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Youth show up for Job Fair

Feb 25, 2016 | 8:05 AM

Battleford’s Indian Metis Friendship Centre job fair was expected to attract hundreds on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 24.  

“We expect about 250 people to walk through our doors today. A lot of them will have resumes and we are hoping they will gain employment,” Jackie Kennedy, the centre’s executive director, said.

The Friendship Centre has just finished a round of certifications as part of its Friendship Centre Safety Ticket Program for Youth, where staff helped certify youth for a variety of jobs.

“We’ve trained 100 youth within our community in first aid, WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System), safe food handling, all the tickets that they possibly need to go out into the work force,” Kennedy said. “A lot of the youth have obstacles to getting the training they need because it’s so expensive.”

Kennedy said she was happy with how the day was going.

“We have a full house here; it’s very busy. We’re having a great response from the community members and people from different businesses. We’re happy with it,” she said.

North Battleford’s private ambulance company, WPD Ambulance, was one of the businesses with a booth set up to chat with prospective employees.

“So far we’ve had quite a variety of people, young and old, just curious about what we do and what courses you need to take,” Lee Giannoulis, a primary care paramedic (PCP) with the company said. “A two of them already have their first aid and CPR [or] are currently renewing them.”

Giannoulis said he was impressed with the genuine interest people were showing in paramedicine.

“I’ve been very surprised, we’ve been very busy talking pretty much the whole time we’ve been here,” he said. “It’s a good turnout thus far.”

Zane Bolig, a young man in his early 20s, was at the job fair looking for full time work. He currently has two jobs, one at a local gas station and one at the Gold Eagle Casino, but both are only part time.

“I’m looking for something that pays better,” said Bolig, as he surveyed the room full of booths vying for his attention.

A camp in Northern Alberta had caught Bolig’s interest, as it offered room and board on top of a competitive wage. 

Bolig is in a tough situation though, having a work history consisting of mostly low skill service jobs, he does not have a lot of the certifications employers are looking for.

When Kennedy was asked if the Friendship Centre would hold its Friendship Centre Safety Ticket Program for Youth again, she shrugged.

“We run on grants, so it was a grant and ends March 31,” she said. “But, there will still be some staff here after that to help with resumes.”

 

dcairnsbrenner@jpbg.ca