Kanata job fair seeks to help fill vacancies
If you’re in search of a job, the sky is the limit.
The Kanata Central BIA held an in-person job fair on Tuesday where two dozen companies, including the airline Canadian North, were looking to connect with potential employees.
With unemployment numbers low, finding workers can be turbulent.
“We have experienced some challenges, absolutely — it’s definitely an employees’ market right now, so there’s tonnes of jobs available,” said Canadian North human resources manager Stephanie McBride.
“Our head office is in Kanata, so we do have some positions there—hybrid, remote, and on-site—and we also have positions in cargo, part-time and full-time at the Ottawa Airport,” she said.
From the air to the water, Aqua-Tots is a private swim school in Kanata and, much like pools and beaches short on lifeguards, they’re looking to hire.
“We’re facing some of those similar challenges, especially when it comes to swim instructors. A lot of them have to have some sort of certification ahead of time, and we’re also starting to run some of our own courses,” said owner Rebecca Swedlove.
The job fair was held at the Kanata Holiday Inn at the Centrum, and even they’re recruiting too.
“We need room attendants, line-cooks, servers,” Holiday Inn HR manager Jennifer Major told CTV News at the event.
M Con Products is looking for manufacturers.
“We are always looking for employees. Our manufacturing plant is very large and it’s hard to keep up with the demand,” said administrator Jean Toomey.
Child-care businesses are also hiring.
“Like everyone here, we’re looking for reliable and quality people to staff daycare centres in Ottawa-Carleton,” said Kristine Berg of KRSS Services.
With some of the busiest shopping months upon us, industry experts say ongoing labour shortages have some businesses even more concerned.
“There are three problems with the economy these days, when it comes to business: one, is labour shortages; two, is labour shortages; and three, is labour shortages,” Rocco Rossi, with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce told CTV News Ottawa.
“It’s a war for talent out there. There are shortages, really, across the economy and so trying to find a new batch of workers for a shorter period of time is difficult,” he said.
Michelle Wasylyshen, National Spokesperson for the Retail Council of Canada, says labour shortages continue to be an ongoing challenge for all sectors, including retail, with Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the Christmas season coming up.
“Retailers are trying to staff up, but they continue to be impacted by the perfect trifecta of circumstances: competition in the marketplace for both full- and part-time employees, inflation impacts and a preference for remote work (particularly in smaller or more suburban areas, that simply just didn't exist before).”
At the job fair, employers like the Kanata Canadian Tire are preparing for the season.
“We’re building our Christmas department right now, trying to get all of that ready but, obviously, we’re also automotive, so tires—whenever Christmas hits, usually winter hits,” said Sarah Scaffiedi with Canadian Tire.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The World Health Organization said on Friday that the current overall public health risk posed by H5N1 bird flu virus is low, but for those with exposure to infected birds or animals the risk of infection is considered low-to-moderate.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.