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

1. Leaders’ Roundtable on ImmigrationLeaders’ Roundtable on Immigration
October 17October 17thth
, 2010, 2010
David Paul, City of BrockvilleDavid Paul, City of Brockville

2. OUTLINEOUTLINE
•Background
•Immigration Advantage
•The CIRRO Initiative
•Financial Resources
•Welcoming Communities program
•Leeds and Grenville Immigration Partnership
•Next steps

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

11. PROGRAM INITIATIVESPROGRAM INITIATIVES
www.newcomersinfo.ca

12. PROGRAM INITIATIVESPROGRAM INITIATIVES
1st
Annual Newcomers Welcome Ceremony
(Presentation by 3 local mayors, and the MPP)

13. PROGRAM INITIATIVESPROGRAM INITIATIVES
“First Impressions In a New Land”
International Photography Exhibition

14. PROGRAM INITIATIVESPROGRAM INITIATIVES
8 articles covering the program featured in local
newspapers 6 months

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

18. PROGRAM IN ACTIONPROGRAM IN ACTION

19. David Paul
Director,
Economic Development
City of Brockville
1 King Street West
Brockville, ON K6V 7A5
dpaul@brockville.com
THANK YOUTHANK YOU