As Saskatchewan and Regina welcome hundreds of newcomers from immigration as well as the Ukrainian flights, they had the opportunity to mingle with potential employers at an open career fair.
The Saskatchewan Government hosted the career fair at the Queensbury Centre in Regina which saw roughly 80 employers, employment agencies, community organizations, and chambers of commerce from across the province. The event saw hundreds of people attend, many were newcomers to the city from various countries.
Many newcomers looked excited to be there.
“I’m getting to know a lot of companies, a lot of their hiring processes. It’s very important. It’s a good way to network. It’s a good way to meet people, meet employers,” says Stella, a newcomer from Nigeria.
“It’s really important because how can I live here without work? I’m really glad the government made this (event) for us, there’s lots of opportunities to find a job,” says Artem, a newcomer from Ukraine.
While the event is helping newcomers settle into Regina or surrounding communities, this also helps drive provincial and local companies and organizations.
“The other side of this is the employers. We’re in a bit of a tight market these days. This helps our employers in the very same way, getting them connected with individuals,” says Dale Daniels, Executive Director for Employment Services with SaskJobs.
Not only were their local companies and agencies advocating their work, but newcomers welcome centres from surrounding cities and towns were also there.
Centres from Moose Jaw and Weyburn were advocating their local opportunities for individuals who may be interested in moving out of Regina.
“We’re trying to get newcomers to come into the more rural settings. There is a labour shortage there. So, it is important for us to showcase our community and what it has to offer for them,” says Laura Eddy with Southeast Newcomers’ Services in Weyburn.
Apart from immigrated newcomers, over 13,00 Ukrainians have arrived in Saskatchewan as of the end of March from the five flights from the memorandum of understanding signed by Premier Scott Moe and representatives from Solidaire and Open Arms.
