Community Connectedness: BVC celebrates its business work experience hosts

March 26, 2012

Each year, employers host hundreds of Bow Valley College (BVC) Business students for their practicum placements, giving them the real-world skills needed to start their careers. The College's Business department recently held an appreciation event at the Calgary Zoo to thank its work experience hosts for their continued support.

Elza Bruk, BVC's Dean of Business, wecomes the College's work experience hosts.

"Work experience hosts are an integral part of the success of our programs and graduates," says Elza Bruk. "Their role is to provide our learners with the opportunity to apply their new skills in genuine work settings."

More than 120 hosts and members for the Calgary business community joined BVC students, staff, and faculty on Feb. 7 at the event in the Zoo's ENMAX Conservatory.

"It was a great event. I want to thank our Events Management instructor Liz VanRamele and our first year Events Management students who put together a dynamic yet elegant function," says Elza.

Yulia Kishchik, Legal Administration student, spoke to the employers in attendance about the invaluable experience and connections she gained from her practicum placement at Bennett Jones.

"I have learned so much about the daily operations of a large law firm and I had a chance to network with legal support staff," says Yulia. "Bow Valley College's reputation, its top-of-the-line instruction, as well as the practicum component allow for a seamless transition from classroom to career."

The long list of employers represented at the event included Susan Baker from TransCanada. Susan was a former employee of Bow Valley College and is now the Accounts Payable Manager at TransCanada. She spoke at the event about the numerous benefits to organizations that hire BVC practicum students.

Other employers represented at the event included:

• Hull Child and Family Services
• Direct Energy
• Bal Bains Accounting
• Carriage House Inn
• Calgary Courts Centre
• Great Events Rentals
• RGO Office Products
• Canadian Cancer Society
• Stealth Acoustical & Emission Control Inc.
• Calgary International Children's Festival
• Junior Achievement
• BP Canada Energy Ltd.
• BLG
• McLeod & Company
• Calgary Marriott Hotel
• Imperial Oil Limited
• Salvation Army Centre of Hope
• Fraser Milner Casgrain
• Miller Thomson
• Servus Credit Union Ltd.
• Art Gallery of Calgary
• Abiocon Strategies Inc.
• SAIT
• UFA
• Ikea
• RBC Financial
• Jerry Chong Interiors
• Rae and Company
• Contemporary Office Interiors
• Telvent Canada Ltd.
• Kids Cancer Care Foundation
• Pacer Corporations
• Trimac Transportation
• Magical Moments Events
• The Walk-in Closet
• ATB Financial
• Cenovus Energy
• Denca Cabinets
• MEG Energy
• Salvation Army Centre of Hope
• Meeting Professionals international
• TransCanada Pipelines
• Bennett Jones
• Baker Hughes
• Ernst & Young
• Calgary Economic Development
• Canadian Cancer Society
• Women in Need Society
• Benjamin Moore
• Normandeau Interiors
• The Calgary Zoo
• Borden Ladner Gervais
• Fraser Milner Casgrain
• Visual Concepts
• Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp.
• Baker Huges
• Caron & Partners
• Quantas Mortgage Solutions
• AltaLink
• Enform
• Jepson Petroleum
• TRS Staffing
• Canadian Youth Business Foundation
• University of Calgary
• Interior Evolution