A group of Maple Ridge volunteers hosting a job fair has resheduled the event for March 22.
It was to be held March 10 but was postponed after a wind storm knocked out power for most of the day.
It will be held from 4-7 p.m. at Open Door Church – 11391 Dartford Street.
Sixteen local employers and a few agencies related to jobs have confirmed their attendance, said Peter Tam, one of the organizers.
Those attending:
• Canadian Tire;
• WildPlay Element Park;
• Best Friend Children Centre Inc.;
• Fresh Ideas and Solutions Inc.;
• Ricky's country restaurant;
• Young Husband Resource;
• WorkBC;
• Multitrends ITNet Services Inc.;
• Mangomoka;
• Industry Training Authority;
• Nurse Next Door Maple Ridge;
• Conscious Kids Care;
• Sitter 604;
• Reliable Flagging;
• Superstore Pitt Meadows;
• West Coast Auto Group.
A few non-profits will also be there to recruit for volunteers, Tam said,
There will be on-going helpful and informative activities:
• resume and cover letter review workshop;
• mini seminar on interview check list and hidden job market.
“We will try to organize some workshops to talk about transferable skills, effective ways to find work, resume writing,“ Tam added.
The last time Tam helped organize a job fair in Maple Ridge was three years ago at Golden Ears Winter Club, and it attracted 300 people.
One was not held in subsequent years because of duplicated efforts in Surrey and Langley.
In 2011, Tam suggested hosting a job fair to the Facebook group “Jobs for Everyone,” created by Nicole Vander Est and Tina McFarlane for people to post anything to do with jobs in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
The Facebook group today has 1,446 members and some were asking for a local job fair, Tam said.
“We want to encourage local business to hire locally and believe an event like this provides local employers opportunity to connect with local skills,” he added. “The idea is creating a resilient and sustainable community where people can live, shop, play and work without having to leave town.”
What’s On magazine is providing ad space and poster design for the job fair, while Open Door Church is providing the venue, in partnership with the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Chamber of Commerce, Maple Ridge Downtown Business Improvement Association and Work B.C.