Local jobs a focus for Strathmore Solar Farm

By Lorenzo Gavilan Vargas Times Reporter

Borea Construction is holding a drive-in job fair for individuals interested in construction work for the Strathmore Solar Farm, and they are focusing on hiring local workers.

The job fair is being held at Strathmore’s Farmer’s Market Pavilion on June 13 and 14, and enhanced COVID precautions will be in effect at the event.

Borea Construction is the contractor for the Strathmore Solar Farm, which is set to be located south of Highway 1 and east of George Freeman Trail. The project, which will produce 40.5 megawatts of solar energy, will provide enough electricity to power 12,000 homes and offset 46,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. The project is expected to provide around 200 jobs. 

Helping the local economy by providing opportunity for work is an important part of the project, noted Chelsea Million, site talent specialist.

“Our company’s focus is to support the local community by partnering with the Town of Strathmore and other local employment agencies to promote jobs to Strathmore residents and the surrounding area,” she said.

Strathmore Mayor Pat Fule said the town is excited for the chance of steady employment, especially after the impact COVID has had on the local economy.

“It’s been a very challenging time for a lot of different people. I know employment was really hit,” said Fule. “They’ll be able to hopefully find some work that would be suitable for them. It would help them with their own family situations, or other things that they might be dealing with.”

Workers with experience in general construction will be favoured, according to Million. There will be two hiring periods, taking place from “mid-June to early July, and then another hiring in September.”

The company plans to hire 50 workers for the first period, and 120 to 150 workers for the second period, with the work period expected to take six months to complete.