The Canton, Mass., provider of online and off-line help desk services will build a new facility, employing up to 900 people, in London, Ontario.

Stream International, a Canton, Mass., provider of online and off-line help desk services, will build a new facility, employing up to 900 people, in London, Ontario.

"The skill levels of the applicants who attended our informational job fair and the overwhelming reception we received from the community in London were critical factors in our decision," said Robert T. Dechant, Stream's COO.

The company is recruiting for all positions, including posts in customer service, finance, human resources, facilities, information technology, telecom, operations planning, training and quality management.

Stream has signed a 10-year lease for a former box and label building in London. The site will be Stream's fourth Canadian site and twenty-third overall. Stream expects to complete construction of the center in May and be fully operational in June.

Stream was privately held until September when it was snapped up by Milpitas, Calif.-based manufacturing software maker Solectron . Terms were not disclosed, although Stream tallied sales of $323 million in 2000.

Shares of SLR edged up 0.04 to 9.67 at midday. In the last 52 weeks, the issue has ranged from 3.26 to 24.5.