Employers and individuals invited to apply for the third annual Immigrant Success Awards

GTA leaders celebrated for hiring and inspiring skilled immigrants

September 15, 2008

The Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) is pleased to announce the call for entries for the 3rd annual Immigrant Success (IS) Awards, funded by RBC.Each year TRIEC presents the IS Awards to recognize employers and individuals in the Toronto Region that are leaders in recruiting, retaining and promoting skilled immigrants in the workplace.

There are four IS Awards categories:

RBC Best Immigrant Employer Award – For a small- and medium-sized employer with fewer than 500 employees that successfully recruits, retains and promotes immigrants.

Canadian HR Reporter Individual Achievement Award – For an HR professional who goes beyond the requirements of their job to assist skilled immigrants in the workplace.

CBC Toronto Business Leadership Award – For an owner, CEO or senior manager that demonstrates leadership, vision and a commitment to integrating skilled immigrants into the workplace.

Toronto Star Immigrant Champion Award – For a local champion who makes a positive difference by assisting skilled immigrants with their entry and development in the workplace.

The deadline for entries is November 14, 2008.

“TRIEC is calling for employers and individuals to come forward and apply for an Immigrant Success Award,” says Elizabeth McIsaac, Executive Director of TRIEC. “We want to hear about leaders whose stories will inspire others to think carefully about opportunities they may be missing. IS Award winners understand and value the contributions skilled immigrants make to our city region, and the importance of including new immigrants in their workplace.”

A panel of senior human resource professionals and business executives will judge the IS Award submissions. Winners will be recognized in the media and by their peers as leaders in an area of increasing importance to the Canadian economy. RBC will host a special ceremony and reception to honour the winners in January 2009.

“RBC’s proud support of the IS Awards since its inception reflects our strong belief that diversity is a competitive advantage for Canada. The more Canadian employers tap the full range of capabilities of our workforce – to innovate and adapt, develop new markets and foster new relationships – the better we will compete in the global economy,” says Zabeen Hirji, Chief Human Resources Officer at RBC. “Given Canada’s skilled labour challenges, it is more important than ever to attract and fully engage a diverse workforce. To put it simply – to serve the market you have to hire the market.”

Previous winners include Steam Whistle Brewing, Ernst & Young, i3DVR International, St. Michael’s Hospital, Family Service Association of Toronto, Xerox Research Centre of Canada, George Brown College and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Individual award winners include staff from TD Bank, Procter & Gamble, CIBC and the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care.

For full details, entry forms and profiles of previous winners, visit www.isawards.ca.

The IS Awards are a program of the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council, sponsored by RBC with media partners Canadian HR Reporter, The Toronto Star and CBC Toronto.

Reference: TRIEC