Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (Nov 04/05) - Work associated with the oil and gas industry will be up for grabs this winter.

An estimated 120 people are going to be hired for camps and catering, Acho Dene Koe Chief Harry Deneron said.

Some of the positions will be situated in B.C. and the Yukon.

Cooks, bakers, and their helpers, as well as camp attendants and maintenance workers will be sought.

Unable to fill all the spots from within the community, Deneron said a recruitment drive - with stops in Fort Simpson, Fort Providence and Hay River - will take place in November.

"The camps and catering department are going to be very busy," he said.

Deneron added that he'd like to see enhancements to the Deh Cho's transportation system so workers can travel to and from Fort Liard with ease.

Getting employees from Fort St. John, B.C., is easier because of the Greyhound bus line, but "what's the use of doing anything if we're just going to create jobs for the south?" Deneron asked.

"Besides if they say we don't have anybody here, then who's going to build a (Mackenzie Valley) pipeline?"

Camp and catering employees usually work for two to four straight weeks at the oil field site, manager Brad Giroux said.

Wages range from $10-$15 per hour, but daily earnings can be boosted by ample overtime, he noted.

The peak season runs from December through March.

Anyone interested in the jobs will require safety certification. Courses such as Food Safe, First Aid and Workplace Hazardous Material Information System are commonly needed.

If the work site is near a drilling rig where there's a risk of hydrogen sulphide gas (H2S), then it's imperative that all employees have H2S Alive safety tickets, said Giroux.

"If the courses are available, if their band is putting them on or whatnot, it's always a good idea to take it," he advised.