The availability of labour is an integral factor to the growth and development of every community. Labour shortages and labour/job mismatch are among the primary concerns for many employers across several industries within Port Colborne, Niagara Region and throughout Canada.

The City of Port Colborne is hosting a breakfast event to further explore the issue of labour and skills shortages within the City and Region; and is collaborating with regional stakeholders to gather market data and evidence-based research to provide the grounds for developing a coordinated labour strategy.

Guest Speakers

Cara Krezek (Boese) Director, Co-op, Career, and Experiential Education, Brock University

Cara is the Director of Co-Op, Career and Experiential Education at Brock University and incoming President of Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada. In her role at Brock University, she has initiated (managed/directed) major organizational changes and strategic initiatives to help Brock lead the way in the areas of co-op, career and experiential education.

Cara is an active Niagara citizen. She has been a long-standing member of JCI St. Catharines, a member of the Niagara Business Group, a winner of a Niagara Top 40 Under Forty award, and she has run multiple community projects and events. She has been a member of the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE) since 2003, where she served in various positions on the Provincial and National Board, and she is also an active member of the Canadian Association of Co-operative Education (CAFCE).

Vivian Kinnaird Chief Executive Officer, Niagara Workforce Planning Board

Vivian has spent more than 25 years working in post secondary education as a teacher, mentor, researcher and administrator. She has led both community and research-based projects and is dedicated to ensuring that evidence-based research is relevant, highlights areas of interest to the community and makes a valuable contribution to decision making.

Over the past eight years, Vivian has had the opportunity to work with businesses and organizations across Niagara. She is passionate about the changing nature of work, listening to the needs of employers and jobseekers and the need for communities to work together to ensure relevant workforce development.