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REACH FOR THE STARS                                              Journalist: Myriam Sainson

Date: March 15, 2012  Region: Haut St. François

The 4th edition of "Reach for the Stars" took place, on Wednesday March 14 (9a.m-3:30p.m.), at l'école Louis-Saint-Laurent, in East Angus. The event was organized by an effective committee, with the participation of some sixty professionals, most of whom came from the MRC of High-Saint-François, who stepped up for this noble cause, which is to inspire (according to respective trade association's), the pupils of Level 4 and adults from the Centre d'éducation des adultes de la Commission scolaire des Hauts-Cantons, to guide them in their choice, of a viable means of future employment that each individual would be interested in and that would offer them all possible and conceivable satisfactions, for a more successful and a better quality of life... In the first period, the participants could attend a conference entitled: "Highlining California-style '', a presentation by Graymont Inc, Marbleton, on the practice of a quickly emerging sport, "Highlining", which takes on all aspects of tightrope walking.

On the whole, it was a conference made up "of career workshops", in six blocks of approach to different professions: that of a plumber, a photographer, an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), a massage-therapist, a stone mason, a chef and a hairdresser. The objective of the "discovery workshops" was "to familiarize the students with their lives, all as an incentive to take an active part" in the world around them. As an example, one can quote "the question of which comes first – the chicken or the egg" in order to emphasize the leadership of a student.

This was followed by a workshop entitled "Jobs in the Future here", with the collaboration of Emploi-Québec, CAMO and the CJE. Around 2:40p.m., the auditorium was transformed into a 'public market' of sorts, something new and inviting, where 80 pupils could establish bonds of communication with local producers and satisfy their savoury pleasures, by enjoying local products of the soil... Within the framework of this event, pupils and adults were offered an opportunity to win two laptops, as a door prize, on the condition of having been present at all the workshops. A cocktail was followed by the giving out of prizes...

I was extremely impressed by the workshop on the career of ambulance attendant, orchestrated by Vincent Pilette (Ambulance d'Estrie, sector of East Angus), in front of an audience of 12 guys and gals. He set about to give a realistic and uncompromising image of this profession which he described as "under-publicized", if one makes a comparison with that of fireman or police officer. In general, the young people voiced reservations about engaging in this profession because of a hesitation to interact, during tragic accident scenarios, where mutilation of the body is involved. Vincent Pilette was quick to step in with the facts, affirming that such traumatic cases represent only 5% of interventions made during a year. He really approached all the aspects of the career, from the obligatory formation to the handling of the tools of the trade. This is a profession to be chosen with full knowledge of the facts and of oneself, requiring someone with physical force and determination.

It was also the occasion to give out certificates of recognition for the 4 consecutive years of participation as resource-person, like Mario Ladouceur - owner of l'Auberge l'Orchidée; Vincent Pilette – EMT with Ambulance de l'Estrie; Marypascal Beauregard - co-owner of Caprice Caprin and Karine Demarchi - Director of Communications for the Town of Cookshire-Eaton.

This event was the initiative of Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi, la Polyvalente Louis-Saint-Laurent, le Centre d'éducation des adultes de la CSHC à East Angus, SADC du Haut-Saint-François, Place aux Jeunes du Haut-Saint-François, Défi de l'entrepreunariat- jeunesse and le Comité d'adaptation de la main-d'œuvre CAMO du Haut-Saint-François. GOLD financial partners were Service Canada, Graymont; SILVER financial partners included Johanne Gonthier - Deputy for Mégantic-Compton, the CLD du Haut-Saint-François and IGA Cookshire and BRONZE partners: Solutek (data-processing) and IGA Couture - East Angus

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Photo 1: EMT Vincent Pilette receiving his certificate of recognition

Photo 2: Pupils listening to the workshop on becoming an EMT

Photo 3: Vincent Pilette conducting EMT workshop

Photo 4: The 'public market' held in the auditorium.

Photo credits: Myriam Sainson