Transcript INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAM EVALUATION

MOVING TO THE MARGINS
The Regional Immigration
Initiative in Prince George
Presented by
KIM WALKER
COMMUNITY & ENVIRONMENT
Metropolis Conference
Vancouver, BC March 24, 2006
PRESENTATION TOPICS
1. Regional Immigration Initiative &
The Prince George Project
2. Opportunities & Challenges for
Individuals and Communities
3. Opportunities & Challenges for
Policy and Program Development
REGIONAL IMMIGRATION
INITIATIVE
BC Ministry of Attorney General
& Ministry Responsible for Multiculturalism
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Western Economic Diversification
Canadian Rural Partnerships
Rural Team BC
Community Futures Development
Association of BC
Objectives:
1. To create awareness of
immigration as a tool to
support socio-economic
development
2. To increase the capacity of
communities and regions to
attract and retain
immigrants
Regional Initiative Activities
Oct 2002: Canada – BC Agreement
Oct 2003: The Small Centre Strategy
Nov 2003: Joint letter to BC mayors &
follow-up meetings
Aug 2004: Request for Proposals
Jun 2005: Community Pilot Projects
EIGHT REGIONAL PROJECTS
Prince George
Powell River
Revelstoke
Vernon
Port Alberni
Okanagan
Nanaimo
Abbotsford
Distribution of Immigrants in BC
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Facts and Figures 2002
TARGETING SKILLED IMMIGRANTS
AS A POTENTIAL LABOUR SOURCE
IN PRINCE GEORGE
A Regional Immigration Project conducted by:
Kim Walker, Community & Environment
Leslie Lax, Strategic Management Consulting
In Partnership with:
PG PROJECT OUTLINE
Labour Market
Development Strategy
Community
Forum
Immigrant Labour
Supply Research
Focus Group
Meetings
Local Labour
Market Review
Strategy
Development
Guide
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS
Opportunities
Challenges
Skills
Shortages
Economic
Development
Skilled
Immigrants
Local
Labour
Labour Market
Development
LABOUR MARKET DEMAND
Aging Population **
+
Out-Migration
+
Availability of Skills
+
Industrial Growth
+
Availability of Training
+
Job Appeal
SKILLS SHORTAGE
OCCUPATIONS at RISK
of LABOUR SHORTAGES
TECHNICAL &
OTHER
SKILLED
PROFESSIONS
TRADES
& SENIOR
MANAGERS
HEALTH &
EDUCATION
FINANCE &
BUSINESS
RETAIL
SERVICE
MANAGERS
PRINCE GEORGE LABOUR MARKET
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
THE VISION
“BE PREPARED FOR SUCCESS”
Strategy 1
 Community Education &
Skilled Immigrant
Marketing Campaign
Strategy 2
 Inter-Cultural & Diversity
Training Services
Strategy 3
 Job Brokering Services
TARGETING EMPLOYERS
OPPORTUNITIES
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Mature/Experienced
New Perspectives
Highly Motivated
Skilled/Educated
International Links
Open to New
Experiences
CHALLENGES
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Licencing Req’ts
Training Capacity
Language Barriers
Over/Under Qualified
Finding Labour
Hiring Restrictions
Cultural Differences
HIRING INTROSPECT
REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS?
• Assumptions about
education & work
experience
CLEAR COMMUNICATION?
• Describe difference
between ideal and
acceptable candidates
• Language &
communication needs
• Identify critical skills, and
attitudes
• Capacity to work with &
mentor newcomers
• Specify terms of
employment (probation,
merit)
• Resources for cross
cultural literacy &
management skills
• Describe the hiring
process (exam, interview)
COMMIT AND COMMUNICATE
TARGETING SKILLED IMMIGRANTS
Ethnic Media
in BC
Training & Upgrading
Programs for Skilled
Immigrants
Specialized ESL & Inter-Cultural
Communication
Training
Immigrant Networks &
Professional Associat
MOVING TO PRINCE GEORGE
OPPORTUNITIES
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Welcome Wagon
More Integration
Affordability
Jobs
Quality of Life
Higher Incomes
CHALLENGES
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High Expectations
Limited Retraining
No Work for Spouse
Smaller Ethnic
Community
 Workplace Culture
 Fewer Settlement
Services
VISIBLE CULTURAL FEATURES
Artifacts
Language
Food
Literature
Customs
Art
THE CULTURAL ICEBERG
Literature
Art
Food
Concepts of Time
Logic
Norms
Perceptions
Social Relationships
View of the Self
Language
Artifacts
Customs
Attitudes
Symbols
Values
Beliefs
Motivations
Sense of Time & Space
Cultural Isolation
Unconnected Services
Lack of Awareness
Immigrants
Employers
Business Leaders
Tunnel Vision
Unrealistic Expectations
Community Services
Govt Administrators
Risk Aversion
Business
Development
Education &
Training
Regional Immigration
Initiative
Employment
Services
Skills Development
Services
Rural/Resource
Community
Professional
Accreditation
Provincial Nominee
Program
BC
Skills Connect
Multicultural
Programs
Settlement
Services
Language
Services