Nearly 200 people line up for Donkin Mine job fair in Sydney
Mine operator Kameron Coal seeking skilled mine workers
Patrick MacInnis from Grand Mira stood in line at a job fair in Sydney on Thursday with his wife, Taylor, and their 22-month-old son, Merrick. He hopes to get a job at the Donkin Mine that began producing coal this spring.
"I lived out west for two years," the 28-year-old carpenter said.
The couple's son was born in western Canada. "I decided to bring him back to the family and we moved back and there's not too much around here," MacInnis said.
The MacInnis family were joined by almost 200 men and women who lined a hallway at the Holiday Inn in Sydney, all hoping to get work.
Kameron Coal started production at the Donkin Mine in March with a workforce of 64 people. The company did not say how many people it hopes to hire as a result of the job fair.
The job fair interview was pretty basic, MacInnis said afterward.
"He [interviewer] just asked, like, if I would be late for work, how my attendance was, things like that. That was his main concern, I guess."
GMS Canada, a company that specializes in underground employment development, organized the job fair for Kameron Coal.
Nova Scotia needs to mine coal while there's still a market, says minister
"We're excited about the guys who are coming through the door," manager Joel Helbig said.
Meanwhile, MacInnis and his wife are hoping for the best.
"I just want him to stay home because it's unfortunate that he has to go so far away to find something that keeps us above water and especially with Merrick," Taylor said.
"He wants to stay here and watch him grow up."
Keith MacLeod, 63, from Sydney River, was near the head of the line at the job fair. He's back home in Cape Breton after working as a hard-rock miner in Grand Cache, Alberta.
"I'm hopeful, I would love to have a job," he said.
At 47, Dwayne Power is tired of travelling out west for work. "I've been back and forth since 2008," said Power, who's from New Victoria.
He's hopeful the job fair will pay off.
"Was laid off in 2015 and I haven't been back out there since. It's an adjustment, but it's part of life. Things don't always stay rosy all the time."