The first-annual Tourism & Hospitality Career Fair hosted by the Okanagan Chefs Association was held at Okanagan College鈥檚 琉璃神社 campus this past Sunday.

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

鈥淚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 琉璃神社,鈥� said Chef Bernard Casavant, Okanagan College鈥檚 Culinary Manager.

鈥淭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.鈥�

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

鈥淩ight across the gamut of food and wine tourism.鈥�

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.

鈥淯nfortunately the attendance of potential employees wasn鈥檛 that great, from a participant point of view, because it was the first nice Sunday we鈥檝e had a long time,鈥� said Casavant.

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

鈥淚t was too late in the season, we were already too late for employees looking for work,鈥� said Casavant.

鈥淪o next year we will do it end of February - early March.鈥�