By Emily Stonehouse

“It’s all about opportunities,” said Darla Searle, the hospitality teacher at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School. “We want to show them what’s out there.”

Searle is leading a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program through Hal High, which is offered in collaboration with the Ontario Government, and focuses on giving students the opportunity to hone in on custom industries within the job force.

Through the program, senior students are required to complete a specific bundle of eight to ten courses in the student’s selected field of study, earn industry standard certifications, such as first aid and CPR, as well as gain skills through co-op placements.

As a result, the students are able to gain real-life experience in the varied sectors across the county. “They don’t necessarily have to be going into the industry,” said Searle, “but it gives hands-on experience to the working world.”

On June 12, over 20 students from the program embarked on a tourism-specific trek across the county. Organized by Eric Casper, the tourism coordinator for the County of Haliburton, the students started their day with a visit to Molly’s Bistro Bakery in Minden.

Molly McInerney bought her first restaurant in 1977, when she was a mere 22 years old. She’s been dedicated to the industry ever since, and continuously tied to Haliburton County. “Molly is a great example of evolving your business to meet the needs of the community,” said Angelica Ingram, the manager of tourism for Haliburton County.

McInerney took the students on a behind-the-scenes tour of her well-known community hub in the heart of Minden. She answered questions about health inspectors, baked goods, and secret recipes.

Molly’s was the first stop on the trip, with the next destination being the Haliburton Post House; a highly sought after destination in the heart of Ingoldsby, hosting weddings, conferences, and retreats. The Post House staff was joined by Kayla Gardiner, who is the lead for weddings at the Bonnie View Inn. The intention was to get students to hear firsthand what it’s like to work in the tourism field.

“Tourism is one of the biggest industries up here,” said Ingram. “And so many of these roles could be a gateway job into the world.”

Searle agreed, noting that customer service skills, which are the heart and soul of the tourism world, are core developmental skills, applicable to any industry. “The skills are hugely transferable,” she said. “It’s the one industry where you can really follow your passion.”

And there are jobs around the world, said Searle. “I could travel the world working in hospitality,” she said, noting that all countries have some form of the service industry. “You could work your way around the world.”

And it’s not just serving and cooking. Ingram was quick to note that the tourism industry is a multi-faceted world, including marketing, promotions, and experience development.

There are so many avenues that she hopes to offer the hands-on experience every year. “This industry is always hiring,” she said, noting the plethora of opportunities available locally. “And there are so many businesses we can feature through this.”