Canadian urban communities need to integrate skilled immigrants to ensure future prosperity and success in global marketplace

Toronto, ON, June 8, 2009 - Urban centers in Canada are in the fortunate position of being home to hundreds of skilled immigrants, whose education and training have the potential to significantly enrich their communities. When the economy improves, the readiness of these communities to tap into this global talent will be an important factor in their economic success. From June 11-12, close to 200 delegates from 17 urban communities meet in Vancouver, BC, to discuss practical solutions that will enable them to best integrate skilled immigrants into the local labour market.

“Skilled immigrants are a key resource for building and strengthening Canada, particularly in light of our declining birth rate,” says Ratna Omidvar, President of Maytree. “Unfortunately, skilled immigrants often face obstacles in finding employment. Some prospective employers may not want to hire someone who has a degree from an unfamiliar international university. Or the skilled immigrants often lack the necessary professional networks to connect them with employment opportunities.”

Funded by the Government of Canada and hosted by ALLIES, a joint project of Maytree and The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, the 2009 Learning Exchange invites communities to share ideas, strategies and experiences about successful immigrant employment approaches. In panel discussions, workshops and special presentations, delegates will learn how to engage employers, how to set up a successful internship program and how to work with all levels of government, among other topics.

Research has shown that the integration of skilled immigrants is necessary for Canada to succeed. In particular, the Canadian-born workforce is shrinking and the demand for labour is growing which skilled immigrants can fill; skilled immigrants can help Canadian companies do business with the world as they bring international expertise; and as many local markets are changing and becoming more diverse, skilled immigrants will give companies a better understanding about how to do business with them.

Details on the 2009 ALLIES Learning Exchange can be found at www.maytree.com/integration/allies/2009-learning-exchange.

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ALLIES (Assisting Local Leaders with Immigrant Employment Strategies) is a five-year project jointly funded by Maytree and The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation. ALLIES provides the information, learning and funding required by communities to adapt and implement successful immigrant employment approaches used by multi-stakeholder initiatives across the country. The project brings local players together to develop their own practical solutions for the integration of skilled immigrants into the labour market.

About Maytree: Established in 1982, Maytree is a private foundation that promotes equity and prosperity through its policy insights, grants and programs. The foundation has gained international recognition for its expertise in developing, testing and implementing programs and policy solutions related to immigration, integration and diversity in the workplace, in the boardroom and in public office. www.maytree.com.

About The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation: Established in 1937 by philanthropist and entrepreneur John Wilson McConnell, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation funds projects in Canada that foster citizen engagement, build resilient communities and have the potential for national scale or impact. In the process of developing and supporting programs, the Foundation has come to appreciate better the importance of innovation, the exploration of new and effective ways of addressing intractable social problems and the challenge of ensuring that these new approaches are sustained. www.mcconnellfoundation.ca.