THUNDER BAY — There are roughly 350 job openings at the new Thunder Bay Correctional Complex.
Ontario’s correctional services held a job fair on Wednesday showcasing what a union official called a laundry list of roles that need to be filled before the complex opens.
The hiring push was “a very welcome sight, finally,” said Anthony Rojik, president of Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union Local 737.
Rojik said both his local, which represents staff at the Thunder Bay District Jail, and OPSEU Local 708, representing Thunder Bay Correctional Centre staff, have been “fighting to have events like this to try and address the crisis in corrections for recruitment, and it’s wonderful to see the (Ministry of the Solicitor General) actually listening to us for a change.”
Last September, staff from both jails staged a rally calling on the government to address chronic understaffing, overcrowding, and unsafe working conditions for corrections workers.
In January, when the province announced they would keep both existing jails open after the new one is completed — something the union advocated for — Rojik said it would require as many as 500 new hires to keep all three facilities open.
More recently, local defence lawyers spoke out saying staffing shortages at jails across the province were leading to “egregious” violations of inmate rights.
Wednesday’s job fair was held at Lakehead University’s Agora and aimed to recruit staff for the complex, which is slated to be completed later this year.
The new jail will create “350 new jobs including positions as correctional officers, administrative staff, peer support staff, social workers, rehabilitative officers, health-care professionals, probation and parole officers, cleaners, maintenance staff, and food service staff,” said a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Solicitor General said in an email to Newswatch.
Rojik said that while the unions don’t quite know how many new members they might gain they are “looking to build a giant list of people who want to come work out in Thunder Bay,” at the new correctional complex.
He said it will take time to screen all candidates but with the construction scheduled to be complete this fall and anticipated occupancies in June 2027, things should move quickly.
It’s “going to be a great thing for our community, because now with the campus that they’re creating, it’s going to be one of the larger employers in Thunder Bay.”
Rojik said a clinic and health care staff will play a large role in the new facility.
He said the potential candidates coming through the job fair include students as well as those looking to transition out of a current career.
What attracts candidates to a job in corrections are good wages, benefits, a pension and the camaraderie amongst colleagues, Rojik said.
“A great example, yesterday we held a small gathering to recognize the 100 years of service at the Thunder Bay District Jail and its role in protecting the people of Ontario,” he added.
“And at that event we spoke a lot about how we’re a family within corrections, and it showed because we had over 100 employees and support staff show up, as well as a swath of retirees as well, who never truly forget where they’ve worked and where they come from.”
He said it’s not uncommon for corrections staff to support each other like a family “because we have to rely on one another every day.”
Another career fair is planned for fall 2026 at the new Thunder Bay Correctional Complex, once construction is complete.
By Carrie Ivardi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Jun 25, 2026 at 11:44
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