Houston is hosting a job fair tailored towards mill workers from Houston Forest Products, which begins its gradual shut down May 9.
The job fair runs Wednesday, April 9, from 12 to 8 p.m., at the Houston Community Hall, and will be open to the entire community.
It will showcase a variety of employers and exhibits including Canfor, Tolko Industries, Ridley Terminals, Mount Milligan Mine, Endako Mines, and Smithers Exploration Group.
The job fair was initiated by the Economic Development Pillar and Worker Transition Pillar group, and organized by a hired consultant funded by a provincial grant.
When the HFP closure announcement was made, the District of Houston put together three pillar groups to focus on community transition:
There are the Economic Development Pillar, the Community Services Pillar, and the Worker Transition Pillar group.
These groups have met since November and are working on a variety of initiatives to help HFP workers and the Houston community work through the transition following the mill closure.
The teams have run a variety of sessions and workshops at HFP related to stress, managing change, entrepreneurship, and mortgage and housing.
Northern Health has hired a new full time clinician for Houston to deal with adult mental health and youth addictions. They are also hiring another part-time life skills worker for youth in Houston.
The Economic Development Pillar is considering running four workshops about economic development and diversification between April 14 to 18.
There's a Reverse Trade Show planned for Sept. 10 to 13, and the Community Services Pillar is considering a Health Fair to run later this year.
Event planning is ongoing and more details will follow.