Mark your calendars for an event that’s shaping the future: Career Insights from Industry Professionals! On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, Eastbridge Business Connections (EBC), part of the Locally Connected Community Hub, is bringing its exciting, hands-on approach to career exploration back to Lester B. Pearson Public School. Now in its fifth year, this forum continues to inspire and empower students to dream big and explore the amazing career pathways that await them.

Since its beginnings with 60 students in 2017-2018, EBC’s Speed Mentoring events have grown into an eagerly anticipated part of the curriculum for all Grade 7 and 8 students at LBP. Following its triumphant return after the pandemic in 2022, the forum remains a cornerstone of career education, giving over 200 students the chance to connect with local industry professionals, economic leaders, and innovative thinkers who are shaping our community. This is more than an event—it’s a launchpad for your future!

Industry professionals will team up within their respective fields to deliver 30-minute interactive and engaging classroom sessions. Each session will provide students with valuable insights into the featured industry while sparking their curiosity about potential career paths. Guided by creativity, mentors will lead dynamic and engaging discussions, supported by an onsite teacher to ensure a seamless experience.

During each session, mentors will introduce themselves, their roles, and their companies, offering a glimpse into what their organization is known for and its place in the industry. Students will learn about the professional training, certifications, and experiences required for success in these careers and gain tips on steps they can take now to explore similar paths. Industry professionals will share upcoming trends that could reshape their field in the next 5–10 years, highlight essential skills needed today and into the future, and provide a realistic picture of what pursuing a career in their sector entails. The session will conclude with open discussions and opportunities for students to ask questions, fostering curiosity and connection.

After the industry-themed classroom sessions and before the featured panel discussion, students will have the opportunity to engage in an informal networking reception in the gymnasium. During this scheduled health break, students can:

• Follow up with industry professionals in a one-on-one setting;
• Build their communication skills and gain confidence in interacting with adults in a safe and supportive environment; and
• Connect with professionals from industries they may not have engaged with in their scheduled sessions.

This event provides students with a valuable chance to strengthen connections and explore new career pathways in a relaxed, engaging atmosphere.

[FEATURED PANEL DISCUSSION] In this dynamic and inspiring panel discussion, you’ll hear firsthand from some of Waterloo Region’s most influential leaders and educators about how your future begins today. Local leaders, including the Mayor of Waterloo, the President of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, and the Deputy Police Chief of Waterloo Regional Police Services, will share how youth like you are vital to the region’s success. They’ll explain why developing your skills, pursuing your education, and setting roots in this thriving community can help take Waterloo Region from good to great.