Amazon's first round of hiring will extend past Sept. 29 opening

With the opening of the Amazon fulfilment centre in Blair just days away, the local business community gathered for a meet and greet at Whistle Bear Golf Club this morning to learn more about the e-commerce giant's plans in Cambridge.

Among the talking points were employment and the role the company will have in the city's economic growth.

When it comes to staffing, site lead Greg Clutton said the company is in the process of hiring 250 employees but the target won't be met by the launch date.

"It won't be complete by Sept. 29," Clutton said of the hiring process.

"From a business standpoint, we need to move a little bit slower than that to make sure we have those people trained properly. We want to make sure we're bringing them in and they get the best experience possible."

Initial hires will be for hourly associates in the warehouse that will be trained on power industrial equipment, trucks and the command systems.

In a press release earlier this month, Amazon stated the new one-million-square-foot facility has the capacity to hire 1,000 employees.

Clutton believes it's a realistic goal but will depend on how the site functions once opened.

"Cambridge is very strategic for us for placement in Ontario," he said.

"As we grow and understand our business, we'll have a better idea of how we ramp to that number."

President and CEO of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, Greg Durocher, said its important for people to understand what Amazon does and how it elevates other businesses.

He said he's had zero complaints from local businesses about the multinational company moving to the city.

"I think local businesses understand Amazon isn't taking anything away from them, they're an enabler," Durocher said.

"Small businesses are the heartbeat of our community. They employ our kids, they're our family, friends and neighbours. Now that we have that close partnership it highlights that they need to be on that platform."

Automation is certainly part of Amazon's operations and for Durocher, like many, it's something he has his eye on when it comes to the potential of creating or eliminating jobs.

He believes as Amazon evolves, opportunities will come with it, especially in the technology field.

"It may," Durocher said of how automation could limit certain jobs.

"Because Amazon is a tech company first, those jobs aren't going anywhere. As the technology advances it's going to require people to monitor it. They're trying to make sure their employees are ready for the next generation of retail buying."

The company has already been trying to make a difference in the community in the lead up to its opening, having donated $66,000 to YWCA Cambridge Skills Training Program and $93,000 to Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region.

As a resident of Elora, Clutton is happy to see an impact being made beyond the business.

"To be in the community, for me, is really important," Clutton said.

"Cambridge is an awesome place to live and work."