Hiring newcomers – a solution to staffing woes?

Information session with guests Wade MacLauchlan and Lori-Ann Cyr

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – Dec. 14, 2012 – All French-speaking entrepreneurs, employers, managers, professionals and organization directors on PEI will soon be invited to think about the benefits of hiring qualified and multilingual immigrants who are permanent residents. This theme will be particularly pertinent for those who are having or who have had a hard time recruiting qualified employees, either in professional capacities or in the trades.

During a first information session, entitled “Hiring newcomers – a solution?”, Monday, Jan. 14, from 5-7 p.m., they’ll have the opportunity to hear presentations on the benefits and competitive advantages of hiring such competent employees. The event will be held in the Triple Room of Holland College’s Centre for Applied Science and Technology at 300 Kent St. in Charlottetown. A light supper will be served.

The session will begin with a few explanatory remarks from the directors of RDÉE Prince Edward Island’s LIENS project (Linking Economic Immigration to Our Successes). Participants will then get to hear comments, in French, from Wade MacLauchlan, businessman and past president of the University of Prince Edward Island, who will share his vision about immigration and the future of our province.

The second guest speaker, Lori-Ann Cyr, president and executive director of Diversis Inc. (a New Brunswick consulting firm specializing in immigration), will explore the phenomenon of immigration and will speak about the new tendency to consider permanent residents as a source of human resources, especially for francophone communities.

She’ll address themes such as:

  • The current challenges in the PEI employment market (demographics, worker and skill shortages, economic context);
  • The contributions of newcomers (added economic and social value stemming from diversity);
  • The issues linked to hiring newcomers (language, cultural differences, recognition of diplomas and skills, experience in Canada).

She’ll conclude her presentation with “five things to consider”.

“This session will provide you with an excellent opportunity to network with people who are well connected in the area of immigration,” said Angie Cormier, LIENS project coordinator.

She notes that the evening’s discussion will be videotaped to produce promotional clips on the value of hiring immigrants who’ve attained the status of permanent residents.

All those wishing to register for the free session must contact Carrie Cormier at (902) 370-7333 or at carrie@rdeeipe.org no later than Jan. 11. Storm date is Jan. 17, same time and same location.

A second session of this series, slated for Feb. 4, will specifically address the topic “The process for hiring newcomers”. The third and final session, planned for March 7, will be entitled “After hiring newcomers – Managing diversity in the workplace”.

These sessions are provided through the LIENS project, funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

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CUTLINE 1: Wade MacLauchlan, past president of the University of Prince Edward Island, will provide an overview on immigration to PEI during the information session “Hiring newcomers – a solution?” Monday, Jan. 14, in Charlottetown.

CUTLINE 2: Lori-Ann Cyr, president and executive director of Diversis Inc., will explore the new tendency to consider permanent residents as a source of human resources, especially for francophone communities, during an information session in Charlottetown Monday, Jan. 14.

For more information:

Angie Cormier
Coordinator
LIENS Project
(902) 370-7333
angie@rdeeipe.org