MOVING TO THE MARGINS The Regional Immigration Initiative in Prince George Presented by KIM WALKER COMMUNITY & ENVIRONMENT Metropolis Conference Vancouver, BC March 24, 2006

PRESENTATION TOPICS 1.Regional Immigration Initiative & The Prince George Project 2.Opportunities & Challenges for Individuals and Communities 3.Opportunities & Challenges for Policy and Program Development

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION INITIATIVE Objectives: 1.To create awareness of immigration as a tool to support socio-economic development 2.To increase the capacity of communities and regions to attract and retain immigrants Canadian Rural Partnerships Rural Team BC BC Ministry of Attorney General & Ministry Responsible for Multiculturalism Citizenship and Immigration Canada Western Economic Diversification Community Futures Development Association of BC

Regional Initiative Activities Oct 2002:Canada – BC Agreement Oct 2003:The Small Centre Strategy Nov 2003:Joint letter to BC mayors & follow-up meetings Aug 2004:Request for Proposals Jun 2005:Community Pilot Projects

EIGHT REGIONAL PROJECTS Prince George Powell River Port Alberni Nanaimo Revelstoke Vernon Okanagan Abbotsford

Distribution of Immigrants in BC Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Facts and Figures 2002 Prince George

TARGETING SKILLED IMMIGRANTS AS A POTENTIAL LABOUR SOURCE IN PRINCE GEORGE A Regional Immigration Project conducted by: Kim Walker, Community & Environment Leslie Lax, Strategic Management Consulting In Partnership with:

PG PROJECT OUTLINE Local Labour Market Review Focus Group Meetings Immigrant Labour Supply Research CommunityForum StrategyDevelopmentGuide Labour Market Development Strategy

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS Skills Shortages Labour Market Development Economic Development Skilled Immigrants Challenges Opportunities Local Labour

LABOUR MARKET DEMAND Aging Population ** Out-Migration Availability of Skills Industrial Growth Job Appeal Availability of Training SKILLS SHORTAGE

OCCUPATIONS at RISK of LABOUR SHORTAGES FINANCE & BUSINESS HEALTH & EDUCATIONRETAILSERVICEMANAGERS OTHERPROFESSIONS & SENIOR MANAGERS TECHNICAL & SKILLEDTRADES

PRINCE GEORGE LABOUR MARKET DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY THE VISION BE PREPARED FOR SUCCESS Strategy 1 Strategy 2 Strategy 3 Community Education & Skilled Immigrant Marketing Campaign Community Education & Skilled Immigrant Marketing Campaign Inter-Cultural & Diversity Training Services Inter-Cultural & Diversity Training Services Job Brokering Services Job Brokering Services

TARGETING EMPLOYERS OPPORTUNITIES Mature/Experienced Mature/Experienced New Perspectives New Perspectives Highly Motivated Highly Motivated Skilled/Educated Skilled/Educated International Links International Links Open to New Experiences Open to New ExperiencesCHALLENGES Licencing Reqts Licencing Reqts Training Capacity Training Capacity Language Barriers Language Barriers Over/Under Qualified Over/Under Qualified Finding Labour Finding Labour Hiring Restrictions Hiring Restrictions Cultural Differences Cultural Differences

HIRING INTROSPECT REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS? Assumptions about education & work experienceAssumptions about education & work experience Language & communication needsLanguage & communication needs Capacity to work with & mentor newcomersCapacity to work with & mentor newcomers Resources for cross cultural literacy & management skillsResources for cross cultural literacy & management skills CLEAR COMMUNICATION? Describe difference between ideal and acceptable candidates Identify critical skills, and attitudes Specify terms of employment (probation, merit) Describe the hiring process (exam, interview) COMMIT AND COMMUNICATE

TARGETING SKILLED IMMIGRANTS Ethnic Media in BC Immigrant Networks & Professional Associations Specialized ESL & Inter-Cultural Communication Training Training & Upgrading Programs for Skilled Immigrants

MOVING TO PRINCE GEORGE OPPORTUNITIES Welcome Wagon Welcome Wagon More Integration More Integration Affordability Affordability Jobs Jobs Quality of Life Quality of Life Higher Incomes Higher IncomesCHALLENGES High Expectations High Expectations Limited Retraining Limited Retraining No Work for Spouse No Work for Spouse Smaller Ethnic Community Smaller Ethnic Community Workplace Culture Workplace Culture Fewer Settlement Services Fewer Settlement Services

VISIBLE CULTURAL FEATURES Art Food Customs Artifacts Language Literature

THE CULTURAL ICEBERG Art Food Customs Artifacts Language Literature Norms Values Symbols Beliefs Concepts of Time Perceptions Attitudes Social Relationships Motivations Logic View of the Self Sense of Time & Space

Unrealistic Expectations Risk Aversion Cultural Isolation Lack of Awareness Tunnel Vision Unconnected Services ImmigrantsEmployers Business Leaders Community Services Govt Administrators

Rural/ResourceCommunity Provincial Nominee Program BC Skills Connect Settlement Services Language Services Employment Services Skills Development Services Professional Accreditation Regional Immigration Initiative Multicultural Programs Business Development Education & Training