From all accounts the jobs fair held in Burns Lake last week was an incredible success. With more than 24 employer booths and more than 1,000 job openings available, it seems like there is a lot of opportunities out there. It’s also great to see that many of the jobs offered were within a reasonable commute from the area.
It is estimated that more than 400 people turned up at the jobs fair with their resume’s in hand. Job seekers from as far away as Houston and Smithers also turned up at the jobs fair.
I think the jobs fair was a great idea and it would have given displaced Babine Forest Products sawmill employees a brighter outlook on the future.
I heard numerous comments from both potential employees and also the businesses in attendance that a similar jobs fair should become an annual event in Burns Lake.
Burns Lake has been faced with a tragedy that will never be forgotten and I think the community has pulled together in an overwhelming way. The business community too has shown their support for the town and it seems that things are already starting to look up.
It is amazing to see how much people are doing to help.
The Burns Lake Rotary Club raised $35,000 through a weekend benefit held at the Island Gospel Church recently.
The food bank is over flowing with food because so many have stepped in to help out.
Three pick up truck loads full of food arrived in town from Fraser Lake last week, the donations came directly from the community.
The Burns Lake Overwaitea made a donation to the food bank last weekend that fills an entire semi truck trailer. This donation includes not only basic food items, but 200 turkeys and 240 boxes of chicken breasts.
The Bulkley Valley Credit Union donated $2,000 to the food bank and Sullivan Motor Products Ltd. in Houston, have also stepped up to the plate and donated a car, worth $9,000 for a silent auction with all the proceeds going to the Burns Lake Tragedy Fund.
The outpouring of support is simply astonishing. Many local businesses have a donation box on their counters, with donations either going to the food bank or to the Burns Lake Tragedy Fund.
News of the Jan. 20, 2012 explosion and fire quickly spread to all corners of the globe. In the Lakes District News edition of Feb. 8, 2012 there was a letter of condolence from Sun He, the principal of Xianghe #1 Middle School, Lakes District Secondary School’s Chinese sister school.
It is heart warming to see condolences coming to Burns Lake from as far away as China.
It is comforting to think, that after so much tragedy and heartache, there is a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel.