Community Futures prepares for the Rural Northern Immigration Pilot project

Beginning Feb. 1. Vernon-based employers seeking staff for highly skilled positions can spread the word through the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot’s (RNIP) website.

Announced last year, the City of Vernon is one of two communities in B.C and one of 11 in the country to participate in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. The program aims to help smaller communities benefit from the immigration of skilled workers to fill gaps and shortages in their labour market.

In Vernon, job opportunities for the program will be run by Community Futures of the North Okanagan. The organization will host ongoing training programs for potential employers. Qualified employers must meet a number of criteria including the ability to pay staff at least $25 an hour for a full-time permanent position. There must also be at least three other employees at the business and the business must be within 40 km, except for Kelowna B.C. Employers will be able to post their job advertisement on the RNIP’s website by Feb. 1.

“Our region is extremely fortunate to have been selected to participate in this project,” Leigha Horsfield, the general manager for Community Futures said. “The opportunities it presents to enhance and fill gaps in our workforce needs is exceptional. One of the many outcomes we’d like to see is the promotion of the North Okanagan as a destination of choice for skilled immigrants and their families.”