The second annual Go Abroad Fair promoting opportunities to work, volunteer and study beyond Canada’s borders attracted a crowd at the Metro Convention Center on Friday and Saturday.
The Canadian Education Center Network, a non-profit and independent organization, presented the event, which featured nearly 100 exhibitors offering programs in more than forty countries.
“These programs help you discover how small the world really is.” Joanne Uyede, executive vice-president and C. O. O. of the CECN.
“We’re proud to support and encourage Canadian youth who are ready to discover the world.”
John Hardy III, a U of T economics student interested in going to Mexico, was pleased with the plans he encountered.
“There are some pretty interesting booths here,” he said. “I want to go somewhere cool like Tequila. I know some Spanish so I think it would be great to go somewhere and use that, teaching English or volunteering, while just partying like crazy.”
According to their website, about 6,400 people turned up for last year’s Fair, and organizers were expecting a similar number of students, parents, teachers and others to come this year.
The event did not please everyone, however.
“A lot of the programs I’ve looked at are tough to get into. But it’s ok, I’m finding a lot of information,” said former student Brian Dee, who was interested in going to Japan to study animation.
Organizations that had stands at the fair include the University of Glasgow, Contiki Holidays, the Canadian International Development Agency, the American University of Beirut, the Swiss Hotel Management School, and Outward Bound.
The event also featured seminars throughout each day, on topics like international resumes and job hunting, adventure and working holidays in Australia, and international development. Jean-Marc Hachey, author of the 1600-page BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas, spoke on both days.
In the fair’s brochure, Mayor David Miller extended “a warm welcome to everyone participating” in the event.
“This is the most comprehensive event of its kind,” he said. “I invite participants to discover some of the attractions our unique and vibrant city has to offer.”
The CECN is a non-government agency, partially funded by the government, and maintains 17 centers worldwide to promote Canada as a destination for foreign students. According to their website, the Go Abroad Fair is another part of their mission to “bring Canada to the world.”
Sato Mi, a volunteer at the front desk who is originally from Japan and went abroad herself to study English in Toronto, neatly summed up the event.
“The fair is a good place for a lot of people to come and get nice information,” she said smilingly.
