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Hungry for a growing workforce

Published on May 1, 2019 by David Wylie

Two job fairs this week in the cannabis industry highlight the increasing opportunities available — particularly in communities facing economic hardship.

They also show the increasing hunger the cannabis industry has for a growing workforce.

The BC Liquor Distribution Branch is holding a job fair in Kamloops today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Wingate by Wyndham Hotel. The province is looking for employees to staff its downtown BC Cannabis Store, expected to open late summer. It will be the third government cannabis store in the city.

They’re looking to hire a store manager, two assistant managers, six full-time cannabis consultants, and eight part-time consultants.

All candidates must submit their application via the LDB’s online portal. There is a good selection of cannabis jobs around the province on the site.

Forest for the trees

Meanwhile, an Indigenous company held a job fair earlier this week in Burns Lake looking for 60 employees at a proposed cannabis production facility in nearby Decker Lake.

Nations Cannabis told CBC it’s planning to convert an abandoned mill into a 25,000-square-foot legal grow.

“Here’s a project that could replace a number of [forestry] jobs,” said Wesley Sam, executive director and founder of Nations Cannabis. “A lot of the locals are looking forward to a new industry in town.”

It still requires Health Canada approval.

Burns Lake Mayor Dolores Funk told CBC the town is excited about cannabis. “The timing is almost perfect,” she says. “We’re fortunate they’ve chosen to locate here. They will play an important role in diversifying our economy.”

Expect more job fairs soon in the Okanagan as retail stores recruit and the list of licensed producers here grows.