Youth Info Fair '99 L-R: Barry Oake, Anna Thistle, Gary Hennessey and Mayor Walwyn Blackmore The Opening Ceremonies Students from Conne River at the Coast of Bays booth "Fragile" entertaining the youth Youth Info Fair '99 was held at the Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium in Grand Falls-Windsor on November 1st and 2nd. This event was funded by Human Resources Development Canada through the Youth Employment Strategy. Its target audience was youth from age 15 to 29 including youth who are not working, young people out of school, and graduates of high school, university and college. The planning committee was comprised of organizations involved with youth activities in the three regional economic development zones including the Coast of Bays, the Emerald Zone and the Exploits Valley.

The Youth Info Fair had three objectives:
1. To bring information to youth on career planning, work experience opportunities, resources, access to learning and youth programs and services.
2. To bring partners together including employers, community organizations, all levels of government and the private sector, and
3. To show that the Government of Canada is delivering on its committment to youth and reconnecting the Canadian government to community.

The Central-Baie Verte-Connaigre School Board, District #5, arranged to have over 1800 high school students from LaScie to Harbour Breton bussed to the fair over the two day period. Before attending the fair, all students were taken to the Classic Theatre to hear a presentation by Barry Green, a youth motivational speaker. A local youth band from Grand Falls-Windsor, "Fragile", entertained the students with a mini-concert during each of the four sessions. Seminars were delivered by Fred Hubley (Operation ONLINE), Glenda Young (Human Resources Development Canada) and Stephen Butler (Department of Development and Rural Renewal). An Internet cafe was set up to allow students to experience a wide array of World Wide Web sites developed to assist with career planning and job searching.

For information about the Coast of Bays Youth Council, contact:
Conrad Collier
Coast of Bays Corporation
P.O. Box 310
St. Alban's, Newfoundland
A0H 2E0
Tel: 709-538-3552
Fax: 709-538-3627
Toll Free: 1-800-205-0799 ( In Newfoundland and Labrador Only )
E-mail: coastofbays@nf.sympatico.ca

Last Revised on November 10, 1999