Melissa Bonnetplume had been more than a year out of work when she came by the Inuvik job fair Wednesday, Oct. 18.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been hard looking for jobs that we want,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t is slow but we just keep trying on the internet, looking for whatSA国际影视传媒檚 open and keep putting our resumes everywhere.SA国际影视传媒�

With a house full of children, though some are of age to work now, Bonnetplume says itSA国际影视传媒檚 hard to keep up with the high prices in the North. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 been in Inuvik since 1997 and went to school here before that.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e got to go home and tell my daughters to come here,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Calvin Elias, manager of Caps Off Recycling, said he received some interest at the fair. His business offers a good training and stepping-stone opportunity to other jobs, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 lower end for the employment side, so itSA国际影视传媒檚 a good starter for anybody whoSA国际影视传媒檚 looking to get started in the work world,SA国际影视传媒� said Elias, adding that much of the work in the North is seasonal.

SA国际影视传媒淩ecycling is 24/7. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 the good thing about us here. There is no season for recycling.SA国际影视传媒�

Matthew Wheelans, store manager of the Inuvik NorthMart, said he finds it hard to keep staff.

SA国际影视传媒淭here are always opportunities here for work, for us anyway,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淲e hire almost daily in our store. I love promoting local people to supervisor, manager levels.SA国际影视传媒�

Jeff Konkle, acting manager of human resources for Canadian North, said the downturn in the oil industry in 2014 and 2015 impacted the airline substantially.

SA国际影视传媒淲e obviously survived,SA国际影视传媒� said Konkle. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e actually doing a lot more hiring than what we did in 2015, 2016. I think the worst is behind us in terms of letting people go instead of hiring them. I think in the next six months to a year there will be a lot more hiring from our end.SA国际影视传媒�

Canadian North has job opportunities in Inuvik for ticket agents and customer service representatives, which donSA国际影视传媒檛 require post-secondary work, but many of its jobs in the southern centres do require higher credentials.

David Stewart, producer at the Inuvialuit Communications Society, was happy to have one interested Inuvialuit youth come by who wanted an acting opportunity. That said, he worries about the greater economy.

SA国际影视传媒淥nce that road is finished construction, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 not going to be much going on,SA国际影视传媒� said Stewart. SA国际影视传媒淚 really feel for those that live up here, especially young people. I can understand you want to stay in the town you grew up in, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 tough. I would recommend that you do leave and at least go to school in the south, just to see if it agrees with you, because I donSA国际影视传媒檛 see much happening here in the next few years.SA国际影视传媒�

That said, he does see opportunity for people to start small businesses. He dreams of a donut shop between Inuvik and Tuk on the new highway.

SA国际影视传媒淵ouSA国际影视传媒檇 be making money hand over first,SA国际影视传媒� he smiled.

But Stewart sees something in the people that might not be so present in the economy.

SA国际影视传媒淎s much as this does seem like an economically depressed place, these are not depressed people,SA国际影视传媒� said Stewart.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of good energy in this room, this town and this area. I have faith things will pick up. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know how, but I know people are very resourceful here and I think things will eventually pick up.SA国际影视传媒�