Crowded job fair in North Bay

It was a very crowded job fair on Thursday at the Grande Event Centre in North Bay.

The event put on by the Labour Market Group saw 535 people looking for work and 48 employers on hand.

Constable Eric Krmpotic of North Bay Police says serving the community was an important talking point at their booth and that was promoted.
“It’s nice to be invoilved in the community and helping people out. It’s a very rewarding job that way,”
Tom Chartrand came to the fair looking for work. He lives in Mattawa and to find a job he says you have to be willing to move if necessary.

“You may have to come to a bigger city like North Bay. You may have to travel back and forth. If it’s part time you have to ensure it is worth your while,” he says.

Alcid Rebidoux was at the fair looking for an office job.

He says he’s been looking for a while.

Rebidoux says it can be difficult to find a job if you’re in the disabled community but experience in some areas can be a challenge.

‘Retail is near impossible to get into with them asking for years of retail experience already just to get in. It’s fairly difficult,” he says.

Yet he says it’s important to go fairs like this so you meet employers and show them how serious you are about landing work.

Anna Marie Leduc at the North Bay YMCA says there’s a big need for specialists in children services as well as support educators for children with special needs and they’re looking to recruit here.
“They would be there to support our programs and our educators in that program for children with special needs. We’re also recruiting for support for registered Early Childhood Educators and that’s an ongoing recruiting effort all year long,” she says.