Employer Support The Employer Engagement Strategy encompasses seven strategic initiatives and programs designed to inform, elicit interest and engage employers in the practice of recruiting, hiring, engaging and retaining skilled and professional immigrant talent. This program is funded by the Government of Ontario.  Information Clearing House            A region-wide campaign, profiling success stories where the skills of             immigrants specifically met skills shortages to address local employer            needs.

Employer Visitation Program One-on-one meetings with employers on-site to gain real-time feedback  from employers on barriers and potential solutions to support their workforce needs, including specific future skills needs. The WRIEN staff uses a survey as an interview guide in order to build a data base and provide answers for the questions below: How do we best help employers? How do we engage employers? What are the gaps/overlaps in employers related service delivery in this community? Click here to access the employer visitation program survey

Employer Resource Guide A printed and web version of a resource guide to assist and support employers in the process of recruiting, hiring, integrating and retaining skilled and professional immigrants. It will also include Best Practices and Case Studies. Click here to see the guide Best Practices A number of employers in Waterloo Region have implemented innovative and exciting practices relative to the attraction, hiring, integrating and retention of skilled and professional immigrants. A sample is presented on WRIEN's best practices DVD.  Click here to see the 9 minute presentation. Networking Sessions Networking events that put employers in direct contact with job ready skilled and professional immigrants. During such events success stories of immigrant integration into the Waterloo Region will be shared; and immigrants and employers will be able to discuss employment opportunities in a one-to-one non interview type environment. Internship Program The program will match internationally trained professionals with local employers providing paid workplace placements to match the immigrants skill sets to the employers needs for a four month period. The immigrant enhances his/her workplace English, gains Canadian experience and develops networks and usually a letter of reference to compliment their job search. Refer to the internship program brochures for details

Employer Workshops and Seminars Designed to provide employers with timely information and tools to assist in the recruitment, hiring, integration and retention of foreign trained talent.

Annual Best Practices Forum An annual forum focused on human resource best practices that create win-win outcomes for employers and new comers to Waterloo Region. Contact: Peter McFadden, Executive Director at pmcfadden@greaterkwchamber.com or (519) 749-6033