Maple Ridge job fair tries to help film workers affected by SAG and WGA strikes
Posted August 23, 2023 11:50 am.
Last Updated August 23, 2023 11:51 am.
The City of Maple Ridge and WorkBC hosted a job fair Tuesday at the Maple Ridge Public Library for workers affected by the ongoing Hollywood writers’ strike, which has exceeded more than 100 days.
It had a busy turnout, with candidates looking for work and speaking to potential job prospects.
“The City of Maple Ridge is a really big film haven, so we have about 110 shows that happen here per year,” said Draeven McGowan, film coordinator with the City of Maple Ridge.
Organizers say the California strike has caused a significant slowdown in production, and film workers from Maple Ridge are hurting.
“In Maple Ridge, we had about 2,000 film workers in this area,” McGowan said.
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Michael Morris with the WorkBC Centre in Maple Ridge said about 300 to 400 people showed up, all looking for work within the film and TV industry.
There were also about 25 employers looking for workers to fill various roles related to the film and TV industry.
“It was really fantastic to be able to provide that connection point between employers looking for these really great skilled workers and all these workers that are unfortunately out of work because of the strikes in the U.S.A.”
Morris says the turnout shows how eager some people are for work, with some even coming from North Vancouver.
“We are hoping this puts some food on the table for some folks who are really hurting right now,” he said.
WorkBC and Maple Ridge held a job fair for film, TV workers (Michael Morris, Business & Community Liaison, WorkBC Centre Maple Ridge)
Sandra Scott, an unemployed costume cutter who typically works on TV shows and movies, says she hasn’t worked since February, and not having an income is stressful.
“[I’m] collecting EI right now, which is paying the bare minimum. Vancouver is a very expensive city, with a mortgage and just everyday costs of living, so it’s pretty rough.”
However, Scott says she’s worked in the fashion industry for over 40 years and doesn’t feel the opportunities available at the job fair would suit her.
“There was nothing here geared towards my specific skill set,” she said.
Scott said she thinks finding work outside of her experience will be challenging, and for that reason, she says she can’t wait for the strike to be over.
“I would love it if I heard tomorrow it was over,” she said.
Morris said he hopes the film industry is up and running as soon as possible.
“And we will keep looking for those employers to fill those roles until that happens,” he said.
