Jake Lukasiewich applies for a part-time job at the Co-op place job fair (Tiffany Goodwein/ CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Co-op Place job fair brings opportunities to unemployed

Aug 7, 2021 | 6:49 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- Crouched down looking over the arena with his niece by his side is Nicholas Cooper- Clark. He’s a food industry worker who has been eager to get back to work since getting laid off due to COVID-19. For Cooper- Clark, Co-op place has become a place of opportunity, as tables and chairs line the arena with staff looking to hire food service workers for the upcoming season.

“It’s been almost a year of trying to find something full-time for me,” Cooper Clark said.

Cooper- Clark has a 10-year-old daughter and the past year and a half has been difficult, with no steady paycheck coming in.

“It’s been very stressful. I want to provide for my family. I don’t want to be sitting at home. I don’t want to be that person that is just being bored. I’m a very motivated person that likes to put himself out there, and make sure that I can do what I can for the job and right now, it’s been causing a lot of stress,” he said.

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To make ends meet Cooper- Clark has taken other part-time jobs, including one at a seniors home, but as restrictions eased, Cooper-Clark was also laid off from there.

“ When you first come onto a job with COVID-19 you are probably the first on the chopping block when people have to go, unfortunately,” he said.

Searching the internet looking for work, has become a regular part of his routine, but he has had little luck.

“ If I applied for 50 things I probably would get one interview. It feels like I am applying for so many things,” he said.

Cooper Clark is not alone in his desire to get back to work. At the Co-op place job fair officials said over 150 people have come through their doors during the two-day fair looking for a shot at working in food and beverage.

“ We are seeing a real wide range. We had a gentleman here the other day who had an MBA (Masters of Business Administration) and just looking for a fun part-time job, and a lot of kids where this will be their first opportunity to work out in the workforce,” said Trampas Brown, manager of guest experience and operations.

One of those young workers hoping to snag a job is 18-year-old Hannah White. She said the job hunt lately has been complicated but fun.

“ With different companies and coming out of COVID-19, different people have different rules for COVID-19 restrictions and things like that and people have different feelings about coming out of COVID-19,” she said

Seventeen-year-old Skye Darling is also looking for work. She has been unemployed since June

“Ever since COVID-19 it has been difficult but this job fare really helped it out because it is a good opportunity for other people like myself to find a job, it is good for the community, as much as it is for yourself,”

According to the latest Statistics Canada figures, Lethbridge- Medicine Hat has the lowest unemployment rate in Alberta in June at 5.7 per cent. Nationally, Statistics Canada said the economy added over 230,000 jobs, with much of the boost the result of the easement of restrictions.

Now as he heads towards the exit doors of Co-op place, it is a sense of optimism for Cooper- Clark who hopes that he will no longer be one of those statistics for very long.