Funded by the Government of Canada

1. Tool Box of Ideasfor Smaller Centres:Attracting, Welcoming & Retaining Immigrants to Your Community Prepared by the National Working Group on Small Centre Strategies Funded by the Government of Canada

2. Snapshots of Rural Canada Opportunities • Why is Rural Canada Important • Importance of Immigration to Rural Canada • Statistical Snapshots of Immigrants in Rural Canada • Welcoming Newcomers to Rural Canada

3. Why is Rural Canada important? • A significant proportion of Canadians live and work in Rural Canada • 19.8% of Canadians live in rural communities and represent 24% of Canada’s total employment • In some regions, more than 50% live in Rural Canada (e.g. Atlantic Region/Saskatchewan) • Rural communities are a strong contributor to Canada’s economy and prosperity • 95% of Canada’s natural and environmental resources are in Rural Canada: • Of the 1916 resource-reliant communities in Canada, 1686 or 88%, were located in rural Canada • Resource-based sectors represent: 21% of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product, 50% of Canada’s exports, which contributes substantially to Canada’s positive trade balance • Rural Canada has a proven capacity to innovate with 60% of new small businesses start in rural communities • Rural areas provide the location of many recreational and natural amenities enjoyed by rural and urban

4. Why is immigration important toRural Canada? • Historically, immigration/newcomers has impacted rural population growth and depopulation • Resource-based industries (forestry, fishing, energy, mining and agriculture) provided many opportunities for employment • Technological and economic developments reduced labour demands • Today, rural communities are facing many additional pressures in population decline – aging of the active population, youth outmigration and falling birth rates. • Decreasing the size of the potential labour pool • Smaller tax base for municipalities • Rural communities are looking to immigration/newcomers as a means to stimulate economic development and social institutions and curb population loss

5. Tool Box Presentation • An Introduction to the Tool Box This Presentation will provide you with… • Contents & Benefits of the Tool Box • Some Tips on How to Become a “Welcoming Community”

6. What is the Tool Box? Created in 2005 by National Working Group on Small Centre Strategies and funded by Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) Designed to help small centres that wish to attract, welcome and retain newcomer immigrants and refugees Provides ideas, resources, strategies & tools for small centres to grow and prosper by attracting immigrants

7. Who Uses the Tool Box? is for any self-identifying “small centre” region that wishes to attract, welcome and retain newcomer immigrants The Tool Box Small Centers can be a province, territory or town such as: • Newfoundland & Labrador (province) • Red Deer, Alberta (small city) • Trail, British Columbia (small town)

8. Benefits of the Tool Box is: • User Friendly • Resourceful and Practical • Designed for use by a variety of community groups, organizations, government officials, etc. • Flexible and Adaptable • A resource that can be used at any point in the development of your community’s population strategy The Tool Box

9. Small Centres: Tool Box Users • Community Service Groups • Businesses • Settlement Agencies • Faith based organizations • Local government officials • School boards, universities, colleges Who Uses the Tool Box? • Small Centres that wish to attract new residents and have support & consensus from key community residents & stakeholders Key Community Stakeholders

10. CHAPTER 1: Introducing the Tool Box Includes: • Purpose and Background of the Tool Box • Global and National Population Trends and Context • Website links to national & global immigration trends • Strategies and Reality Checks for your Community • Did You Know? • Due to Canada’s decreasing birth rate, immigration will account for Canada’s net population growth after 2020

11. CHAPTER 2: Building the Foundations Includes: • Strategies & Steps to Build Support in Communities • Refugee and Immigration Trends in Canada • Immigration Information- how it works & who is eligible • Did You Know? • In 2006 251,511 new immigrants arrived in Canada BUT less than 10% settled in rural areas

12. CHAPTER 3: Key Factors to Consider Includes: • Information on how to identify & promote key • factors such as family ties; employment or housing • How to identify & manage barriers that may • discriminate against newcomers • Did You Know? • Providing cross-cultural or inter-cultural training for staff of local businesses, government & service organizations can contribute to your community meeting the needs of international newcomers

13. CHAPTER 4: Attracting Migrants Includes: • How to promote your community to immigrants • Canada’s Immigration Categories • Information on International Students & Temporary • Foreign Workers • Did You Know? • Immigrants enter Canada under one of 7 different categories including: Skilled Worker; Business; Provincial Nominee Program; Live in Caregiver; Family; Refugee; or “Other”

14. Chapter 5: The Welcoming Community Includes: • Resources to welcome newcomers in your community • Cultural Competency Checklists for business & government • Promotional Ideas and Events for your community to use • Practical Steps to welcome newcomers in your community • Did You Know? • English or French as a Second Language instruction & acquisition is critical in the successful adaptation & integration of newcomers.

15. 2009 Permanent Residents to Canada • Total number of permanent residents to Canada: 252,179. • Percentage breakdown by province (top 4): Ontario (44.9); Quebec (18.3); B.C. (17.8); Alberta (9.8). • Top 3 source countries: China (29,044); Philippines (27,271); India (26,118). • Other top 10 source countries: USA, UK, France, Pakistan, Iran, South Korea, Morocco. • Percentage breakdown by immigration category: Economic (45.8); Family (39.4); Refugees (8.3); Other (6.5).

16. 2009 Permanent Residents in Alberta

17. 2009 Permanent Residents Top Destinations • Medicine Hat 169 • Lethbridge: 483 • Calgary: 13,708 • Edmonton: 8,508 • Red Deer: 537 • Other: 3,612 • Alberta Total: 27,017

18. Become a “Welcoming Community” Key questions to consider as first steps towards becoming a “Welcoming Community…” • What would a diverse & growing town look like? • What could immigrants contribute to your town? • What are some ways to attract and welcome immigrants to your town? • What would keep newcomer immigrants here once they arrive?

19. Barrier Factors Official language ability Labour market integration: Credential recognition Workplace communication skills Canadian work experience Lack of accurate and timely information Social networksand engagement Two types: Individual level Language abilities Life skills Community networks Systemic barriers Credential recognition Workplace culture Recognition of work experience “Welcoming Community”Barriers to successful settlement

20. What is Your Community’s Vision? Note: Optional slide to be used if presenter has time to ask audience to “brainstorm” and consider the benefits and challenges of Welcoming Newcomers

21. Steps taken by small communities in the Alberta Northeast Region toward becoming Welcoming Communities Implementing a Welcoming and Inclusive Community -Community events (potlucks, Canada Day breakfast) -Publications (Welcome to Bonnyville) -Information sessions for newcomers -Research (community focus group) 

22. Attracting and Retaining Immigrants: A Tool Box of Ideas for Smaller Centres, 2nd Edition • Immigration is important for Canada. It may be vital for your community. Help is available based on current best thinking. • A number of government and non-government immigration professionals from across Canada have developed a Tool Box of information and practical ideas to help your community attract and retain new people. The Tool Box will help you understand the challenging environment of laws and realities in which in-migration can happen. It is available for free. • Prepared by the National Working Group on Small Centre StrategiesFunded by the Government of Canada (Citizenship and Immigration Canada)

23. Tool Box of Ideas: Access & Information To order the Tool Box please contact: • Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria • 930 Balmoral Road Victoria, BC V8T 1A9 • Email: info@icavictoria.org • Phone: (250) 388-4728 • Fax: (250) 386-4396 • Internet: www.icavictoria.org • Or click on the following link: • http://integration-net.ca/english/ini/wci-idca/tbo/index.htm Funded by the Government of Canada

24. Tool Box This is only the beginning, the end result and success of a Welcoming Community will come with a great deal of efforts from this group and the other ones who will join later. “Welcoming Communities are the reflection of the community itself and the commitment of its members to become one”.

25. Tool Box THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION!! If you have any question or inquiries regarding today’s presentation on: Attracting, Welcoming & Retaining Immigrants to Your Community Tool Box, you can contact: SERGIO GAGGERO AE&I Business Industry Liaison Specialist Edmonton Region – West Area. PHONE # 780-415-6343