Representatives of more than a dozen employers met with scores of job seekers as a B.C. government-run series of job fairs made a stop in Squamish this week.

The B.C. Jobs Start Here event on Tuesday (Oct. 9) at the Executive Suites Hotel and Resort was the seventh stop on a 24-city tour of the province. The aim of the fairs, organized by the B.C. Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, is to connect employers with potential workers and promote careers in fields that local residents might not have considered, local MLA Joan McIntyre said.

The series, which runs through November, is the first of its kind in B.C.

McIntyre said the government wants British Columbia to emerge from the ongoing economic downturn in a strong position, and a big part of that is ensuring that B.C. workers have the training to match the jobs available — including in the mining and resource sectors.

“There are lots of professions and careers that people might not even know about, so our thrust is to try and make sure that we match the training with the jobs that are available,” said the West Vancouver-Sea to Sky lawmaker.

Exhibitors at the job fair included Training Innovations, the Justice Institute of B.C., B.C. Hydro, London Drugs, Tim Hortons, the RCMP and the B.C. Industry Training Authority.

Amanda Jarl, B.C. Jobs Start Here tour staffer, said the one-day fair was busy at times. Groups from Howe Sound Secondary School and the Sea to Sky Community Services Society were among those who visited, she said.

Those seeking information about jobs and jobs training in B.C. are urged to visit www.workbc.ca