Welcome PG Resources
Overview of Welcome PG
Welcome PG is a strategic collaboration of community stakeholders, businesses, non-profit organizations and service providers based on a mutual passion and belief in removing barriers to social inclusion. It is created to enhance Prince George’s diversity and economic prosperity by strengthening its capacity to attract, recruit and retain internationally trained new Canadians who have chosen Canada as their home.
Despite recent economic uncertainties, the labour market in BC will still face demographic challenges due to an aging workforce and an increasing need for internationally trained individuals for its labour force growth. In addition smaller communities face fierce competition in retaining and attracting talent and investment, according to Provincial statistics; City of Prince George has a lower attraction and retention rate of New Canadians as compared to cities of similar size.
On the other hand, the challenges faced by the internationally trained individuals immigrating to Canada are often times overwhelming. Despite impressive credentials, New Canadians face higher rates of unemployment.
Welcome PG provides a forum where employers, service providers and other stakeholder groups engage and share innovative tools and resources to promote cultural competence and diversity in their workplaces and tap into new Canadians’ talent. It is our belief that an effective strategy to address the economic downturn and the projected skill shortages is to ease the integration of New Canadians into our community.
Welcome PG Partnership Structure
Welcome PG is comprised of three primary partners, and two advisory committees.
Primary Partners
- Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George - Baljit Sethi, Executive Director
- Initiatives Prince George - Melissa Mills, Manager, Marketing and Business Development
- Prince George Chamber of Commerce, Jennifer Brandle-McCall, Chief Executive Officer
Public Art Advisory Committee Members
- Prince George Chamber of Commerce - Jennifer Brandle-McCall, Chief Executive Officer
- Initiatives Prince George - Tara Bogh, Downtown Initiatives & Economic Analysis
- City of Prince George - Doug Hofstede, Public Art Advisory Committee
- Two Rivers Gallery - George Harris, Curator
- Red Rooster Bakery - Roman Muntener, Owner
- Prince George Public Library - Allan Wilson, Chief Librarian
- Regional District of Fraser Fort George - Jeff Elder, Cultural Coordinator
- Prince George Airport Authority - Robin Smith, Executive Assistant
- Prince George Native Friendship Centre - Sheryl Elgie, Hospitality
- City of Prince George - Garth Frizzel, City Councillor
- Lheidli T'enneh Band Member - Jennifer Pighin, First Nations Artist
Resource Kit and Manual Advisory Committee Members
- Initiatives Prince George - Melissa Mills, Manager, Marketing and Business Development
- National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health - Holly Nathan, Communications
- Up Performance - Sandra Rees, HR Specialist
- Immigration and Multicultural Services Society - Romana Pasca, Employment Counselor
- Prince George Native Friendship Centre - Keith Henry, Director of Education and Employment
- University of Northern British Columbia - Ami Hagiwara, Educator
- Immigration and Multicultural Services Society - Sharon Pannu, Settlement Counselor
- College of New Caledonia - Michelle Woolf, HR Recruitment and Development
- Canfor - Rob Jarvis, Manager, Talent and Employee Development
Welcome PG Objectives
Welcome PG efforts are focused on:
- Facilitating information exchange among employers on the benefits of fostering more welcoming and inclusive workplaces;
- Raising public awareness of the contribution New Canadians make to economic growth and the long-term economic prosperity of our community;
- Increasing awareness of social, cultural, and economic benefits of immigration and multiculturalism;
- Increasing employers' awareness of Canadian equivalency of credentials held by internationally trained individuals immigrating to Canada from all over the world; and
- Assisting employers with innovative and sustainable employment strategies that will lead to culturally competent workplaces.
- Assisting New Canadians increase their impact in Canada and ease them into Canadian culture.
Welcome PG Staff
Cat Sivertsen - Project Manager Oversees the development of the project and the media campaign Cat@imss.ca |
 |
|
Kelley Hilton - Project Assistant Works in conjunction with the Project Manager to develop ideas and contact employers Kelley@imss.ca |
 |
Funders
Welcome PG is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia under the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Project (WICWP).
As a contract holder for the WICWP project, the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George is the lead partner for the project and responsible for the administration of the funds, mandatory reporting and contract deliverable.
WICWP (Welcome PG)
Launched in 2008, the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Program (WICWP) is a three-year initiative intended to be a vehicle to lead and influence systemic change that supports inclusive and vibrant communities. The primary goal of WICWP is to foster communities where New Canadians can realize their full potential, racism is eliminated, and cultural diversity is valued and celebrated.
WICWP is innovative in that it serves as a bridge between diverse sectors and provides an opportunity for collaboration and broader sector engagement in developing and exchanging knowledge, educating the public to promote cross-cultural understanding, and fostering welcoming and inclusive communities.
As such, this program is about capacity building, developing broad, long-term partnerships across sectors and stakeholder groups, and serving as a catalyst for systemic change that will improve our communities' social, cultural, and economic growth.
To learn more about WICWP please click here.
