Proposed call centre would create 300 jobs

THUNDER BAY -- A call centre that handles the business of Fortune 500 companies is in the final stages of deciding whether it will open its first Canadian outlet in Victoriaville Mall.

The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission’s outreach efforts to 1,800 companies that could fill the empty call centre left empty since HGS closed in June has attracted the interest of Los Angeles-based XVI Global Solutions.

If XVI finds satisfaction in the local labour pool, it will employ around 300 people, most of which would work full time with benefits.

“The economic impact of that operation would be significant,” said the commission’s senior development officer Richard Pohler.

The company will be holding a two-day career fair beginning Jan. 29 at Victoriaville Mall where would-be employees can submit resumes. It's seeking candidates with experience in customer service, administration and management.  

Pohler sees economic development benefits beyond the proposed 300 jobs and the employment diversification it would add to the city. 

“The key thing with this type of an operation is that it brings completely new money into the community, in this case from American companies that would be getting the services out of Thunder Bay,” he said.

“So it would be an injection of capital in to the local economy and all the money that would be brought into the community would be added to the economy as opposed to circulated funds.”