Calgary's Youth Hiring Fair cancelled due to coronavirus

Calgary’s upcoming Youth Hiring Fair has, unsurprisingly, been cancelled by the city.

Just the latest in a long list of closures and cancellations, the annual hiring fair was called off amid COVID-19 concerns, as the pandemic has sparked a call from the province to cancel any events with over 250 attendees.

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The hiring fair was well above that threshold, with an estimated 5,000+ youth attending the fair each year in an effort to secure employment for full-time, part-time, or summer positions.

“The City of Calgary evaluated the event against the Health Canada’s risk assessment for mass gatherings,” a release from the city states.

“City administration determined that the risk of spreading COVID-19 was too high to safely hold the event.”

However, Calgary youth who are seeking employment can still access the services at the Youth Employment Centre, which remains open during the pandemic.

While the centre remains open, employees are taking precautions including frequent hand washing and increased cleaning of surfaces, the release states.

With coronavirus on the rise, Health Canada is reminding individuals who attend events and large gatherings to monitor their health for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. And if you’re not feeling well, they recommend staying home at this time. Also, due to unexpected cancellations, please check the event you plan to attend is still taking place. Keep up with COVID-19 news here.