A "welcoming community" is one that is able to create and build a friendly and supportive environment while retaining youth, developing a vibrant economy, and highlighting its character and natural beauty, making it a special place in which to live.
- CIRRO Overview, 2009
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Leaders’ Roundtable on Immigration
1. Leaders’ Roundtable on ImmigrationLeaders’ Roundtable on Immigration
October 17October 17thth
, 2010, 2010
David Paul, City of BrockvilleDavid Paul, City of Brockville
3. BACKGROUND – BrockvilleBACKGROUND – Brockville
•Total population 24,000 with trade area of 50,000
•Population growth below natural replacement level
•Youth out-migration and retiree in-migration
•8% over national average of 60 + years population
•Low % of immigrant population
•Only 0.5 % of total population are recent immigrants who
arrived between 2001-2006 (Ontario’s average - 4.8%)
•Workforce crisis if current trends continue
4. IMMIGRATION ADVANTAGEIMMIGRATION ADVANTAGE
•Demographic diversification – Younger families
•Attraction of talent – Skilled labor
•New businesses – Investment and Entrepreneurship
•International bridge – Economic and Educational
•Cultural diversity – Innovation and Creativity gains
•Strengthening pillars of economic growth – human
capital, investment and innovation.
•Sustainability for our Future
5. CIRRO STRATEGY
A bottom-up approach, strengths and challenges
(Community Stakeholders)
A collaborative structure (CIRRO Steering Committee)
An evidence-based approach (Documentation and
Tools Production)
HOW TO ATTRACT ANDHOW TO ATTRACT AND
RETAIN NEW CANADIANS?RETAIN NEW CANADIANS?
6. COMMUNITY PARTNERSCOMMUNITY PARTNERS
-Developed key partnerships:
- The United Way of Leeds and Grenville, in its capacity as
a regional community building organization
- Brockville and District Multicultural Council, in its capacity
as the umbrella network for area ethno-cultural groups
-Worked with partners to involve more than 20 organizations
from across the region
7. SECURING FUNDINGSECURING FUNDING
-Gathered newcomers to Canada in the region to understand
desires and needs
-Subsequently gathered community stakeholders to identify gaps
in regional service provision
-With project initiatives identified, successfully attained funding
through:
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada -“Welcoming Communities Initiatives”
• Ontario Trillium Foundation
• Career Bridge Program – Internationally Trained Professional Internship
8. WELCOMING COMMUNITIESWELCOMING COMMUNITIES
PROGRAMPROGRAM
What is a ‘Welcoming Community’?
A "welcoming community" is one that is able to create
and build a friendly and supportive environment while
retaining youth, developing a vibrant economy, and
highlighting its character and natural beauty, making it a
special place in which to live.
- CIRRO Overview, 2009
9. BUILDING WELCOMINGBUILDING WELCOMING
COMMUNITIESCOMMUNITIES
Orientation
Immigration Web - Portal; Newcomers’ Welcome Kit
Community Outreach
Advertisements in print and broadcasted media
Community Connections
Referral services; Involving International Students;
Presence at, and involvement in, local celebrations
Research and Understanding
Understanding newcomers’ needs, best practices, regional
SWOT analysis, labour market opportunities
10. PROGRAM INITIATIVESPROGRAM INITIATIVES
SWOT Analysis
Strengths – Quality of life, educational
opportunities
Weaknesses – Lack of cultural communities,
lack of work opportunities
Opportunities – Underutilized economic potential,
proximity to immigrant hubs
Threats – Discriminatory attitudes
15. Radio public service announcements featuring contributions
of immigrants to community & economic development
PROGRAM INITIATIVESPROGRAM INITIATIVES
16. ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTSADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
•BR+E Study with focus on workforce needs to feed into the
newcomer attraction strategies
•Business immigrants familiarization tour
•Establishment of Leeds and Grenville Immigration Partnership
with four working groups - Economic, Education & Services,
Cultural/Community Involvement and Marketing/Promotions
•Hosting the Conference Board of Canada’s “Immigration
Advantage” workshop
•Grant applications for continued funding
17. NEXT STEPSNEXT STEPS
•“Community Connections” workshops across the
communities of Leeds & Grenville to connect newcomers
with available support and resources
•Newcomers’ Toolkits: information to ease and expedite
settlement
•Promotional video featuring Leeds & Grenville as a
welcoming place to live, study, work and play
•Educational video featuring social and economic benefits of
immigration in our communities