Canadian Immigration Summit 2024

The needs of immigrants and the tools available to provide settlement services are continually evolving. Leaders working with Canada’s diverse immigrant communities will reflect on the challenges and opportunities associated with delivering impactful services in the next five years.

Moderator

Patrick MacKenzie

CEO, Immigrant Employment Council of BC

Speakers

Tonie Chaltas

CEO, Achēv

Manjeet Dhiman

SVP, Services & Strategic Initiatives, ACCES Employment

Steve Reynolds

Executive Director, Regional Connections Immigrant Services

This session will explore the pivotal role of immigrant entrepreneurs in driving innovation and economic growth in Canada. Through case studies and real-world examples, panelists will share their success stories, address the unique challenges they have faced, and discuss policies and programs that support economic growth through entrepreneurship, such as the Start-Up Visa Program.

Participants will have the chance to engage with experts and entrepreneurs to gain insights and strategies that can help them leverage immigrant entrepreneurship to create a prosperous economic future.

Moderator

Dr. Usha Srinivasan

Founding Director, Brampton Venture Zone

Speakers

Fedor Belomoev

Founder and CEO, Canadian Business Growth Advisors

Karla Briones

Founder, Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada and Consultant Karla Briones Consulting

Grace Sheng

Manager, Ottawa Newcomer Entrepreneurs Hub (ONE Hub)

Sponsored by:

Housing affordability has become a key concern affecting both immigrants and Canadians. Speakers will examine housing initiatives and immigration policies that can enable newcomers to find affordable housing that is suitable for their family.

Moderator

Steve Pomeroy

Focus Consulting Inc; Industry Professor, McMaster University

Speakers

Cailan Libby

Founder, Happipad and Refugee Housing Canada

Amanda Sobchak

Director, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

Cliff Youdale

OCH’s Chief Development Officer

This panel discussion will offer key insights from research and practice on engaging employers in a variety of immigration programs across Canada. These insights will include results from the service delivery improvement project Engaging SMEs: National Business Networks and Local Design Perspectives, in which six partner organizations tested prototypes to improve the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to acquire talent and retain immigrant newcomers.

Participants will also hear about employer engagement in the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), skilled pathways for refugees, and grassroots employer service programs.

Panelists will reflect on innovative ways to engage employers and critical lessons learned. Attendees will learn how to better address employers’ distinctive challenges, needs, and barriers in accessing, hiring, and retaining newcomer immigrant talent.

Moderator

Rania Younes

Employer Networks and National Engagement, Immigrant Employment Council of BC

Speakers

Deanna D’Elia

General Manager Employment and Immigrant Services, YMCA of Niagara Employment & Immigrant Services

Lara Dyer

Chief External Affairs Officer, Talent Beyond Boundaries

Shaloma Gauthier PhD

Manager, Immigration Promotion and Employer Outreach Unit

Explorez des perspectives clés sur le paysage dynamique de l’immigration francophone au Canada, tant au niveau national que communautaire. Des experts partageront des stratégies visant à améliorer l’expérience des immigrants francophones, qu’ils soient individus ou familles, tout en offrant une compréhension approfondie des processus de sélection et d’intégration des immigrants francophones à travers le pays.

 Cette session se tiendra en français et sera traduite en anglais. 

Gain valuable perspectives into the dynamic landscape of francophone immigration in Canada at both the national and community levels. Experts will share strategies to enhance the immigration experience for francophone individuals and families and provide a deeper understanding of the selection and settlement processes for francophone immigrants across the country.

Please be advised, this session will take place in French. RSI will be available. Look out for details on how to connect to this.

Moderator

Dorra Gdoura

Conseillère Principale, Senior Advisor, Collège La Cité

Speakers

Roukya Abdi Aden

Directrice de la concertation et de la recherche, RDÉE Canada

Marie-Eve Filteau

Directrice-adjointe, Assistant-director, Francophone Immigration Branch (FIB), IRCC

Bintou Sacko

Directrice/Director, Accueil francophone du Manitoba

The Canadian labour market is constantly evolving, with a high demand for future-ready skills and increased pressure on immigrants to fill critical labour gaps. However, newcomers consistently face credential and skill barriers that make it hard for them to integrate effectively into the workforce and advance their careers. Through case studies and practical insights, panelists will examine the milestones and obstacles that often shape newcomers’ experiences in Canada and explore how microlending can help break down those barriers, so newcomers can engage more fully in the labour market and succeed over the long term.

Moderator

Claire Fan

Economist, RBC

Speakers

Claudia Hepburn

CEO, Windmill Microlending

Heidi Hemdan

Manager, Newcomer Specialists, Ontario North and East Region, RBC

Trevor McAlmont

CEO, YMCA National Capital Region

Chiemeka Umunnakwe

Windmill Mircolending Alumni

Sponsored by: