Hundreds of part-time jobs up for grabs at Moncton Downtown Centre

A job fair is underway at the MonctonColiseum to fill up to 300 part-time positions at thenew downtown event centre.

The new facility has been under construction since April of 2016, and is set to open in September.

The positions being offered are mostly seasonal, part-time andminimum wage. They includebox office ticket sellers, bartenders, concession cashiers, line cooks, an ice crew and other operation jobs.

By 2p.m. Friday, building general manager Nick Delucosaid about 100 people had been through the doors. He's hoping to seemany more when the job fair continues Saturday.

"We're looking to hire as many part-time as we can get."

He said different events will necessitate different staffing levels, and he'd like a large roster of employeesto choose from.

Licia Tittarellicame to the job fair with experience as an usher at the Coliseum.

"A lot of us, seeing that the Wildcats moved over to the new building, are going to try to follow them over there, and get jobs."

Shesaid the city will continue to employ her and other Coliseum staff, who will work during trade shows. Tittarellihopes to get a job working at the box office at the new centre.

Asked if she's heard concerns from Coliseum employees about a lack of parking at the downtown centre, Tittarelli said she has, but isn't concerned about it, saying with a laugh, "it's way above my pay grade."

Delucosaid there will be no on-site parking for staff, but in his experience employees usually get first pick of parking spots.

"Typically when you work in these events you come earlier so...there's a lot of parking around the building."

Another job fair attendee, Sebastien Leblanc said he read about the employment opportunities online.

"They were looking for two or three hours of work and it's just perfect forme or maybe for other people that cannot work too too long because they get tired faster."

Leblanc is a wheelchair user, and said there aren't a lot of jobsavailable to people with disabilities. He worked at Crystal Palace for 12 years, and hopes to get a call back from SMGCanada.

Delucosaid he's spoken to a lot of students and retirees looking for part-time work and hopes more people will drop by the job fair on Saturday.

While the centre will soon have staff, it still does not have a name. It's currently operating under the generic moniker, "MonctonEvents Centre."

In May,MonctonMayor Dawn Arnold,said the name of the 8,800-seat centre is still up for grabs, at a "multimillion dollar" price being negotiated bySMGCanada, the company hired to manage the facility.

On Friday,Deluco said, "it's still in progress."

"There is definitely people we're talking to and hopefully it's out there much sooner than later."

Other events scheduled to happen at the centreinclude a Chicago concert, aUFCfighting event, figure skating, theMonctonWildcats' home opener game against the Saint John Sea Dogs and Jerry Seinfeld.

The job fair began Friday afternoon, and ends Saturday evening.