The Jasper Employment and Education Centre (JEEC) is hoping to build a “workforce pipeline” to supply businesses with labour.

Heidi Veluw, project co-ordinator for Jasper Works, said JEEC has been reaching out to post-secondary schools, non-profit agencies and employers about this opportunity.

“We know this is the first time a project like this has been done, and we’re trying to build those bridges between people,” Veluw said.

Among other strategies, Jasper Works focuses on participating in job and career fairs, partnering with post-secondaries, organizing educational tours, posting opportunities on the Jasper Job Board and working with employers to identify their needs.

Recently, JEEC attended a NAIT hiring fair, and a group of students from Portage College in Lac La Biche toured local businesses to see what working in Jasper would be like. Student recruitment primarily focuses on programs in culinary arts, hospitality, tourism and business.

Employers are able to participate in Jasper Works at no change, since this initiative is funded by the provincial Small Community Opportunity Program.

Jasper Works is not only for small businesses but also for larger employers which receive thousands of resumes each season, such as the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Veluw said JEEC’s recommendations can help narrow down those employers’ searches.

“We have some very amazing employers who are willing to look at our people first,” she said.

“Employers don’t need to promise us anything, but I do think if they see an agency that’s bringing them quality people with work experience plus [giving] people a chance, I think there’s going to be real benefits—and for the community, too.”

Tessa Huibers, an employment outreach worker with JEEC, said workers recruited from out of town often didn’t know about staff accommodations or were fearful of wildlife. JEEC also lets job seekers know that Jasper can be a better opportunity for singles, rather than families.

Huibers said JEEC is unsure if employers will have difficulties finding workers this season but noted how fewer job seekers were walking into the employment centre.

“We used to just have groups of people show up looking for work, and that’s definitely slowed down so far,” she added.

The employment centre will have a better idea of how many employees are recruited through Jasper Works by the end of March.

Kim Stark, owner of Bear’s Paw Bakery, said she is hoping Jasper Works will help her recruit bakers. Her business requires between seven and nine bakers per day and employs more than 20 staff during the summer.

“I like to see that there’s acknowledgement that we need assistance getting people to come work in Jasper and ideally to stay,” Stark said. “Those long-term staff are essential.”

Stark’s business lost many temporary foreign workers after the wildfire when the federal government changed their work permits to open work permits, and recent changes to the program have made recruiting others more challenging.

While acknowledging how some employers had abused the temporary foreign workers program, Stark is advocating for an exception for smaller businesses in rural communities where it is traditionally more difficult to fill positions.

“If you’re worried about people following the rules, then check up on people,” Stark said. “You’re lumping all the apples together in one bin, and that’s not fair.”

Peter Shokeir, Local Journalism Initiative // info@thejasperlocal.com