experience, career and education planning. Exposure to new job opportunities and professionals in numerous fields assists Aboriginal youth in their quest for a suitable career path and teaches them the importance of developing the knowledge and skills to succeed in their chosen career. The success of the BFF career fairs positions NAAF as an organization providing exemplary leadership and opportunity to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities.


Blueprint for the Future Dates and Locations:

Edmonton: October 26, 2010