The first-annual Tourism & Hospitality Career Fair hosted by the Okanagan Chefs Association was held at Okanagan College害羞草研究所檚 Kelowna campus this past Sunday.

More than a dozen employers were in attendance including restaurants, wineries, hotels and tourism organizations.

害羞草研究所淚t was great to see the representation from the Okanagan Chefs Association, Okanagan College and then all the vendors valley wide. Coming all the way from Osoyoos, Oliver and right through Kelowna,害羞草研究所� said Chef Bernard Casavant, Okanagan College害羞草研究所檚 Culinary Manager.

害羞草研究所淭here was a lot of face-to-face connections made. It is always nice when potential employees can meet the employer face to face. They get a quick interview there and then they can set up a formal interview for hiring later.害羞草研究所�

Casavant said the event was not just for cooks, servers and hostesses, but also for managers, housekeeping staff, tasting-room staff, winery workers etc.

害羞草研究所淩ight across the gamut of food and wine tourism.害羞草研究所�

While the event was created to specifically connect employers with potential employees, Casavant said the sunshine did put a damper on the number of connections made.

害羞草研究所淯nfortunately the attendance of potential employees wasn害羞草研究所檛 that great, from a participant point of view, because it was the first nice Sunday we害羞草研究所檝e had a long time,害羞草研究所� said Casavant.

He said organizers discovered that they should have held the event earlier in the spring.

害羞草研究所淚t was too late in the season, we were already too late for employees looking for work,害羞草研究所� said Casavant.

害羞草研究所淪o next year we will do it end of February - early March.害羞草研究所�