There'll likely be no Youth Expo in Portage la Prairie this spring. That's from city councillor Liz Driedger, who says a motion for the event to take a sabbatical year will be tabled soon. Driedger notes once the new Economic Development director becomes more familiar with the schools and our region, council will then ask him to take over the organization of the annual Youth Expo. She says this event has been around for about fifteen years and is an important way to help young people learn what kind of businesses exist in Portage la Prairie----not just the big employers, but the smaller ones as well.

Driedger adds an event like the Expo can show our youth where career opportunities exist and what kind of education they'll need in order to be able to work in those careers. She says it's also important that they know they don't have to go to the other end of Canada to work in their chosen career because there are many great opportunities right here in town. Driedger notes council will continue looking for ways to make sure the Youth Expo can take place in 2018 under the auspices of the Portage Regional Economic Development office.