Haldimand Workforce: Keeping Skills Close to Home

Simplicity Air’s Futures Program lets High School students know there are jobs in Haldimand.

What do you think of when you hear “Haldimand jobs”? Do you think of farmers? Service workers providing essential services people need closer to home?

Simplicity Air is seeking to add another answer to that question: skilled technicians and engineers. Working in the air conditioning industry, Simplicity Air has a specific niche: the Hagersville company designs, builds, and repairs AC units for vehicles: trucks, ambulances, and any vehicle that workers need to be in for long stretches of time.

Not only does Simplicity Air employ repair technicians, which are sent out to service repairs across southwestern Ontario, but they also design and build their units in Hagersville.

“People don’t often realize that there are engineering jobs here in Haldimand,” says Bill Meems, Simplicity Air’s Business Development Manager. “But there are!”

“Most people don’t think to look in Haldimand County for these sorts of jobs,” notes Laura Layden, HR Generalist at Simplicity Air. “But there are great opportunities here, especially for students. If you’re in high school in Caledonia, Cayuga, Dunnville, Hagersville, and Simcoe, it’s amazing to know what jobs you can excel at while still living close to family and friends.”

In order to retain that skill in Haldimand, Simplicity Air has started their Futures Program. “We hire a recently-graduated high school student for the summer, and they help assist one of our service technicians on the job.”

Layden says that the program is important. “High school students often don’t get work experience outside of the classroom,” she says. “The Futures Program helps show them what working in the trades is really like.”

It also has the benefit of building links to local schools, young workers interested in pursuing the trades as a career, and creating buzz that you don’t have to move to build a career in the trades.

“This is our second year running the program,” says Meems. “Last year, we had a student from Simcoe. This year’s student is from Hagersville, close to home.”

While Simplicity Air is waiting for their Futures Program participants to finish their education and return to Haldimand for jobs, Layden has another ace up her sleeve when it comes to attracting quality talent to the business. “We offer a much better commute,” she laughs. “Which is more than any company in the GTA can offer.”

“It’s a common point of feedback,” adds Meems. “Most of our engineers don’t live in Haldimand, so they have to drive in. And if they have to drive, it’s much better to go down the rural roads here instead of the highways into Toronto or Mississauga.

“Even if the commute is just as long, it’s just nicer.”

So, not only are there skilled jobs awaiting you in Haldimand, but the commute is better too.