That decision was blamed on the economic slowdown that at the time seemed isolated in the U.S., where most of the company's customers were based, and was a severe blow to an industry the region had come to rely on to provide service sector employment as manufacturing declined.

Fortunately for Gabb, she was able to use the resources in the Employment Ontario-funded work action centre first set up in the office then moved to Scott-Vine plaza once it closed towards the end of July.

Gabb found an employment ad for Sitel, another major St. Catharines call centre, and used the centre's computers to take an online test. In the end, she had a job within five days of losing the last one.

Recently, the TRG Work Action Centre held its grand opening, and Gabb stopped by to meet with the former co-workers she has come to call friends. So far, her success puts her in the minority, as about 75 of the 300 people who have gone through the centre have either found new work or begun employment training.

Bill Irwin, a member of the work action committee, said about 28 per cent of the 300 members are Spanish speaking, an asset in their previous jobs, but one that makes finding other employment difficult for those without a strong command of the English language.

He said another challenge is getting local employers to recognize people's foreign training.

"To get that recognized and their work experience from out of the country has been an uphill battle," he said.

Work action centres are run in part by peer helpers -- former employees in the same boat who take leadership roles in helping their colleagues use the centre's resources.

Katy Elliott, an eight-year TRG employee, and Maria Amores, who worked there for four years after immigrating to Canada from Costa Rico, are both peer helpers.

Elliott said the bonds that formed in the call centre only strengthened after news of its shutdown.

"We had a family there, and it's continued over to here," she said.