CBC Toronto Vision Award for Immigrant Inclusion
Toronto Star Award for Excellence in Workplace Integration
RBC Immigrant Advantage Award
Canadian HR Reporter Individual Achievement Award
CBC Toronto Vision Award for Immigrant Inclusion
This award will recognize a unique initiative that breaks down employment barriers for skilled immigrants and has the potential to affect change beyond one organization. This innovative practice has the potential for wider impact because of partnerships. Initiatives may be in the pilot stage as well as those that are fully implemented.
Criteria:
- The initiative is unique and/or innovative
- Potential and/or real impact on skilled immigrant access to employment
- The involvement of multiple stakeholders (at least one must be an employer)
Example of a previous winner: Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS)
Internationally trained doctors – not yet practising medicine here in Canada – are employed to provide vision and hearing screening in priority neighbourhoods. Immigrant doctors gain Canadian experience while supporting largely newcomer populations with essential and culturally-sensitive healthcare service in their native languages. The program is built on a network of partnerships with the Toronto District School Board, Skills for Change, Sprott Asset Management, Hospital for Sick Children, St. Michael’s Hospital, UofT departments of Social Pediatrics and Nursing, Toronto Public Health, and receives over $500,000 in donations from Walmart Vision Centres annually. Read more about TFSS.
Examples of eligible initiatives include, but are not limited to:
- A practice that provides skilled immigrants with access to their profession that they couldn’t have gained otherwise
- A partnership that creates a new and sustainable path for skilled immigrants’ access to employment
Toronto Star Award for Excellence in Workplace Integration
This award will recognize ONE practice or a suite of practices related to ONE of the following: sourcing, recruiting, onboarding, integration, inclusion or promotion of skilled immigrants. The practice or suite of practices must be innovative, and fully implemented and established with positive results that are transforming the organization.
Criteria:
- The practice/s or their application is innovative and immigrant-specific
- The practice has been effectively incorporated within the organization
- More skilled immigrants are being hired/retained/promoted
- Submissions will be judged on the evidence of an organization’s internal changes
Example of a previous winner: St. Michael’s Hospital
St. Michael’s Hospital implemented the Career Bridge internship program for skilled immigrants, which has spread to eight departments. The organization has created a full-time position responsible for integrating skilled immigrants into the organization and has achieved a high conversion rate from its 32 interns. Read more about St. Michael’s Hospital.
Examples of eligible practices include, but are not limited to:
- Established sourcing practice where the organization is specifically seeking out skilled immigrants with success
- Established onboarding practice where skilled immigrants are better integrated to the Canadian workplace
RBC Immigrant Advantage Award
This award will recognize an organization that demonstrates the business impact of leveraging the skills of immigrants, yielding tangible results for both business and immigrants.
Criteria:
- Ability to show a direct link between business success and skilled immigrant employees
- Skilled immigrant employees should be satisfied with their level of employment
Example of a previous winner: Thales Canada, Transportation
With 90 per cent of its business in the global marketplace, Thales systematically targets and cultivates internationally-trained professionals to ensure its position as a leader in transportation systems worldwide. The company stands apart for its 95 per cent retention rate of skilled immigrants whose efforts are integral to securing and servicing international business contracts. Read more about Thales Canada, Transportation.
Additional examples include, but are not limited to:
- Organization that has leveraged skilled immigrants’ connections to local and/or international markets to expand their business
- Organization that has leveraged skilled immigrants’ knowledge to create a more innovative product and/or service
Canadian HR Reporter Individual Achievement Award
This award will recognize an individual who has demonstrated leadership and innovation in HR practice in integrating skilled immigrants in the workplace.
Criteria
- Submissions will be judged on the individual’s impact in the workplace as demonstrated through outcomes for skilled immigrants and the business
Example of a previous winner: Nancy Steele, Director, American Express Technologies, American Express Canada
Nancy Steele knew that her success was directly linked to her ability to draw the right talent to her department. While HR did not fall within her mandate, Nancy quickly became known for piloting a skilled immigrant recruitment and retention strategy in her organization. Nancy’s efforts have resulted in an unprecedented 11 hires in approximately two years and first-ever cross-cultural training for new hires and managers. Read more about Nancy Steele.
Additional examples include, but are not limited to:
- Someone who has changed recruitment practices and culture to include skilled immigrants
- Someone who has developed and implemented skilled immigrant success metrics into the organization’s practices
