Royal Roads University recently hosted its 2026 Employer Connect career fair in late February at the Grant Quarterdeck on its Colwood campus, creating a bridge between students and regional job opportunities. The event brought together more than 30 employers from various sectors, including hospitality, technology, and public service, to meet with hundreds of students and alumni.
The annual gathering, organized by the university’s Career Learning and Development team, is designed to help students prepare for the workforce. To support these efforts, staff hosted virtual workshops before the event to teach networking strategies, LinkedIn readiness, and strategic volunteerism.
This year’s participants included organizations such as WorkSafe BC, the Saanich Police Department, Amazon, the Fairmont Empress, and Peninsula Co-op. The diverse range of employers reflects the broad program offerings at the university, which provides over 70 programs to its student body of roughly 4,000.
For residents in nearby View Royal, these connections are increasingly relevant as the region navigates a tight labour market. While Victoria reported one of Canada’s lowest unemployment rates in January 2026 at 4.4 per cent, many local businesses continue to report staffing challenges. WorkBC projects that the Vancouver Island and Coast region will see 188,600 job openings over the next decade.
The WestShore Chamber of Commerce is actively working to bridge this gap through initiatives like its “Work with an RRU Student” program. Furthermore, Royal Roads University has expanded its local presence with the opening of the John Horgan Campus in downtown Langford in September 2025, offering additional post-secondary options for students living in the growing West Shore communities.
To prepare students for these career paths, the university utilizes work-integrated learning programs. These include co-op placements, which require a minimum of 420 paid hours, alongside various internships and field practice opportunities in areas like environmental science and business.
