Medicine Hat College holding off-site drive-thru job fairs

Job seekers can expect more hiring fairs to take on a drive-thru element in the coming year, Medicine Hat College announced this week.

The institution that typically holds its annual career expo in October said this year’s cannot proceed as usual due to health regulations that limit gatherings to 50 people.

However, “numerous” fairs conducted via drive-thru format are scheduled, according to a release, including one this weekend for labourers in renewable energy projects.

The event takes place in partnership with MHC, Alberta Labour, Alberta Supports, the YMCA Employment Centre (the lead agency) and Borea Construction.

“Bringing these four agencies together for this initiative will have a much broader reach in facilitating the connection between Borea and job seekers,” said Jodie Engbert, the YMCA employment centre manager.

The event will be held as the former Nissan dealership on Gershaw Drive, across from the Medicine Hat Regional Airport on Oct. 18 and 19.

From 1-6 p.m. on Sunday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, candidates can present themselves with resumes for immediate interviews. Masks are required.

“COVID-19 has forced so many businesses to think outside the box in how they can operate safely,” said Shelley Drefs of MHC.

Borea is looking to fill about 100 positions with local hires for major solar panel array construction projects in Jenner, Hays and Tilley.

Project developer Canadian Solar is currently completing the Suffield Solar farm near that Hamlet, and plans to build three similarly sized arrays by the end of next year.