Some of Ontario’s smartest working professionals gathered together at the Brookstreet Hotel on April 9 for the 2024 Discover Technata Career Fair.
It was an opportunity for people of all ages to network with some of Kanata’s biggest tech companies who were looking for new talent to join their expanding teams. Busloads of students from Carleton University, uOttawa, and Algonquin College also took part in the event that included 30 exhibitors. The job fair drew a record-breaking 4,961 registrants and 2,278 attendees.
“Discover Technata is the KNBA’s signature event. Every year we pack the Brookstreet Hotel with thousands of registrants looking for their first career role, and the world-leading companies who attend each year come because of the outstanding talent produced by our four amazing postsecondary institutions right here in Ottawa,” said interim Kanata North Business Association executive director Guy Levesque.
“Even with the economic headwinds of the past 18 months, hiring remains strong in Canada’s largest technology park, and this is the place for the best talent to launch their professional journey,” he added. “There is no place quite like Kanata North in all of Canada where talent, technology and community converges so beautifully.”
That positive reaction was also felt on the floor of the event by attendees who were excited to network with some of Canada’s best and brightest professionals. Jobseeker Nicole Gitobu said she’s always been interested in the tech sector and was looking for a career in product marketing or as a marketing manager.
“As an Ottawa resident, I’ve known of Kanata and its technology hub, however this was an opportunity to learn more about the companies there up close and center at the various booths, and I loved that it was a centralized experience too,” she said.
Gitobu added she’s struggled to find stable employment, understanding the struggling market which is already saturated and filled with exceptional talent.
“Competition is higher, so I’m upskilling where I can to stay abreast of the competition,” said Gitobu. “I’m passionate about films and the film industry and in recent times, I’ve admired the way film/streaming-related companies have created viewer experiences surrounding a film. So being a Marketing Manager at Prime Video, Netflix, Warner Bros Discovery, Apple TV, and so on — That’s something I’d love to do.”
MDA Space were the winners of the Best in Tech award, a prestigious honor that was voted on by KNBA’s Levesque, alongside Kanata city councilors Cathy Curry and Allan Hubley. They spoke with Warner Bros Discovery, Nanometrics Inc, and MDA Space about their major initiatives. The judges were won over by MDA Space’s futuristic setup and projects like low-orbit satellites, Canadarm 3, and MDA Aurora.
For Kanata Tech Park businesses, the day was about scoping new talent for their companies.
Fortinet, an exhibitor and brand-new partner of Hub350, said the event was an opportunity to get its name out to jobseekers who may not have heard about them before. The cyber security company specializes in products like firewalls and VPNs that protect against hackers.
“It’s really great getting to meet all of the talent and getting to know the people of Ottawa,” said Lauren MacGillivray, who works in the company’s Human Resources department. She said they have been hiring “lots of software developers and technical support engineers.”
MMist, a cargo delivery company that has made parachutes for military applications, wanted to show the world they are ready for its vast technology. Chief Technology Officer Ken Edwards said they are looking to fill a variety of positions within their operations.
“We’ve been here for 20 years and we are looking to get our name out there a little more,” said Edwards. “We are meeting a wide array of people here today. It’s a great intersection of all the different types of engineering disciplines, product managers and tech types that we have here in Kanata.”
The event would not have been possible without its sponsors: Warner Bros Discovery, uOttawa, and Huawei. Anyone who is looking for a job in Kanata North is encouraged to visit the Discover Technata job board. From there you can check out the new Talent Network section to discover where you might be the best fit.
Written by Charlie Senack
