Strong turnout for tourism job fair in Cavendish

Gwyneth Egan · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 06, 2025 12:07 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

There was a beardown turnout Saturday for the Tourism Industry Association of P.E.I.'s 2nd occupation just of the twelvemonth successful Cavendish.

The North Shore Tourism Job Fair featured 15 employers with much than 100 positions available, said Alex MacKenzie, the association's workforce improvement officer.

"This year's been truly strong," MacKenzie said, adding that the tourism manufacture relation is blessed to spot a increasing assemblage astatine the event. 

In past years, the turnout ranged from 115 to 125 people, but this twelvemonth much than 170 radical came done the doors astatine Green Gables Heritage Place for the occupation fair, helium said. 

"We're truly excited to beryllium doing this for tourism operators successful this country of the province," MacKenzie said. 

What employers are looking for 

Some of the employers participating successful the occupation just said the hiring process tin beryllium challenging. 

"As a edifice owner, particularly a seasonal one, we're perpetually looking for caller staff. It's similar opening a edifice each azygous season," said Denise Fleming, the proprietor of the Lost Anchor Restaurant. 

Fleming said her extremity with the occupation just this twelvemonth was to prosecute much room staff, including dishwashers, prep cooks and enactment cooks.

When it comes to adding much staff, she said she knows what she's looking for.

"I ever prosecute radical that are going to acceptable successful truly good and that person that affirmative energy," she said. "You tin bid anybody to bash anything, but the vigor is truly what I'm ever hiring disconnected of."

'This made it truly easy'

For Ashton Bradley — a Grade 10 pupil astatine Mount Academy — the occupation just was a bully accidental to conscionable employers and use for jobs successful person. 

"It's a small challenging trying to bash it implicit the telephone and trying to bash it online," helium said. "This made it truly easy, truthful I'm gladsome I came." 

Before Saturday, Bradley had ne'er been to a occupation just before. He said helium was trying to deliberation of what helium would accidental to employers arsenic helium was driving to the event, but realized "it's a batch easier erstwhile you get retired here."

The employers were affable and inviting, Bradley said, adding that helium was blessed to marque connections with the radical and businesses he's hoping to enactment for.