Regina is hosting its inaugural Refugee Hiring Event today, connecting five local employers with 41 refugees and forcibly displaced individuals seeking employment, in an effort to alleviate the city’s labour shortages. Organized by the Regina Region Local Immigration Partnership (RRLIP), the event aims to match skilled newcomers with businesses in need of talent.
“The Regina Region Local Immigration Partnership is proud to support this unique event,” said Mussarat Parveen of the RRLIP. “By fostering collaboration with World Education Services (WES), Jumpstart Refugee Talent, and our Labour Market Working Group, we are creating an effective pathway to employment for refugees and other displaced individuals.”
Participating employers — Booster Juice, D&G Logistics, NGIT Services, Scotiabank, and Sunlife — are set to meet pre-selected candidates from a pool of 140 applicants. Job seekers will receive professional interview coaching and networking opportunities alongside potential employment matches.
“Connecting talent has never been more important, especially considering the opportunity refugees represent for rural communities in Saskatchewan and beyond,” said the Honourable Ratna Omidvar, co-chair of the Refugee Jobs Agenda Roundtable.
The hiring event is based on a model developed by the Refugee Jobs Agenda Roundtable, a network of 150 employers and community leaders committed to increasing refugees’ access to meaningful employment. Similar events in Toronto, Moncton, and Winnipeg have resulted in job offers or second interviews for 55 to 85 per cent of attendees.
“Our aim is to achieve tangible results, with job seekers receiving on-the-spot job offers or progressing to the next round,” said Ashley Belsey, Lead Agency Team Coordinator at the Regina Work Preparation Centre, Inc. “We have been eager to explore and execute this highly effective Refugee Hiring Event model.”
The initiative addresses a critical need in Regina, where the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce has reported a “severe shortage of skilled and experienced workers” affecting the provincial economy. With immigrants comprising 20 per cent of Regina’s population, organizers see untapped potential in this workforce.
“By mentoring newcomers in Canada, we can help shape our city, province, and country,” said a representative from Booster Juice.
Event organizers hope the success of this model will encourage other communities to adopt similar approaches, providing employers with access to a broader talent pool while supporting the economic inclusion of refugees.
