After hitting “a sweet spot” in recent years, the Brighton Career Fair is returning for a fourth year on Feb. 3 to support local businesses that drive economic growth and residents needing help landing a new gig.
For businesses looking to expand or fill current openings, the fair offers employers a chance to meet with local talent – but it’s also a chance to build relationships and network with other business professionals and enhance brand visibility, explains Ben Hagerman, Brighton’s manager of economic development and communications.
Hagerman tells us more.
For businesses, pre-registration has opened and has a closing date of Jan. 19 as space is limited.
And it’s a wide-open call for regional businesses that are interested.
Over the course of the last three years, the event has rallied anywhere from a dozen to 20 or more employers annually – and quite the variety, and diversity in the sectors and jobs is something Hagerman hopes repeats this year.
Meanwhile, for residents looking for a new gig, the big perk is several employers will all be in one spot, continues Hagerman.
The fair can also be a chance to explore potential future career paths for those looking to make a change in 2026, or an opportunity to learn more about in-demand professions across the region.
This year’s event will be hosted at the Owen Gibb Community Hall inside the King Edward Park Arena on Feb. 3 from 2 to 6 p.m. Although it isn’t a requirement – but does have some major benefits – pre-registration has also opened for job seekers.
“Having a career fair at this time of year has seemed to hit a bit of a sweet spot for the community, and we want to do our part in facilitating this and organizing it and hosting it in Brighton,” adds Hagerman.
As businesses sign on, Hagerman notes there will be social media updates leading up the fair to hopefully build “even more buzz.”
This year, the Municipality of Brighton is also teaming up with “Work in Quinte” as part of the Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board’s portfolio, which officials hope will be another benefit to both area businesses and residents. For employers based in the Bay of Quinte’s member communities – Brighton, Quinte West, Belleville, Napanee and Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte – they’ll also be invited to a webinar to learn more about the new Work in Quinte website.
This is another tool that’s been developed to help employers and talent connect year-round as struggles continue to fill vacancies and with an emphasis on building up digital databases.
“They’re (the Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board) doing a lot of things in the employment support space, both to get people (who) are looking for work or looking for a change the support they need to find that change, as well assisting local employers in finding matches to fill roles,” explains Hagerman.
At the fair, representatives will be on hand taking resumes to upload them digitally, and they’ll be looking to connect with employers and get them signed on.
Registration details are available via the municipality’s website.
For job seekers, people can register just at the door, but pre-registration means avoiding lines and resumes will go up quicker and automatically to the Work in Quinte database in advance, notes Hagerman, adding this means employers will have access to resumes and candidate info ahead of the big day and afterwards.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
