More than 25 employers and organizations gathered at the Stonewall Curling Club on June 12 for the first Interlake Career Expo, but attendance fell short of organizers’ expectations as only about 50 people attended throughout the day.
Organized by Jodi-Lee Kaemingk, a talent acquisition specialist with Vidir, the event was designed to connect employers and job seekers through face-to-face conversations and networking opportunities.
“I think it’s for everyone. We were hoping that we could get a good mix of students and adult job seekers as well to give us more opportunity to reach a larger scope of applicants,” said Kaemingk.
Participating employers included ONE Insurance, Access Credit Union, Spruce Acres Landscaping, the RCMP and CIBC, while organizations such as Regional Connections, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, Manitoba Start and WorkInManitoba.com provided employment resources and support services.
Representatives staffed booths throughout the seven-hour event, offering information about career opportunities, training programs and available positions across the Interlake region.
Several exhibitors noted the lower-than-expected turnout. Kaemingk said recent flooding in Stonewall may have played a role, as many residents remained focused on cleanup and recovery efforts following severe rainfall earlier in the week.
“We’re just not seeing the high volume that we were hoping for,” said Kaemingk. “Everyone’s coming in asking ‘were you flooded?’ ‘Are you flooded?’”
Attendees Yves Fundi and Endeshaw Gelete travelled from Winnipeg for the event and were surprised to find they were among the only job seekers in the room when they arrived.
“The mood, the ambiance is not good,” said Fundi.
The pair spoke about the challenges of finding work in the current job market. Fundi said he has been searching for employment for three months since leaving his previous job, one of the reasons they chose to attend the expo.
Despite the atmosphere, Gelete said he was still able to have productive conversations with employers and organizations.
“I don’t know if I get or not, but still I’m trying. Just keep trying,” said Gelete on job opportunities.
While attendance numbers were lower than anticipated, exhibitors said they had meaningful discussions with those who attended.
Tina Rempel, settlement director with Regional Connections, said the organization connected with a steady stream of visitors throughout the day.
“We’ve had quite a few people come and talk to us,” she said. “We’ve had people from the area here, and we’ve had people from Winnipeg too.”
Rempel added that the conversations went “very well.”
Some employers said the event remained valuable despite the turnout.
“This is our first time here, so we wanted to see what it was about and what kind of candidates we could potentially get to come join our team,” said Jenee Gagne of ONE Insurance.
Gagne said events such as the Career Expo allow employers to connect with potential employees in ways that traditional applications cannot.
“It provides us a chance to meet candidates in person and get a first impression rather than just looking at a resume,” she said.
Despite concerns that flooding may have affected attendance, Kaemingk remains optimistic about the future of the event.
“Maybe next year we look at doing it in the spring, later in the spring or earlier in the year, when businesses are looking for those summer student positions,” said Kaemingk.
