It was an invite-only event with a twist.
Thursday evening (Nov. 6), PowerCo held a Shopfloor Hiring Network Event designed to connect local talent in industrial electrician, millwright and industrial automation roles with their gigafactory team.
Those attending had the opportunity to meet company leadership, explore career opportunities and get an up-close look at what it would be like to be an employee at what is to become the largest such factory in Canada.
As the evening started to wind down, we spoke with Shuja Qadri, manager of talent acquisition, who observed, “Considering this was an invite-only RSVP event that we wanted to look at based on skill set and experiences, we actually had over 65 people turn up for the event.”
He continued, “So right now we’re hiring for maintenance technicians and specialists. So that is something right now we’re growing within the team. And then next year we’ll be hiring for production, logistics, and quality. So, really expanding that portfolio.
“We had a lot of people from Ingersoll, Woodstock, Kitchener-Waterloo, as well as from the area who are looking for opportunities within this region. So it was exciting to see and meet all those people.”
With the region’s diverse manufacturing history, the talent pool runs deep.“So we’re very fortunate to be in such a spot where we have GM, Cami, and even Toyota. We have some of our suppliers that we work with here closely. Folks within Magna as well.
“So, a lot of parallel industries that we can grab talent. So we’re fortunate to be in a spot where, especially for our skilled labour and skilled trades, we’ll have that opportunity to grow that team quite quickly.”
Very quickly, reiterated Qadri.
“And for next year, we’re looking at close to over 200 people that we might look to bring on board for our shop floor, and it will multiply as the site gets built, and as the equipment starts coming in, we start to do more on-site training assessment, so that will scale up quite aggressively.”
The plan is to have a workforce in the range of 3,000 as the gigafactory ramps up production.
“So we will have a lot of direct and indirect impact in terms of the economy and local community. So that is still the game plan. And obviously, offering those skilled and specialty jobs to the local workforce and training them up to the standards of our sustainable energy.”
“The company always has a game plan. It’s a long-term game plan. So we don’t have knee-jerk reactions. We cut out the noise, focus on the signal, and the signal is to keep on developing the plan.”
So, when can these early hires begin in their new capacity?
“So for our initial ramp up, we’re actually looking to hire for December. And the idea is that we bring them on sooner because eventually we would want them to do some knowledge transfer and training that would require some travel as well. “So the idea is to bring them on early so that way, they get familiar with our PowerCo Canada team. And afterwards, into the new year, they will do some training.”
PowerCo has brought some of its team over from Germany to assist with the acclimatization and training of new hires.
“We have people on temporary assignments who bring certain knowledge and expertise from the Volkswagen group from Germany to make sure that the best practices that they have in their sister plants are implemented and the lessons learned are implemented.”
As to moving forward with completion of the gigafactory, given the tumultuous economic times, Qadri stressed, “The company always has a game plan. It’s a long-term game plan.
“So we don’t have knee-jerk reactions. We cut out the noise, focus on the signal, and the signal is to keep on developing the plan.”
Qadri ended the conversation on an upbeat note.
“We’re continuously hiring. So, if individuals are interested, please visit our careers page at powerco.ca. All our jobs are listed there. We’ll have more jobs to come in 2026 as well and beyond.
“My team is continuously looking at those individuals applying. We’re all manually checking them, so there’s no automation involved, so we’re making sure we get the right individuals and the right goals .”
POWERCO AWASH IN WATER
PowerCo made the headlines last week for an entirely different reason: the amount of water it will require on a daily basis once it is in operation.
The gigafactory is projected to require 20 million litres of water every day, up from an early projection of 13 million litres.
Other tenants of the Yarmouth Yards industrial park will likely consume a similar amount daily, which would be approximately half of the 91 million litres daily output of treated Lake Erie water at the Elgin Area Water Supply System’s facility, located just east of Port Stanley.
As such, the local municipal water supply system will require about $400 million in upgrades to meet future demand.
“Our focus remains on collaborating with our local partners to maintain momentum and get this critical project built for the benefit of local residents, businesses, and governments alike.”
The system supplies water to St. Thomas and seven other municipalities, and the cost of upgrades would be the responsibility of those customers unless the province and/or Volkswagen offer financial support.
The upgrades would require an environmental assessment, and the entire project would need to be completed by 2027, when the gigafactory is slated to begin production.
In a statement, PowerCo advised that it will work with municipalities to address the plant’s infrastructure needs.
“PowerCo’s St. Thomas Gigafactory is a transformational investment that will create high-quality jobs, drive prosperity, and grow our economy in the community and surrounding regions.
“As we build this generational project, we are working closely with our municipal and regional partners to ensure these communities continue to thrive sustainably. This includes support for infrastructure such as water system upgrades.
“Our focus remains on collaborating with our local partners to maintain momentum and get this critical project built for the benefit of local residents, businesses, and governments alike.”
AN EXCITING MOVE FOR NEW LIBRARY CEO
On Oct. 22, it was announced that Aaron DeVries will become the new St. Thomas Public Library CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Known for his visionary leadership and commitment to innovation, he succeeds Heather Robinson, who is retiring after a decade in that post.
DeVries joined the library in 2017 as Manager of Customer Engagement and worked his way up to his most recent post as Manager of Strategy and Operations.
Stepping into the top role is “an exciting move,” admits DeVries.
“It’s always kind of been something I was interested in. We’re a fairly small library as far as Ontario libraries go. There are some larger systems. So I’ve had the benefit of already working so closely with Heather and on the management team and with the library board.
“This move feels pretty natural, and I’m pretty comfortable working with all those people and with those ideas, so it’s an exciting move. It doesn’t take me too far out of my comfort zone as far as that goes, because we’ve been working together for so long.”
He previously worked at Innisfil ideaLAB & Library – south of Barrie, Ontario – as Manager of Creative Making and Discovery.
While there, DeVries led the development of innovative spaces such as a hackerspace and digital media lab.At St. Thomas Public Library, he led the creation of the Maker Lab, which has evolved into a creative hub.
“So we developed the Maker Lab kind of slowly over several years. And then over COVID, when we had to shut down, we decided to really put a lot of effort into building that space out.
“When we talk about today’s library, it’s more about thinking about connection, right? And so, yes, we connect people with books, but we also connect people with each other, with ideas.”
“And that, again, becomes a space of connection for people. So people hear about 3D printing, laser cutting or vinyl printing and cutting.
“And then it’s hard for them to have access to that kind of equipment if they don’t have the means at home so if they can come into the library to get their hands on that equipment to learn from staff about how to use it and to be able to connect with other community members around those similar ideas you start to learn from each other and again the same thing happens that libraries have been doing for years and years and years which is just connecting ideas.”
The Maker Lab serves small business owners, crafters, school groups and countless others.
An indication that today’s library is about much more than books on shelves.
“When we talk about today’s library, it’s more about thinking about connection, right? And so, yes, we connect people with books, but we also connect people with each other, with ideas.
“Sometimes those ideas happen in conversation or through programs and events. You know, speakers. And sometimes it happens just through the partnerships we have with community organizations and the different boards that our staff sit on. So, the library is about being a platform for connection.”
He agrees that the library, in reality, is more of a community hub.
“To be that safe place for discovery and exploration, right? It’s not too often anymore that you have these public spaces still standing that are kind of that third place, you know, away from home and work?
“I look forward to working closely with the library board and leading an extraordinary team as we continue to shape a library that reflects the needs and aspirations of a growing city.”
“And so for a family to be comfortable in a space where they can be in community with their neighbours and share resources and share ideas, it’s a fantastic identity for the library.”
With the evolution of E-readers, DeVries notes the library supports the preferences of users when acquiring new titles.
“And so our digital use is increasing year over year. We have licenses for E-books and E-audiobooks through something called Cloud Library. We’re purchasing the E-book copies and the physical copies all the time.
“People have different preferences for how they take in the story or the information. And we try to support that the best we can.”
He adds, “It’s always a good idea to talk to us if you’re searching for an E-reader to find out what works best with the library books, because that, hopefully, becomes a huge source of your material once you’re on there.
“And so one thing that we offer is something called a one-on-one service. And that’s really, you can come to the library and ask a question about anything. And we have a staff member who will sit down and help you figure out how to answer that question, do the research with you, side by side, and empower people to find what they need.
“I’m excited for that conversation with the board and advocating for really good community spaces like libraries for all of St. Thomas.”
“And so we get quite a few people asking for a one-on-one visit just to find out, ‘How does my E-reader work?’ Or, ‘Can I get an E-reader that’s going to work with the library?’
“So if you’re unsure, then yeah, I encourage people always to come on in.”
Looking to the future, DeVries observes, “I look forward to working closely with the library board and leading an extraordinary team as we continue to shape a library that reflects the needs and aspirations of a growing city.
“I think it’s inevitable that with a growing population and if the projections that they’re now talking about for St. Thomas come true, I mean, we’re already busting at the seams in terms of people using this facility.
“And so I could see conversations around, you know, what does that look like for the different neighbourhoods in St. Thomas? How do they get the same kind of service and space?
“And so the library board has its work cut out for it over the next few years in terms of figuring out how that might look and how we would fund that sort of thing. But yeah, I’m excited for that conversation with the board and advocating for really good community spaces like libraries for all of St. Thomas.”
As to taking over the helm to start the new year, DeVries admits, “It’s an incredible honour to serve the community that shaped who I am.”
COUNCIL TAKES A SEAT ON FUTURE OF EMSLIE FIELD GRANDSTAND
Last week, we documented critical upgrades needed to the grandstand at Emslie Field.
And in a report to city council on Monday (Nov. 3), Cody Montgomery, Manager of Parks and Forestry, noted, “Due to ongoing concerns regarding its structural integrity and compliance with AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) standards, the city retained POW Peterman Consulting Engineers to complete a formal structural assessment.”
And for the sake of safety, the grandstand will be closed until structural repairs are completed.
Coun. Lori Baldwin-Sands asked for the report recommendations to be expanded to explore sponsorship opportunities.“Naming rights and possible additional advertising as revenue streams for Emslie Field. Also, ways to increase capacity, taking it away from a single source use to multiple uses.
“In the past, we had Emslie Field as a concert area. We had the RCMP Musical Ride. We had band tattoo and Canada Day activities all done inside the field itself.
“Which made it a source of pride for people to come and attend and take part in many of the activities, and I would like to see that happen again.”
And if the grandstand is renamed in a sponsorship agreement, Baldwin-Sands would like to see a plaque installed commemorating Bob Emslie and his contributions to baseball.
Coun. Gary Clarke proposed an alternate plan of action.
“I guess my approach would be to tear down the present grandstand.”
“I’d rather this council look at budget time. From what I’m reading here, we’ve got a little bit more work to do before we can come back with a real plan.”
Crowds of several thousand spectators were not uncommon in the heyday of Emslie Field; however, that is but a distant memory.
Clarke continued, “Minor baseball is using the field now and even in a tournament, they are not getting those kinds of numbers.
“If you look at what’s been done in Chatham or Woodstock, they’ve gone to a new enclosed area, much smaller in size, but it still would keep a large number of people out of the sun.
“It would be accessible and, again, we could still dedicate the field itself and the space to Bob Emslie, but not at the cost that we’re looking at for repairing the site.”
Mayor Joe Preston closed out the discussion with, “I’d like us to get a little bit more research as to what could also be done.
“But I’m a bit distraught that we keep getting things in the fall that are talking about the capital budget, and until the capital budget is done, I don’t know why we can speak of what will happen.
“I’d rather this council look at budget time. From what I’m reading here, we’ve got a little bit more work to do before we can come back with a real plan.”
Budget deliberations at the council level begin next month, and so the future of the grandstand will remain in limbo until that time.
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