11th annual Community Services & Career Fair returns to Tillsonburg Oct. 2
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The Tillsonburg Community Services and Career Fair will be 'taking over' the Tillsonburg Town Centre on Thursday, Oct. 2.
"This is our 11th time running this event in town at the mall," said Susan Rebry, manager of the employment and literacy services at the Tillsonburg Multi-Service Centre.
"This year we have 32 service agencies and training institutions that are registered for the event. We usually gather about a dozen or so employers who are actually hiring, but that's in progress right now – we're still talking to employers."
The Community Services and Career Fair runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 2nd. Visitors will able to learn about free services in the community, meet with local service providers, connect with employers about hiring opportunities and exploring educational opportunities.
Eight employers have been lined up for the career fair, so far, and more are expected.
"We try to get the information out so that people come with their resume in hand and are prepared to speak with employers that day if there's a job search they are looking for. If people look at the WorkInOxford website (www.workinoxford.ca), we put the types of job postings that are going to be available. We like to have a variety of employers."
Those would include welders and tradespeople, she said. Last year there were about 80 positions employers were looking to fill.
The career fair component is combines with community services to highlight a range of services in the area – some well known, and some that people may not be aware of.
"The event is a joint partnership put on by the Multi-Service Centre, the Town of Tillsonburg, and The Salvation Army."
Others in attendance on the 2nd of October include Stonebridge Life Care Services, Helping Hand Food Bank, Community Living Tillsonburg, Oxford Small Business Support Centre, Woodstock and Area Community Health Centre, and with that things like domestic abuse services and addiction services, the Oxford-Elgin Legal Clinic, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Also the Health Line, and training facilities such as Fanshawe College, Conestoga College, the Tillson Ave. Ed Centre.
Organizers were looking for services that support youth, seniors and the local community in general.
"It's quite a variety."
Their presence will be hard to miss on Oct. 2nd – the booths and tables occupy space from one end of The Town Centre to the other on the main floor. Last year attendance was estimated to be about 800, based on fliers handed out that day.
"Even if people really weren't aware it was happening that day, they usually end up finding somebody they are interested in gaining more information from."