Hundreds of job seekers turned out to the Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday, hoping to land one of a variety of positions with Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation. The first of two job fairs drew applicants ranging from longtime hockey fans to people looking for their first paid job. “What kid doesn’t want to work with an NHL team in any capacity?” said job seeker Chris Roy. “If you’re a Canadian boy growing up, it’s the dream.” For Glory Lopez, the event marked her first experience interviewing for a job outside the home. “Unless you consider taking care of my little brother as a job, this is my first real job interview,” Lopez said. “I’m a little bit anxious, but I’m excited to get through it.” The CSEC says it has received more than 800 online applications in addition to the hundreds of people who attended the job fair in person. Openings include security guard positions, fan experience staff and members of the conversion team, who help transform the arena from a hockey rink into a concert venue. “I know the job market can be challenging right now and people are looking for work, but the fact they’re wanting to select us as a possible employer is quite flattering for us,” said Martin Shalest, who is the senior director of human resources at the CSEC. Shalest said the organization is hiring on the spot because it needs staff in place before the season begins. “We need the workforce,” he said. “We’ve got a lot coming around the bend. Training and onboarding all takes place before the season starts, so we’re looking for immediate hires right away.” The strong turnout comes as Calgary continues to see more people looking for work than new jobs are being created. The latest labour market figures show job seekers have outpaced employment growth since November 2025, while the city’s unemployment rate remains at seven per cent. ATB Financial chief economist Mark Parsons said Alberta continues to outperform many other parts of the country when it comes to hiring. “Alberta is in a much better position. There is more hiring happening in this province and that’s really good news,” Parsons said. “As a result, you’re seeing people come to Alberta to take advantage of those opportunities.” Those opportunities are exactly what Roy and Lopez hope to find. “I don’t just want to stay at home all day,” Lopez said. “Doing something productive is a good thing to do.” Roy said working at the Saddledome would be a dream job. “Just to be able to say that you work there is a huge boost to anybody’s ego.”
