Loyalist College Service Fair aims to connect students with opportunities

Different booths providing information to the students at the Service Fair.  Photo by Armaanjeet Kaur.

BELLEVILLE – Loyalist College hosted a service fair at its main campus on Jan. 17 to provide to let students know about wide variety of services available to them. 

Many students as well as faculty members gathered in Shark Tank for the event. There were many booths of different clubs and services, so that students can reach out who needed them. 

“We organize this fair every semester during orientation period for students,” says Ryan Stoness, the coordinator of Wellness and Orientation at Loyalist College.

“The main idea to this event to introduce services on campus, as well as off campus. This also provides employment opportunities.” 

John McDonald is with the Canadian Armed Forces. He was there to talk about jobs with the forces. 

“We are here basically for the jobs, providing part time jobs in Canadian armed forces as students can apply here for joining”, said McDonald.   

Workers from public library of Belleville were also there handing out free library card to the students.  

“Students can scan this QR code and register to get a card,” says Jennie, a librarian at the public library.  

She says the library provides a space where anyone can come and study, access computers, read books and much more.   

There was also a booth detailing services provided to international students.  

They provide services like airport pickup, booking hotel rooms for newcomers. They also provide knowledge about things like insurance to students.  

“If any student needs any kind of help as they have any emergency, they can reach out 2H1 without any appointment,” says Stella, the woman overseeing the booth. 

Prachi Yadav is a biotechnology student. She said that the fair is really helpful as it provides a wide knowledge about different things. It also creates awareness among the students regarding different clubs that exist in our city,” said Yadav.  

“I will join the recreational club of Belleville,” said Gauri Rana, from ECE program.  

The fair was intended to help students get to know about many organizations they can access.   

As the service fair at Loyalist College came to a close, the hope was that students would leave with newfound resources, knowledge and a stronger sense of belonging and that there is support and opportunities available to a newcomers to Canada.