24 BUILD MANITOBA winnipegconstruction.ca INDUSTRY PROMOTION A DECADE OF DIFFERENCE The Manitoba Construction Career Expo gets better with age Ten years ago, the first-ever Manitoba Construction Career Expo opened to 800 students in the Red River Exhibition Park’s Annex building, a temporary tent structure where the current Red River Exhibition Place now resides. Now, a decade later, the popular event hosts more than 1,800 post-secondary students and boasts interactive stations that showcase every area of the construction field. Another dramatic difference? The number of journeypersons, apprentices and business owners who take part in the day-long activity, displaying their skills, communicating their experiences and encouraging other young people to consider a career in construction. Rick Mostert, President, F.C. WoodWorks Inc. and past WCA board member, has been hosting the Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada (AWMAC) Manitoba booth since the inception of the event and continues to believe in the impact of the Expo. “It helps the whole industry,” explains Mostert. “It’s the eyes and ears, so to speak, of what you could potentially do as a career. Most of these kids have never experienced this before. It gives them a hands-on experience.”