Moved over to Vancouver in June and been working with different Temp agencies getting jobs, nothing longer than a few weeks at a time, but enough to keep money coming in and keep my bills paid. Like everyone else, I’ve been applying to 100s of jobs online, forgetting about half the jobs I even applied for!
Today I was offered a job with Astra Lumina in Stanley Park working as event staff for $22/hr. It’s starting this week up until the end of December but can’t find much about it online in Vancouver but seems to be a yearly thing in Seattle.
From what I can tell it would be outdoor work(obviously), 5pm-11pm Wednesday-Sunday.
Has anybody ever worked something similar? I know it will be cold and probably wet work which I have no issues with but don’t know if it’s worth it for the pay and also no clue if the hours would be consistent. Especially considering I’ve been lucky to get some good paying jobs, Mon-Fri, 9-5 jobs with the temp agencies.
Would love to hear from anybody that might have some experience with something similar?
Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry (from the UK) and am a U.S. citizen preparing to move to the Vancouver area in early 2027 to live near family.

Because I am a U.S. citizen, I qualify for a CUSMA (NAFTA) Professional Work Permit at the border if I land a job offer in a relevant science role (e.g., Biochemist, Chemist, Research/Lab Associate), meaning no complex LMIA process is needed from the employer side.

I’m looking for insights from locals in the life sciences/biotech community:

1. Which local companies, diagnostic labs, or biotech firms (like STEMCELL, AbCellera, LifeLabs, etc.) are currently hiring entry-level lab staff or research associates?
   
2. Are there specific local recruiting agencies, job boards, or networking groups (like Life Sciences BC) you’d recommend for connecting with hiring managers?

Appreciate any advice or leads! Thanks in advance.