Canadian Pacific has launched a recruitment campaign for 2011, to meet a burgeoning demand from its customers. And the rail company will be beefing up its Cranbrook workforce as part of this operation.

"We're hiring 1,500 full-time positions across Canada - about 70 per cent of the jobs are in Western Canada," said Kevin Hrysak, spokesman for CPR. "These jobs will range anywhere from railcar mechanics, diesel mechanics, conductors, rail traffic controllers - so you have a wide variety of jobs that will range anywhere from $40,000 up to $80,000 to 90,000 a year."

Hrysak said the hiring process has already begun in Cranbrook, and will continue into the fall.

"In February we did hire 15 operations employees in our running trade ranks. We had a couple of engineering folks hired on (in April), and it looks like throughout May, August and October we're looking at hiring more operations employees, in essence for a total of about 55 more.

"That's going to be more along the lines of conductors - that kind of work."

Conductors, who are in charge of switching cars and making up trains, earn up to $80,000 a year. Many conductors move on to the engine cab and become engineers, with salaries up to $100,000.

Hrysak said the hiring drive is in part due to the need to boost the workforce to meet customers' demands; part of it is to fill positions left vacant by retirement.

Job applicants must be high school graduates or have the equivalent diploma. Hrysak said new employees can expect to undergo an intense training of up to six months.

"So hiring today doesn't mean you're working tomorrow," he added.

Those interested in applying can do so at the Cranbrook office, or go onto the Canadian Pacific website, www.cpr.ca and go into the careers section.

"It's a great opportunity for those who enjoy working in the outdoors, working in an industrial environment or an operating environment that's 24/7 - it's something different," Hrysak said.

"Male of female, whoever's up to the challenge. The rewards are great, including excellent pay, a great pension and, obviously, comprehensive benefits packages."

CP has 15, 500 workers along its entire network with about 2,100 employees in British Columbia.