Our first-ever Women’s Career Fair on Aug. 13, 2025, held at StratHR Solutions’ Winnipeg office, drew nearly 400 registrants from across Manitoba. The fair billed as the province’s first women-focused career fair gave newcomers and local jobseekers a chance to meet employers face-to-face. For example, attendee Ramatoulaye Koete said it was “a great opportunity for me to meet [employers] here and to introduce myself, and to know how to apply” (winnipegfreepress.com). StratHR President Zita Somakoko noted that many employers still treat equity as a checkbox – and she challenged the community to “come and see … this pool of people that nobody’s tapping into”
Event Highlights
400+ women registered. A landmark turnout for Manitoba’s first women-focused career fair.
Attendees were largely newcomers or immigrants, including many who had completed StratHR’s training programs.
Representatives from 13 organizations (including government branches and major employers) tabled at the fair.
The event received prominent coverage in the Winnipeg Free Press (Aug. 13, 2025), which highlighted participants’ success stories and our mission.
Fair in Action
Attendees networking with employers at the fair. Many visitors took advantage of one-on-one conversations with recruiters from employers like Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries and RBC. Economic Development Winnipeg staff helped candidates use the provincial “Work in Manitoba” jobs portal (which has over 2,000 employer listings). One participant, Angelle Holmes, noted that meeting employers in person could give her “a little bit of a leg up” in the job search. Overall, the fair fostered real connections: attendees built confidence and employers discovered skilled candidates they might otherwise have missed.
Thank You and Looking Ahead
We extend heartfelt thanks to the Winnipeg Free Press and reporter Gabrielle Piché for sharing our story. Their coverage helped spotlight attendees’ journeys for example, Koete’s transition from Mali to Manitoba and our commitment to breaking down barriers.
We also thank all attendees, volunteers, partner organizations and sponsors whose support made this event possible. The enthusiasm and positive feedback have been inspiring, and we’re excited to build on this momentum.
Looking ahead, StratHR Solutions will continue expanding our programs and events:
Next Women’s Career Fair: A second event is planned for Toronto this winter.
New Immigrant Men’s Program: We’re launching a program to help immigrant men apply their professional credentials in Canada.
Continued Training & Support: Our skills-training initiatives (like Narrowing the Gender Gap) will keep empowering jobseekers and employers alike.
Thank you again to everyone who made this Career fair a success.
We look forward to seeing what the future brings as we continue connecting talent with opportunity in our community.
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