As a pilot in 2007/08, TRIEC offered support to one professional immigrant network, the Communications, Advertising and Marketing Professionals (CAMP). As a result of this initial experience and subsequent conversations with other networks, it became evident to TRIEC that the most effective way to maximize the potential of these networks was to build and support a “network of networks.” Through this network of networks, these organizations can increase their individual and collective capacity to assist their members in integrating quickly into the labour market in the right jobs.
Various stakeholders, such as employers, government, professional associations and service providers, expressed the need to develop ways to more systematically connect to professional immigrant networks to channel information, to promote employment and membership opportunities, to expand markets and to offer services and supports.
TRIEC’s goal is to work collaboratively with immigrant networks to increase their capacity to connect their skilled immigrant members to meaningful employment.
Objective 1: Strengthen the individual and collective organizational capacity of the networks
Proposed activities:
- Create learning exchange forums and tools to develop expertise in areas such as mentoring, funding and fundraising, leveraging the web, marketing and outreach, media skills
- Develop a robust online platform for the networks to:
- Exchange and share information, tools, practices and skills among networks
- Flow information from government, employers, service providers, and regulators to the networks
Objective 2: Create effective working relationships between the networks and employers, professional associations, service providers, government, and other relevant stakeholders.
Proposed activities:
- Link employers to relevant networks to promote employment opportunities
- Link service providers providing targeted bridging programs with networks in the sectors they are serving
- Identify partnerships opportunities between networks and other stakeholders
Objective 3: Create a network of professional immigrant network leaders and support their development as effective leaders.
Proposed activities:
- Build a leadership channel that can provide advice and direction on the development of the network of networks
- Refer network leaders to leadership development opportunities
- Inform network leaders of opportunities for participation in consultations on immigrant employment integration to strengthen the voice of immigrant professional leaders
- Encourage government and other stakeholders to draw on network leaders for input on policy and program development
In November 2010, Scotiabank announced their sponsorship of TRIEC’s Professional Immigrant Networks initiative. Part of Scotiabank’s sponsorship will include the creation of an online platform to better connect members of immigrant networks. TRIEC’s Professional Immigrant Networks initiative is also being funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and ALLIES, a project of Maytree.
For more information contact:
Racquel Sevilla
Manager, Program Development, TRIEC
416-944-1946 X 279, rsevilla@triec.ca
