When asked how it feels to be working again, a smile quickly fills Randy Boivin’s face. Up until recently, the 59-year-old spent his days at the Cornerstone shopping area. It was the location’s property manager who told him to make a sign letting people know he was looking for work.
As if fate itself stepped in, the owner of a local construction company saw it and promptly gave Boivin a job. “I love it, it’s great. I really enjoy it,” Boivin told paNOW on Monday, while working at a job site in the Lakeland area.
When asked how he came to be in Prince Albert, the self-taught software developer explained that about two months ago he made the move from North Bay, Ontario. “I came here because it’s beautiful. It’s a beautiful city,” he said noting he lived in Saskatchewan many years ago and always felt a desire to return.
For now Boivin spends his nights at the Stepping Stones shelter and then gets picked up each morning to come to work. Matthew Franc, owner of AZLS construction, saw a picture of Boivin on social media, and immediately tried to think about the last time he saw someone looking for work. “I had a gut feeling and I said this guy wants to work and needs help,” he said, noting his company, like others in the construction industry, has an abundance of jobs but not enough workers.
Soon after, Franc sent one of his hired guys over to the Cornerstone area and picked Randy up. “He’s actually a really nice polite man and so I think we are gonna con.