Shad Canada hosts Futures Day for P.E.I. high school students at UPEI

CHARLOTTETOWN · High school students from across Prince Edward Island attended an interactive career exploration event at the University of Prince Edward Island on October 15. The event, called Shad Canada’s Futures Day, was held at the UPEI Performing Arts Centre. Tim Jackson, President and CEO of Shad Canada, said the day was meant to spark curiosity and connect youth with future educational and career pathways. "Shad Canada’s Futures Day opens doors to possibilities young people may never have imagined," Jackson said. He explained that bringing students together with experts and hands-on experiences broadens their understanding of potential careers.

The day began with opening remarks from Jackson and welcoming addresses from several educational and community leaders. Elder Judy Clark, the UPEI Elder in Residence, Dr. Wendy Rodgers, UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor, and Natalie Mitton, Holland College President, all spoke to the students. The keynote address was delivered by Gord McNeilly, the Member of the Legislature for Charlottetown-West Royalty. McNeilly, who is also an entrepreneur and motivational speaker, gave an energetic presentation that included music and light activities. He encouraged the students to view their futures differently and to believe in their own leadership abilities.

After the morning sessions, students participated in a series of hands-on workshops and seminars across the UPEI campus. These sessions were led by industry experts and academic leaders from various fields. In the science and health stream, activities included exploring human anatomy with augmented reality holograms at the UPEI Faculty of Medicine. Students also visited the Clinical Learning and Simulation Centre and the Atlantic Veterinary College to learn about animal welfare science and movement science with kinesiologists. Workshops focused on technology, engineering and math involved code-breaking cryptography seminars and studying sustainability by examining real-world engineering failures. Another session, titled the "Dead Internet Petting Zoo," explored digital ecosystems, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. In business and creative arts, students took part in a "Candy Market Simulation" with the McDougall Faculty of Business and tried hands-on plumbing and pipefitting demonstrations.

With files from UPEI