Leaders’ Roundtable on ImmigrationLeaders’ Roundtable on ImmigrationOctober 17October 17thth, 2010, 2010

David Paul, City of BrockvilleDavid Paul, City of Brockville

OUTLINEOUTLINE•Background

•Immigration Advantage

•The CIRRO Initiative

•Financial Resources

•Welcoming Communities program

•Leeds and Grenville Immigration Partnership

•Next steps

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

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

CIRRO STRATEGYA 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 AND HOW TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN NEW CANADIANS?RETAIN NEW CANADIANS?

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

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

WELCOMING COMMUNITIES WELCOMING 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

BUILDING WELCOMING BUILDING WELCOMING COMMUNITIESCOMMUNITIES

OrientationImmigration Web - Portal; Newcomers’ Welcome Kit

Community OutreachAdvertisements in print and broadcasted media

Community ConnectionsReferral services; Involving International Students; Presence at, and involvement in, local celebrations

Research and UnderstandingUnderstanding newcomers’ needs, best practices, regional SWOT analysis, labour market opportunities

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

PROGRAM INITIATIVESPROGRAM INITIATIVES

www.newcomersinfo.ca

PROGRAM INITIATIVESPROGRAM INITIATIVES

1st Annual Newcomers Welcome Ceremony

(Presentation by 3 local mayors, and the MPP)

PROGRAM INITIATIVESPROGRAM INITIATIVES

“First Impressions In a New Land”

International Photography Exhibition

PROGRAM INITIATIVESPROGRAM INITIATIVES

8 articles covering the program featured in local newspapers 6 months

Radio public service announcements featuring contributions

of immigrants to community & economic development

PROGRAM INITIATIVESPROGRAM INITIATIVES

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

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

PROGRAM IN ACTIONPROGRAM IN ACTION

David Paul

Director,

Economic Development

City of Brockville

1 King Street West

Brockville, ON K6V 7A5

dpaul@brockville.com

THANK YOUTHANK YOU