Drive-thru job fair sees dozens looking for work

Alibegoeic is the father of four small children and has had to rely on seasonal landscaping jobs here and there, just to make ends meet.

Like many impacted by the pandemic, he never imagined that this would be his fate.

“ No absolutely not. I thought that the oil and gas industry was going to be there and I was going to be working steady but that was not the case of course,” he said.

A few cars back, was job-seeker Ron Harper, another oil and gas worker who has been laid off since March.

“ it’s been really hard,” he said.

“ I know I’m not the only one, but we were close to filing for bankruptcy, insolvency, but we made it through, barely,” he said.

For Chistopher Tobin, a single father, losing his job has taken its toll, not only on his pocketbook but his own personal well-being.

“ The hardest part is trying to get myself up every day and keep going because I try and try and try every day and there’s still no different outcome. It’s hard on a person,” Tobin said.

Tobin, is hoping to secure one of the 100 positions up for grabs with Borea Construction.

“ Anything from construction labourer to gravel truck driver, to water truck, I’m a quick learner so I am willing to take anything,” he said.

The desperation for work was a common thread among the dozens that lined up at the drive-thru job fair on Sunday.

The fair was organized in conjunction with the YMCA employment centre.

“ Well in Alberta we are almost at a 12 per cent jobless rate for the month of September, so we are in the business of getting people back to work, so this is a first event of many that we will be having throughout the whole year,” said YMCA Employment Centre Manager Jodie Engbert.

The Lethbridge- Medicine Hat area currently has the lowest unemployment rate in the province at 8.6 per cent, according to the latest Alberta Labour Force Statistics for the month of September .

While the situation may still look bleak for job-seekers, Engbert said opportunities do exist for those who are looking for work, but they may have to be flexible.

“What we are starting to see at the employment centre is now that people are starting to return to work is really trying to transition themselves with what is available in the community at the time. We are in the business of trying to assist people to see you know maybe what they did before, what other avenues could they maybe branch into.” she said,

As the interview portion wraps up for Edin Albegoeic, the father of four, it’s a strong glimmer of hope.

” It went great. Everything was good inside. I hope to hear from them soon,” he said.

by Tiffany Goodwein

Drive-thru job fair sees dozens looking for work

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