LABRADOR WEST, N.L. — As soon as word was out that Tacora Resources was opening the Scully mine in Wabush, one of the first questions on people’s minds was “where can I send my resumé?”
The company plans on hiring 260 employees that will cover a range of jobs.
Within hours of the announcement a public information session was held at the Labrador West Arts and Culture Centre. Tacora held the session to explain the company’s ambitions and goals and to let people know about the hiring process and what was expected of workers at Tacora.
While many of the former Wabush mine workers have retired or found work elsewhere, some turned out to get more information about the possibility of returning to work. Tacora has an agreement with the steelworkers, and there is a provision about hiring former workers in that agreement.
Tacora has stated they are all about hiring local workers and building a team from the community, not wanting to engage in fly in, fly out activity.
So many people showed up for the information session the centre was filled to capacity, and some attendees waited in the lobby hoping to get in. The centre has seating for approximately 340 people.
Noticeable amongst those looking for information was the number of younger people who were hoping to find employment in their trades.
Reilly Freeborn of Labrador City was one of those who submitted his resume. He waited outside with a number of his friends who were also eager for work, but could hear some of the presentation.
Freeborn told The Aurora, “I graduated from college in 2016. I studied electrical and I haven’t been able to get a job in my field so far. I was actually thinking of leaving the area, but with Wabush opening there will be opportunities that didn’t exist here for a while.”
Freeborn says his resumé will be filed with Tacora right away.
Also in attendance were Walter Joy and his son Josh.
Joy worked at the mines in Wabush for 36 years. He has been working for the Iron Ore Company of Canada since, and says he has no intention of applying to go back. Josh has a different story.
“I am a carpenter by trade, and I actually did work at Wabush for almost two years,” he said. “I am definitely going to apply, and with the news that the company is expecting to be around for 25 years or more, that is a big incentive to go back.”
Anna Bain is a welder by trade, she works but not in the profession she choose to study.
“I am definitely going to apply, it’s a long-term job with good pay and opportunities,” she said. “A lot of young people are happy to hear the news — 260 jobs will do a lot for the people in these communities.”
Tacora officials explained they want a mixture of people with experience, but also young energetic people. During the presentation it was explained they expected their workers to be a team that would build an operation they and the company would be proud of. They also noted that people with various skills would be an asset.
