Cities and small towns in Canada and around the world are in competition for skilled workers, investors and families. Recognizing the prosperity that immigrants bring, many smaller communities across Canada have now begun to implement strategies to make themselves more attractive to immigrants.

In the Capital Region, we have many amenities and assets that make us an attractive place to live. But it will take an intelligent and coordinated effort to be a welcoming community.

These resources provide some background information on local projects and organizational resources of interest to local governments. Links to other community initiatives are also available to find out what other communities are doing.

Local Projects

ICA and the Community Partnership Network (CPN) are delivering a series of projects this year to attract and retain immigrants in our community and workplaces. These initiatives are the culmination of pilot projects and action research conducted in recent years in the Capital Region.

Backgrounder: Attracting & Retaining Immigrants in the Capital Region. 2010. ICA Backgrounder.pdf

Living and Working in Greater Victoria: A Place for Everyone. A Welcoming Community Action Strategy. 2009. ICA.
Capital Region Welcoming Community Action Strategy

Regional Immigration. Tools & Strategies for Your Community. 2008. PowerPoint Presentation by Jean McRae. ICA.
CRD Small Centres Workshop 2008

Defining the Challenge: Skilled Immigrants and Labour Market Access in the Capital Region. Final Report. 2004. ICA.
Defining the Challenge Final Report

Defining the Challenge. 2004. PowerPoint Presentation by Kim Walker.
ICA Defining the Challenge Presentation

Community Initiatives across Canada

British Columbia

Shuswap Revelstoke Region, BC. Okanagan College Revelstoke completed the partnership development phase of WICWP in 2009 and is currently engaged in phases two and three, 'Knowledge Development and Exchange' and 'Public Education'. Okanagan College Shuswap Revelstoke Region WICWP

Kelowna, BC. Key community representatives launched the project  "The Changing Face of Kelowna—Are We Ready?", designed to assess the level of cultural awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity at the community, business, education and individual levels.
Intercultural Society of the Central Okanagan

The Prairies

Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA). AUMA, the Alberta Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights and Citizenship branch of Alberta Culture and Community Spirit have partnered to create the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities initiative. Their goal is to build capacity among municipalities to create socially and economically vibrant communities. Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA)

Central Alberta Economic Partnership (CAEP). A key objective identified under Supporting Community Readiness in CAEP's 2007-2008 Operations Plan was to encourage the use of welcoming communities' best practices in the attraction and retention of newcomers to Central Alberta. In this project, newcomers encompass aboriginals who have traditionally lived on reserve land, people from out of province as well refugees, immigrant and foreign workers. Central Alberta Economic Partnership

Red Deer, AB. The City of Red Deer and Red Deer College joined forces in 2006 to look at their own policies and practices and help guide and support a community approach to the integration of international newcomers. Red Deer, Alberta

Saskatoon, SK. The City of Saskatoon developed a Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Policy in 2004 to pursue and monitor progress toward representation and participation of people from diverse backgrounds in the development of the community. City of Saskatoon

Central Canada

Metro Toronto, ON. The Toronto City Summit of 2002 brought together leaders representing the city's various sectors and communities. The Summit was held to assess the Toronto Region's strengths and challenges, and shape future directions to move the region forward. The Toronto City Summit Alliance (TCSA) was formed which identified the inclusion of immigrants into the labour market as a key challenge facing the Toronto Region. The Maytree Foundation, along with the TCSA, formed TRIEC. Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council

Ottawa, ON. Hire Immigrants Ottawa is a community-based initiative that brings together employers, immigrant agencies and stakeholders to enhance employers’ ability to access the talents of skilled immigrants in the Ottawa area. Hire Immigrants Ottawa

Welcoming Communities Initiative. The Welcoming Communities Initiative is a collaborative multidisciplinary alliance of university and community partners designed to develop, test, and implement strategies to attract and include immigrants and minorities in small- and medium-sized cities across Ontario. These cities are in need of population renewal to boost their economies, fill labour needs, and slow population decline. Welcoming Communities Initiative

The Maritimes

Halifax, NS. The Greater Halifax Partnership, along with RBC Royal Bank and Halifax Regional Municipality, launched an award-winning print campaign in 2006 that focused on changing perception and attitudes of the business community towards hiring an immigrant. The Greater Halifax Partnership

Provincial and National Services

EmbraceBC

WelcomeBC

Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development

Citizenship and Immigration Canada