While economic doom and gloom often tops the headlines in Alberta and across the country, the Bow Valley’s business and tourism community is expecting a banner year.
While low oil prices and a weak dollar have caused economic hardship in many regions, the same conditions are expected to have people flocking to the Bow Valley this summer. U.S. visitation is expected to be high as Americans take advantage of their higher dollar to travel in Canada, while many Canadians, again due to the low dollar, are expected to book staycations within their home and native land.
For the above reasons, two hiring fairs will be held for the first time in the Bow Valley in the coming weeks. The Job Resource Centre will host a fair on May 5 in Banff at Cascade Plaza from 2-4 p.m. and May 17 in Canmore at Elevation Place from 2-4 p.m.
“Our two spring hiring fairs will feature many of the region’s big-name employers who will be looking to fill well over 500 seasonal, year-round and career positions,” said Michel Dufresne, director of the Job Resource Centre.
“There will be an abundance of job opportunities at hotels, restaurants, retail operations and attractions. Many will include subsidized employee housing. The two spring hiring fairs are predicted to draw job seekers from across Canada and abroad. With what is going on elsewhere in the Alberta job market, the final tally could be much higher.”
In Banff, 19 employers will take part in the hiring fair, including the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, The Banff Centre, Banff Lodging Company, Banff Park Lodge, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise Inn and the Banff Hospitality Collective.
In Canmore, 10 employers will take part and Dufresne said the demand is expected to be about 500 openings in Banff and 200 in Canmore, with jobs including seasonal service industry positions like cooks, front desk agents, room attendants, servers and retail sales staff.
“The markets are different in both towns,” said Dufresne. “Banff is very much a destination town, while Canmore is more of an overflow as far as the labour pool goes. University is out now and every summer is very busy, especially toward the end of summer.
“It’s expected that Calgarians, other Albertans and Canadians will take staycations and that bumps Banff to the top of their list.”
Dufresne said the business community approached the Job Resource Centre for help with the fairs. “Our role is trying to promote the area and attract people from all over Canada. We’re competing with Whistlers and Tremblants.”
In past years of hosting hiring fairs, Dufresne said, about 60 per cent of those who attend and are looking for work arrived about two weeks, some within days, prior. Last year’s hiring fair in Banff attracted 700 employment hopefuls.
For more information visit the Job Resource Centres in Banff or Canmore, or go to www.jobresourcecentre.com.
