Husky Car/Truck Stop and Restaurant

 

In July 2009, we spoke with two tourism operators from the southwest region of the province.  Wes Eng is the General Manager of Cypress Park Resort Inn, an all-season accommodation property that offers guest rooms, condos and cabins, as well as access to a restaurant, lounge, and convention centre.  The Inn is a seasonal business that employs up to 70 full- and part-time staff in the summer and 30 in the winter.

 

Barry Neigel is the owner of the Husky Car/Truck Stop and Restaurant, which provides a variety of services to customers, including but not exclusive to a restaurant, bakery, gas bar, convenience store, and truck accessories.  Throughout the year as many as 40 full- and part-time staff is employed.

 

Two common themes arose from our conversation with Eng and Neigel.  Each identified a shortage of skilled labour as one of the challenges encountered in recruiting and retaining staff.  However, they also noted that despite this challenge, both seasoned staff and those new to the job are eager to participate in training offered by the Transforming the Tourism Workforce project.

 

At the Husky Car/Truck Stop and Restaurant, management has provided participants in the project with study group sessions.

 

"We try to make them feel important and valuable, and help them [feel] good about being successful," Neigel said.

 

Likewise, participants at the Cypress Park Resort Inn are given time at work to study and prepare for the occupational knowledge exam and performance evaluation.  While Neigel said that he hopes the training components of the project will create a happier, more knowledgeable, and efficient staff, Eng expects this opportunity will "create a positive and professional environment for working" at Cypress Park Resort Inn.

 

"People are very accessible and helpful with this program," Eng said, adding that the Transforming the Tourism Workforce project "makes it easier to provide training".