For Aggie Tose, executive officer with the Haliburton County Home Builders’ Association (HCHBA), job fair day at Hal High is one of her busiest and most rewarding of the year.
With 33 businesses packed inside the school gymnasium April 16, and hundreds of students coming-and-going throughout the day, Tose believes the annual event is one of the most important recurring functions in the County.
A joint HHSS-HCHBA staple for several years, it informs future workers about the opportunities that exist in Haliburton County, connecting them with businesses early.
“This is about showcasing to students all the amazing careers that are available across the Highlands. They can go away to school, but we want to instill in them that they can come back home and live very well here. There are lots of positions in-demand.
“We had a wide variety of businesses involved this year from all sectors – construction, service, healthcare, different monitoring and how to perform CPR. government departments,” Tose said.
Among the busiest vendors was the Haliburton Highlands Health Services table, manned by HR director Peter Kronenberg. He said the organization, which operates the Haliburton hospital, Minden Health Hub, and Hyland Crest and Highland Wood long-term care homes, is always hiring.
Kronenberg said job fairs like this help HHHS connect with youth interested in a career in healthcare.
“We want to let young people know what options are out there within their community. Students do not have to leave their community to find good jobs. There’s so many choices and different things available at HHHS.
“I think most people know about the nursing jobs, but we also have vacancies in diagnostic imaging, admin, and other more focused areas. People might not know these jobs exist unless they have a friend or relative who works in the system, so building awareness at events like this is important,” Kronenberg said.
Haliburton County EMS paramedics Jordi Collins and Krystin Hope spent all day teaching students about vital sign
“Lots of the kids said they’d done a course, so we were able to use our machines to see whether their depth was good or not. It’s always fun to show them proper techniques – we have to do it for two minutes at a time before we check on patients, they all said ‘oh my god, two minutes! That’s a long time’. They’re very surprised by what it actually looks like,” Hope said.
A paramedic with the local service for two years, Hope said her position comes with lots of job security – something she said the students were all asking about.
Cole Stiles is a general contractor with G.J. Burtch Construction. He said the company was hiring for apprentices – something they’ve done for as long as Chris Simpson, woodwork and auto shop teacher at Hal High, can remember.
Simpson said interest in Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program places was at an all-time high this year.
“We’ve got three or four applying for carpentry, three for electrical, a couple for automotive, one for welding… that will put them in a co-op that goes towards their leonemurray.com | 705-854-0068 | 123 Maple Ave, Haliburton high school diploma, but also level one training for whatever their chosen field is. Then they can go to college, a lot of them with an employment opportunity waiting for them when they’re done.
“Days like this open so many doors for these kids. Most of them have no idea what’s out there, or how much money they could be making,” Simpson said.
Tose said there’s major demand for plumbers, electricians, drywallers and painters. Despite a slower year for construction in 2024 and economic uncertainty due to the Canada-U.S. trade war, Tose expects there to be lots of activity this summer.
“New builds are slower, but renovations are booming. People are being a little more cautious… some businesses are pivoting, but there is hiring happening. We’re preparing for a busy summer.”
She said HCHBA is available to assist any student looking for more information on specific positions, how to access training, and get lined up for work. “Our youth don’t need to go into debt to find good, stable, well-paying work in Haliburton,” Tose said.
