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Achievements

Phase 1 Reports Completed

Two key reports were completed in Phase 1 of TLIP; the Consultation Session Report from the environmental scan of various stakeholders and the Settlement Strategy report.  Both reports laid the ground work for immediate steps towards implementing the Timmins Immigration strategy. Eighteen recommendations were brought forward in the final Settlement Strategy Report with the top three identified as:

  1. The establishment of a settlement office in Timmins.
  2. Setting up the ESL and FSL programs for newcomers in the community.
  3. The implementing the governance model for the Timmins Local Immigration Partnership.

Timmins & District Multicultural Centre (TDMC)

The newly opened Timmins & District Multicultural Centre is being well received and is already having an impact on the newcomer community in Timmins and area. Since its opening in June 2011, the Settlement Counselor, Andree Fortin has been actively recruiting and registering newcomers and the word is quickly spreading about the programs, services and support offered by the centre. TDMC has also set up an alternate office location in Kirkland Lake to meet and support newcomers in that area.  Other activities currently being planned by TDMC include English and French Conversation Circles as well as ethnic cooking classes.  For more information on the TDMC please visit www.timminsmulticultural.ca or contact Andree at 705-363-7267.

FSL / ESL / ECC Opportunities

As part of the activities carried out by the TDMC, there will be opportunities for newcomers in the Timmins and Kirkland Lake areas to advance their French and English-language skills. There is currently a sign up campaign for newcomers who wish to take advantage of these services.  Registration is currently ongoing at the TDMC for individuals interested in either English or French as a Second Language (ESL / FSL). Preliminary assessments for qualifications for the ESL and FSL programming will be carried out by the Program Coordinator from our partner organization, the North Bay Newcomer Network.  While assessments are taking place, newcomers can kick-start their learning by taking advantage of the opportunity to sign up for the English Conversation Circles (ECC) and the French Conversation Circles (FCC) at the TDMC.

Welcoming Communities Initiative (WCI) / TLIP Baseline Study:

The Baseline Study partnership between TLIP and Welcoming Communities Initiative (WCI), affiliated with the University of Western Ontario, is nearing completion. The survey was conducted in Timmins by Andree Fortin of the Timmins and District Multicultural Centre with the objective of determining basic data on Service Provider Organizations (SPOs) in Timmins such as their services, service levels, client types and frequency, funding types, and service utilization rates. The report is currently being compiled and will be finalized in September 2011.

CBC Radio Interview

On July 7, 2011 the CBC radio program "Ontario Today", hosted by Rita Celli focused on the experiences of immigrants moving up North. The TLIP Coordinator along with newcomers from Haileybury, Sudbury and Thunder Bay were guests on the program and spoke regarding their experiences relocating to Northern Ontario. The program highlighted the strategies for getting new immigrants to move to Northern Ontario and the success and challenges of such strategies.  To listen to the podcast on CBC radio visit www.cbc.ca/ontariotoday/2011/07/07/moving-north-phone-in/

TLIP Attraction & Welcoming sub-committee

In addition to the establishment of the 15-member TLIP Council in March 26, 2010, to provide strategic direction to the project, the TLIP has set up an Attraction & Welcoming sub-committee. Its core objective is planning and implementing attraction, welcoming and retention strategies for new Canadians to Timmins. The sub-committee is still open to volunteers and interested individuals can contact John Okonmah at Email

Employers Council sub-committee

The Timmins Local Immigration Partnership has established an Employers Council sub-committee to bring local employers together to collectively develop employer-driven strategies designed to reduce barriers, create understanding, and build capacity to address their current and future labour shortages.  The Employer Council will engage employers and key stakeholders proactively and strategically to promote the integration of skilled newcomers into the local labour market.  For more information please contact Theresa Rycaj at Email

TLIP Branding

The Request for Proposals for TLIP branding was released in July 2011 and 19 companies submitted proposals. Ravens-Nest Art & Design was selected to design logo concepts for the TLIP program name, tag line and other creative materials to represent the initiative. This process was completed in early September 2011 after input from the TLIP council and the Attraction & Welcoming sub-committee was attained.

Service Canada Regional Partnership Conference

On July 13, 2011, the TLIP coordinator participated in the Immigration Regional Conference organized by Service Canada for Northeastern Ontario.  The conference brought together regional stakeholders with a shared interest in immigration. Other participants included the Ministry  of Economic Development & Trade (MED&T),  Ministry of Citizenship Canada (MCI),  Sudbury LIP,  CIFS, North Bay LIP, Professions North, the City of Greater Sudbury,  NBMC, LINC Sudbury,  YMCA Employment Services Sudbury, FedNor, College Boreal, and New to The Sault. The conference provided the opportunity for a status update on partners, a better understanding of programs and services, and highlighted the need for more collaboration in the region.

Timmins Immigration Advantage: Mini Magnet Forum

The TEDC, TLIP and the Conference Board of Canada (CBoC) hosted a learning forum to identify successful immigration strategies for small cities in Canada on September 20, 2011 at the Days Inn. The forum included a presentation and discussion of Timmins specific  strategies, what the attraction factors for new Canadians are as well as  what the community needs to focus on to successfully attract and retain new Canadians.  Diana Mackay, Director Education, Health & Immigration programs at the CBoC  lead the presentations.

Governance

The Timmins Local Immigration Partnership Advisory Council is comprised of fifteen members who represent partner organizations in the health, education, social services, economic development, industry, labour, and employment sectors. The TEDC, LIP Coordinator and Council members have a shared interest in making Timmins a welcoming community.

The Council is responsible for leadership and oversight of the project and initiates project outcomes and output with the assistance and project management experience of the Local Immigration Partnership Coordinator.

The TEDC provides oversight support as well as funding disbursement responsibility for the project. This is geared towards the successful completion of all identified tasks and activities as detailed in the project plan.

The LIP coordinator provides project management, research, administrative, communication support for the effective implementation of the outcomes.

The Welcoming and Attraction and Employers Council sub-committees will provide the Advisory Council with strategic input.