Teenagers looking for summer work in Fort McMurray, Alta., are being wooed with fat wages, big bonuses and even housing allowances.
The Service Canada Centre for Youth office in Fort McMurray, which is run by the federal government, opened Monday and staff say there's an abundance of jobs for teenagers in the boom town.
The centre's Danielle Comeau said the average hourly wage has jumped a full dollar from last summer to $14.45, which is more than double Alberta's minimum wage of $7.
Comeau said employers, including hotels and restaurants, are working hard to entice young workers.
"If you work for so long with a company, a lot of them offer a bonus, which is to get people to stay with them," said Comeau. "Also, companies, I've noticed, are offering housing, so that's a pretty neat perk — especially in Fort McMurray."
Comeau said many employers are subsidizing their workers' rent.
The centre in Fort McMurray found 300 teenage workers for employers last year. This year it's aiming to recruit 450 teenagers.
Share Tools
Latest Nfld. & Labrador News Headlines
- Families want Cougar 491 memorial to be built
- Nearly three years after a Cougar helicopter crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, families of the 17 people killed in the disaster hope to see construction of a promised memorial. more »
- Storm damage prompts St. John's capital works review
- St. John's is taking a second look at its priorities for capital spending, in the wake of record-setting rainfall over the weekend. more »
- 'Stars are lining up' for Muskrat Falls, PUB told
- The head of the Crown corporation wanting to develop Muskrat Falls says that the time is right for the megaproject. more »
- Call-back protocol for searches to be reviewed: MacKay
- Defence Minister Peter MacKay has asked for a review of the search and rescue protocol that puts the responsibility on searchers to call the military back for help. more »
Top News Headlines
- Air Canada confident it can reach deal with pilots
- Travellers flying Air Canada can keep booking their flights as negotiations continue with a new federally appointed mediator to help resolve an ongoing contract dispute between the airline and its pilots. more »
- Legalize pot, say former B.C. attorneys general
- Four former B.C. attorneys general are joining a coalition of health and justice experts calling for the legalization of marijuana. more »
- Whitney Houston's funeral to be held Saturday
- Pop star Whitney Houston's funeral service will be held Saturday in the New Jersey church where she first showcased her singing talents as a child. more »
- Online surveillance bill targets child porn: Toews
- A bill that would give police and intelligence agencies new powers to access Canadians' electronic communications is needed to protect against child pornography, says Public Safety Minister Vic Toews. more »
- Poppy can thefts were 'disrespectful,' addict admits
- Cat frozen to driveway gets warm rescue
- Ches's armed robbery video released
- Storm damage prompts St. John's capital works review
- C.B.S. has more residents than Mount Pearl, says census
- Families want Cougar 491 memorial to be built
- Call-back protocol for searches to be reviewed: MacKay
- 'Stars are lining up' for Muskrat Falls, PUB told
- 'He wanted to be home with us,' family says of teen
