Francophone employers to be informed of available supports for integrating immigrants

Lunch-and-learns slated for Francophone Immigration Week

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – Oct. 19, 2012 – All francophone employers and entrepreneurs, as well as all other interested people, are being invited to attend one of two free lunch-and-learns, slated for early November, to learn more about the various types of supports available to assist with the economic and community integration of immigrants.

The first lunch-and-learn will be held Monday, Nov. 5, at 12 noon at the Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside while the second one will be held Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 12 noon at the Rodd Royalty Inn in Charlottetown.

These events are being organized by the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI, in collaboration with four partners that provide support to immigrants, on the occasion of Atlantic Francophone Immigration Week, which runs Nov. 5-9.

“We invited these four partners to give us presentations on their services so that we will better understand how entrepreneurs and organizations looking for employees could benefit from the various available programs,” said Raymond J. Arsenault, the chamber’s activities coordinator.

“Research shows that the retention of immigrant employees depends enormously on the services and supports available for these employees and their families to help facilitate their full integration into their new community,” adds Arsenault. “When we speak of economic integration, we absolutely have to include the personal, family and community dimensions, not just the employment dimension.”

FOUR PRESENTERS

During the lunchtime sessions, Angie Cormier, coordinator of RDÉE Prince Edward Island’s project for the economic integration of francophone immigrants, will explain the steps that she will take over the next few months to better inform employers and entrepreneurs and to create connections between immigrants and employers.

Jacinthe Lemire, provincial coordinator of the Coopérative d’intégration francophone de l’Î.-P.-É., will talk about the services offered to newcomers to help integrate them into their new community and to succeed in business and at work.

Isabelle Dasylva-Gill, francophone recruitment, settlement and integration officer with the Province of PEI, will explain the province’s integration support services and will speak about the importance of bilingualism to the economy, businesses and francophone immigrants.

Nancy Clement, francophone settlement worker for the PEI Association of Newcomers to Canada, will also explain the variety of services her organization provides.

Those interested in participating for these free sessions must register by Oct. 31 so that organizers may order the appropriate number of meals. To register for the Summerside session, please call Jeannine at (902) 854-2328, Ext. 228, or at Jeannine@sdbaipe.org. For the Charlottetown session, please register with Carrie Cormier at (902) 370-7333 at or carrie@rdeeipe.org.

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For more information:

Raymond J. Arsenault
Coordinator
Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI
(902) 854-3665
Raymond@rdeeipe.org