Since she was little, Makayla Berze aspired to become a sports journalist. Last spring, when she landed a four-month internship at a professional sports company in Calgary, her dream seemed to be within reach.
When the pandemic knocked on our doors, its summer spent at Calgary Sports and Entertainment (CSEC) has gone out. In addition to gaining professional experience, the television media student at the University Mount Royal of Calgary relied on this work to earn an income.
I used the Canada Emergency Benefit and was heavily dependent on my student loans. I felt like I was losing something important, it was frustrating and upsetting
.
Makayla Berze has just completed her 4th year of television media studies.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Makayla Berze
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Fortunately, Makayla Berze was able to keep her place at Entertainment">CSEC this summer.
For his employer, Peter Stewart, this kind of work placement is an investment. By temporarily hiring students like Makayla, he already sees the possibility of them becoming future colleagues.
But due to sanitary measures, Peter Stewart and Makayla Berze have barely met a handful of times in person. It has become difficult to welcome new employees well.
In another context, she would be on the field during sports games, it would be very practical for her. It’s not ideal, even if we manage and find creative ways to incorporate him into the team.
University Mount Royal has observed a resurgence of confidence in companies which are once again starting to offer work to students. Without being able to provide recent data, spokeswoman Sarah Imran indicates that the university does not have enough students to fill all the positions at this time of year
– a sign of the reopening of the economy, according to her.
The more it changes, the more it is the same
The University of Calgary Student Association is less optimistic. According to a survey conducted by the student union in 2020, 45% of students were unable to find summer employment. The data for 2021 looks similar, according to its president Nicole Schmidt.
The situation is still not very promising for students
, she says.
Ms. Schmidt says that there are still few doors opening for employers. Often times, summer is the time when students have time to work full time, allowing them to top up the coffers for their next academic year.
They are relying on that to pay their tuition and the cost of their living for the months to come. It can create significant debt.
Alberta students will leave the province if the provincial government does not support them more, according to the University of Calgary student association.
Photo: University of Calgary
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Nicole Schmidt says the repercussions are more than financial. A lack of seasonal work for students could lead them to develop anxiety, or even abandon their studies altogether.
She urges the Alberta government to reinstate the STEP temporary employment program for students. Jason Kenney’s government canceled it in 2019.
Even if the market seems to be gradually clearing up, a lack of support will certainly push students to find jobs in other provinces.
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