KENTVILLE — A job fair here today will introduce people seeking employment to about 200 positions available in the Kings County area, which has been hard hit by job losses over the past couple of months.
The Kings Community Economic Development Agency is hosting the fair at the Nova Scotia Community College’s Kingstec campus.
The full-day event starts with information sessions for job seekers between 8:30 a.m. and noon. Colby Clarke, a development officer with the agency, said the sessions will include information on employment insurance programs, health plan coverage and other issues facing people dealing with unemployment.
From noon to 7 p.m., more than a dozen employers with job openings will be on hand to let job seekers know about these positions.
"Some have a pretty significant number of jobs," Mr. Clarke said. "There are 200 positions available; that’s a pretty good number for these days."
The jobs include full- and part-time employment and seasonal work. Mr. Clarke said even a six-month job could be enough to give some people the "buffer zone" they need for better EI benefits.
Employers with jobs on offer include Larsens, Frito Lay, call centre Online Support, seniors facilities, and some trades.
He said a group of seniors facilities is also receiving funds to train continuing care assistants.
"We’re doing what we can so people are aware of the options that are out there," Mr. Clarke said.
He said the last time the agency held a job fair like this was two years ago, when Maple Leaf Foods closed its chicken-processing plant in Canard.
More than 700 people turned out for those sessions.
This one was organized in the wake of more job losses in the Valley.
About 300 people lost their jobs last month when ACA Cooperative closed its Eastern Protein chicken plant in Kentville and cut more jobs at its main plant in New Minas. KLJ Field Services, a Windsor call centre, closed at the cost of 90 jobs and Michelin laid off 95 flex workers at its Waterville plant
Reported By: Ian Fairclough
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