Friday,April 24, 2009 - PRAIRIE POST -
19
Easterners finding work in Sask.
BY ELIZABETH HUBER quarter. looking back at the timing of his move, Felice feels as
SASKATCHEWAN Chair of the Swift Current though he beat the rush.
Unemployment numbers remain
Chamber of Commerce, Jason Originally from Stratford Ontario, Rachelle
amongst the lowest in Canada.
I know that for my
“
Regier, said he is hearing employers Wormsbecher completed her Masters’ of Museum
Minimum wage in Saskatchewan rose own business, skilled
across all sectors looking for Studies at the University of Toronto.
again to $9.25 per hour.
labour is very hard to
employees. About three months before she graduated in 2007,
More than 10,000 people are
find. I think the
“I know that for my own business, Wormsbecher decided upon completion of her studies
working province-wide compared to
skilled labour is very hard to find,” she would move away for employment.
March 2008.
college is doing a he added. “I think the College is Now, she has been working at the Swift Current
At the turn of the New Year great job of educating
doing a great job of educating museum for nearly two years working as the collections
Saskatchewan’s population reached
people and getting
people and getting them out into the officer and contributing to the arts culture in the
the highest levels in 21 years.
them out into the
workforce.” community.
Employers and government officials
As to whether jobs were still being “I did not know Saskatchewan was kind of booming at
attended Job Fairs in Toronto in late
workforce.
created within Swift Current, the the time, I didn’t know a thing,” said Wormsbecher. “I
March and with 1,000 more jobs
Chamber will conduct a survey of didn’t even really look it up, I just kind of came.”
posted on SaskJobs than the month
its membership shortly to see from If nothing else, knowledge of Saskatchewan’s economy
previous.
— Jason Re
”
gier, chair of
where growth could come. has been well-discussed throughout the country.
To counteract that number, 3,300
Swift Current’s Chamber of
There are people who feel A pleasant surprise for Wormsbecher was the growing
fewer people were working in March
Commerce potential employees from arts culture within the community, which she has
2009 than the previous month.
Saskatchewan should be chosen for immersed herself into.
The global recession is beginning to
a position before hiring from out of “I have met a lot of great people and I have become
have an impact on employment in this province.
province. very involved in the community theatre and the Lyric
“Obviously we are not immune to what is going on
Regier, a local business owner, said he would rather Theatre,” she said, adding, “I am just so busy, I don’t
worldwide,” said Premier Brad Wall in an interview.
employ someone based on qualifications and fit for the have time to think about being homesick.”
Although government supported recruiting missions
job. Once an employee is hired it is then the employer’s Wormsbecher is using Swift Current as a vehicle to
have continued, the province’s first priority is to re-
job to keep him or her, he added. develop her professional portfolio and has begun work
engage those who have had some layoffs in the province
It is not uncommon to meet on developing her own project on the
with existing jobs, added Wall.
people from Ontario in Swift history of theatre in the area.
Part of the reason he attended job fairs in Toronto and
Current. Hopefully it will turn into a temporary
spoke to university students about Saskatchewan’s
Ross Felice, now a dealer at
I think it is ver
graduate retention programs was to bring extra
Living Sky Casino, moved from
“
y
exhibit at the museum, she added.
coverage to the Saskatchewan employers there. It
Thunder Bay at the turn of the
important that we
Nevertheless, Felice and
Wormsbecher are only two examples of
worked, he noted, as Saskatchewan was featured in
New Year.
have a vision of growth
people who have chosen to make Swift
national newspapers, TSN and Canada AM.
Although things were not “that
and are trying to
Current their home because it was
“We know there have been roughly 2,000 temporary
bad” when he left, Felice wanted to attract people in viewed as a city of opportunity for
layoffs in the potash sector and we expect those people
work one job and have a life rather
Saskatchewan, even
them.
to be returning to work here as production resumes,”
than working three part-time jobs.
though we have some
While opportunities exist, people will
noted Wall.
He first heard about Swift
Nevertheless, more people will still be needed to fill
Current through a friend and
economic challenges
come and it is important the message
of those opportunities continue.
existing jobs. On Friday, April 17, 6,463 jobs were
decided it was time to take the
now in our own
“I think it is very important that we
available throughout Saskatchewan and 422 for Swift
long drive to Saskatchewan. Since province. have a vision of growth and are trying
Current and the southwest.
he doesn’t feel like driving back to attract people in Saskatchewan, even
Sales and service positions took up more than half of
anytime soon he will “stick though we have some economic
the jobs available in Swift Current whereas trades,
around.”
— Premier Br
transport and equipment operators accounted for one
Settled into the community and
”
ad Wall
challenges now in our own province,”
added Wall.
How a frog
made a billion
dollar energy
company
jump.
A northern leopard frog to be exact.
Just one. But since the northern leopard frog is a protected species
under the Alberta Wildlife Act, one was enough. An EnCana employee
on a wildlife survey took note. And ultimately an access road to a well
site was re-routed. We use the same approach for vegetation. If rare
vegetation is identifi ed where development is proposed, we’ll conduct
a survey to determine whether construction will impact the plant.
When it comes to preserving natural habitats and ensuring minimal
impact on the environment, we do whatever we can.
As one of the most innovative
and responsible natural gas and
oil producers, EnCana provides
energy for communities across
North America.
Find out more at: www.encana.com
40247504•04/24/09
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