Canadian Pacific is aiming to hire 40 conductors in Central Alberta this year in preparation for a full-grain crop.
The company announced it will host a career fair at the Hampton Inn in Red Deer this upcoming Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., as it seeks to hire a number of new employees in the area.
“We’re hiring in pretty significant numbers in many locations and one of those is Red Deer,” said Patrick Waldron, CP assistant vice-president of communications and media relations.
“We do have about 40 conductor positions we’re looking to fill, but we also have a bunch of other positions we’re looking to fill.”
Some of the other positions include a track maintainer and a management-level job.
CP states signing bonuses are available for qualified conductors, but no previous railroad experience is required for many of the positions it is looking to fill – the company offers paid training.
“We’re hiring now for the future, for the second half of the year and as we move into 2023,” said Waldron.
“Especially here, we’ve seen solid demand growth for the commodities and the goods that we move. In particular, when we talk about the months ahead, we’re looking at a full Canadian grain crop.
“The drought from last year depressed the amount of grain that was coming off of the Prairies. We’re planning for a full grain crop and to have the right resources in place to meet that demand.”
The 2021 growing season was a difficult one for Alberta farmers due to a lack of snow pack, run-off and rainfall, combined with extended heat waves. Several municipalities declared an agricultural disaster.
The 40 conductor positions are going to be hired throughout the entirety of 2022, but there are some positions available immediately, said Waldron.
“Canadian Pacific, between Calgary and Edmonton, obviously there are energy markets that we serve and other general merchandise. If you put all of that together with the grain, then you’re going to see a growing demand in the second half of the year. That’s what we’re hiring for,” he said.
For more information, visit www.cpr.ca/en/careers/operations.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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