The oil boom has created prosperity in Â鶹´«Ã½AVeast Saskatchewan, but it hasn't come without challenges.
One of those challenges has been recruiting and retaining employees. The industry has grown at such a fast pace that there just are not enough people to fill positions. This becomes an even bigger challenge thanks to the fact that finding rental accommodations, or other forms of housing, is next to impossible. You could say it's easier to find a location to drill for oil than it is to find a place to live.
But there are people and companies who are recognizing the problem and trying to ease it.
Clean Harbors is one of the companies eager to help alleviate the housing issue.
The company recently set up a shop and a work camp along highway 13, just east of Arcola. With 38 rooms for rent, Dallas Cairns, the area manager for Clean Harbors in Arcola, hopes it will be easier to attract and retain employees, as he can provide them with a place to live.
Like many companies that move into the area, Cairns says they would prefer to hire local people, but he knows that is not always possible.
"We prefer to hire local people, but we do have an advantage here of having a place for people to live if we do hire them," says Cairns, who adds eight of his employees currently bunk at the camp.
Each room includes a bed and a desk, along with wireless internet and satellite TV. There is a shared laundry room with machines for both every-day clothing and work clothing. A common room with tables, vending machines and microwave provides people with an area to hang out away from their rooms.
The fact Clean Harbors provides accommodations for its employees gives it a definite advantage, but it's also advantageous to other companies since anyone can stay at the camp. Clean Harbors' camp is also beneficial for people looking to stay long-term, as it can often be difficult to find a hotel room for the long-term. People can find a room for a night here, or a night there, but that's about it right now.
"What we're trying to do is to make it long term," says Cairns. "So far we have a really receptive group to what we are doing."
Booking is done through the Chaperrral Inn in Arcola, which has worked well so far.
In addition to offering accommodations for people, Clean Harbors operates a speciality truck line from its Arcola location.
As an international company, Clean Harbors is a leading provider of environmental, energy and industrial services, with many locations across North America and the rest of the world. The company expanded to open a location in Arcola at the end of September.
The specialty truck line operated in Arcola includes: steamers; vacs; hydro vacs; water trucks; rod rigs; directional boring, frac water heaters; pressure trucks; and vac/steamer combos.
There are currently 11 trucks being operated from the Arcola location. And though Cairns and the other 14 employees have only been in Arcola for a short time, they are getting their company's name out there.
"For the most part its amazing how many phone calls I've gotten," says Cairns. "The phone rings. We're just trying to get enough equipment to keep up."
Cairns says the company's goal is to be in Arcola for the long term.
"We want to move down here; we want to make a home in Arcola," says Cairns.
And he hopes as people stay in the camp to work in the area that they want to make it their home too.
"We use this as a stepping stone to make people local," says Cairns. "Some people will never move here, but a good chunk, hopefully, if [they] like it here they'll move their families here."
As a community-minded company, Clean Harbors has utilized local companies for supplies and any work required to get everything up and running, and it's something they will continue to do into the future as they become settled into this area.
