Mobilizing Waterloo Region around immigrant employment

The Challenge

Waterloo Region's vibrant economy and high quality of life makes it a popular destination for many new immigrants. Despite the optimism of building a future in Canada, many immigrants with a wide range of skill and professional training are denied the opportunity to practice their profession.

Even though skill shortages exist in many of their chosen professions, the current climate creates a confusing and discouraging process for immigrants with skills and training from other countries. The process most often leads to rejection.

Participants

Over 350 people and organizations in Waterloo Region participated in a community-wide effort, with funding coming from 25 separate funding groups including three levels of government.

Innovative Solutions

Complex challenges like immigrant employment require diverse solutions, with many different segments of a community working together in new ways. CCBR responded to the challenge with a strategy that included four specific stages. These stages built on CCBR's previous work on immigrant employment.

1. Conducted consciousness-raising action research (2002-2003)
   

   • Carried out multi-stakeholder research on local labour market needs
     

   • Used existing immigrant skills analysis as a catalyst for mobilizing leaders
     

   • Initiated a "call for change" for governments with regards to regulated professions
     

2. Initiated community mobilization: The Waterloo Region Immigrant Skills Summit (2004-2005)
   

   • Engaged 200 leaders from all sectors of community
     

   • Refined and committed to a comprehensive set of action plans toward attracting and integrating immigrant skills into Waterloo Region's labour market
     

   • Recommended an on-going network aimed at attracting immigrant talent and ensuring more visibility in employee recruitment
     

3. Negotiated new collaboration: Preparation to launch the Waterloo Region Immigrant Employment Network (WRIEN) (2005-2006)
   

   • Co-led (with Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce) 50 individuals and groups in the preparation phase of WRIEN that determined governance structure, potential activities, desired outcomes and terms of reference

   • Raised over $900,000 for core operations from seven local funders over three years

   • Launched WRIEN in June 2006 at a Town Hall with five active work groups, a steering committee and two full-time staff

4. Evaluated innovation: Tracking WRIEN's process and outcomes (2006-2009)

   • 3 year system change evaluation of WRIEN that involves all stakeholders
     

   • Used evaluation to encourage accountability and facilitate ongoing learning about how best to build joint ventures across different segments of the community

Discoveries

Our region's strategy for immigrant employment is not simply establishing a network but embarking on an evolving journey that involves the whole community. Diverse stakeholders are involved in strategically planning next steps. Each success builds momentum and creates visibility for this issue that will lead to further change. Strong facilitation is needed to forge a common purpose that serves to inspire all to commit their time and resources. Communities across Canada have expressed an interest in Waterloo Region's model of responding to immigrant employment.

-written by Rich Janzen and Rob Case

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