Belleville Chamber resumes Career Conversations

Career Conversations are back and coming to a school near you! The Belleville Chamber of Commerce continues to work in partnership with local schools and the Ontario Career Lab/HIEC to deliver this unique program that brings grade 9 and 10 students into small-group conversations, connecting them with professionals from diverse sectors who share their personal insights and real-world experiences.  Funded by the Government of Ontario, this first-of-its-kind initiative returned for the second year in 2026, following a successful pilot in the spring of 2025.

In 2025, the Belleville Chamber coordinated the Ontario Career Lab with the local school boards and recruited the equivalent of 250 volunteers as “career coaches”.

In 10 days, they visited

• 13 schools and met
• 1500 students and held
• 90,000 minutes of career conversations.

The Belleville Chamber is proud to partner with this initiative by helping to connect students with people who can share their career journeys and open doors to new possibilities. This dynamic exchange not only uncovers in-demand industries and local opportunities but also empowers students to shape their own unique career paths.  

We’re looking for people from all jobs and backgrounds to share their career journeys to inspire and ignite curiosity in our students. By sharing your experiences, you’ll help broaden their perspective on the world of work, connect with fellow community members, and play a vital role in shaping the next generation.

What You’ll Do:
Career Lab sessions will likely involve at least one 75 minute in-person commitment plus travel in order to participate in 2 x 30-minute small group conversations.

• share your career journey with 6 – 10 students
• highlight in-demand skills and industry insights
• instill hope and confidence in young learners

Join the Conversation

• complete the online application – it takes about 15 minutes if you need to think
• you’ll have the option to choose in person/online though we do anticipate most of our programs will be in-person
• you will also have the option to identify how far you’d be willing to travel – if you’d be open to attending a program outside of Belleville, we may assist with similar projects in the surrounding area (even as far as Kingston)
• don’t have a VSSC? Respond “NO” and your application will be submitted automatically for verification. You will receive a separate e-mail, requesting your consent for this to be done and you should receive confirmation within a few hours (this is fast & free).

Ready to make a difference?