A new employment agency aims to create a direct link between Irish workers and Canadian employers such as construction companies and engineering consultancies. Moving2Canada Employment Agency will serve as a link for all Irish emigrants, especially those over 35, who need to either find employment or gain residency prior to moving. The agency is a spin-off of Moving2Canada.com, which was established last October at the Work Abroad Expo in Dublin by Vancouver-based Ruairi Spillane. Spillane originally hails from Killarney, Co Kerry. “The website Moving2Canada.com served as a free information-sharing platform where people exchange information on all things Canadian,” he said. “It seemed a natural move to then become a full service provider and extend our services to employment opportunities as well. “Driven by strong market conditions for the oil and gas sector, as well as the mining sector, Canada needs skilled tradespeople and construction professionals to solve a labour shortage that’s expected to peak in 2015,” Spillane added. “An ageing population and lack of appropriate training programs has driven many Canadian companies to look to Ireland to solve their staffing shortfall.  This construction-led boom is fuelling all other employment sectors, with demand for all professionals and trades across Canada.” Moving2Canada.com encompasses Vancouver, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal. These cities have a high concentration of newcomers who need assistance, as well as employers who need foreign workers to help address the acute labor shortage, particularly in western Canada. Since its launch, Moving2Canada.com has assisted more than 35,000 people. A total of 6,350 International Experience Canada working holiday visas (a two-year open work permit available to those under 35 years of age) sold out in a record time of three days in early February of this year. Ruairi Spillane (30) emigrated to Canada in February 2008 after being offered a job in Vancouver with a Canadian financial software company. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business, a Master’s degree in Finance and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. From April 2-6, Moving2Canada.com will accompany Cathy Murphy of the Irish Canadian Immigration Centre, based in Toronto, on an immigration roadshow that will visit Saskatoon, Fort McMurray, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.