On March 25, 2025, Action for Healthy Communities (AHC) hosted its highly anticipated semi-annual Career Fair at the Signature Sandman Hotel in Downtown Edmonton. The event brought together 23 prominent Employer Partners from diverse industries and over 350 participants, creating a vibrant atmosphere of opportunity and networking. This career fair is crucial to AHC’s ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between newcomers, permanent residents, and potential employers in the Edmonton job market.
“It is important for AHC to help newcomers adjust to their new homes and bring home an income,” said AHC’s Employer Engagement Liaison Colin Pon. “For us at AHC, it’s encouraging to see so many newcomers who want to find jobs and contribute back to the local economy.”
The event showcased a wide array of industries, featuring employers such as Sandman Hotel, GardaWorld, Dexterra, and Canadian Road Builders, among others. This diverse representation ensured that clients from various backgrounds and skill sets could find relevant opportunities. The fair’s success was immediately evident, with two participating employers reporting promising outcomes: one shortlisted 30 individuals for interviews, while another identified 10 potential candidates.
“This gives us a really great opportunity to really source and find a really amazing canidiates,” said GardaWorld representative Richard. “[AHC] provides us all well seasoned candidates that know already the background of our industry.”
For newcomers and permanent residents, the career fair offered a unique opportunity to interact directly with HR representatives from leading companies. This face-to-face interaction not only allowed clients to present their skills and experiences but also helped them understand the Canadian labor market better. Many participants appreciated the chance to meet with our preferred Employer Partners.
The success of this career fair underscores the importance of such events in fostering economic integration and community development. As Alberta continues to welcome newcomers and address labor market needs, initiatives like AHC’s Career Fair play a crucial role in connecting talent with opportunity.
“Now there’s a general myth that you can’t get certain jobs without Canadian experience,” said RBC representative Folake Okusanya, “I’m happy to debunk that myth because…[e]very kind of experience is relevant, whether from Canada or not.”
Looking ahead, AHC plans to build on this success by organizing more targeted industry-specific events and expanding its employer network. The organization remains committed to supporting its clients and contributing to the vibrant, diverse workforce that drives Alberta’s and Edmonton’s economies forward.
“We’re are thankful for all our clients and recruiters who joined us and making this career fair a success,” said Pon.
