Immigrant pilot deemed a success locally, organizers advocating for federal funding
The Rural and Northern Immigrant Pilot (RNIP) has been deemed a success by the organization running it in Vernon.
Speaking to Vernon council Monday, Sept. 11, Leigha Horsfield, executive director of Community Futures North Okanagan, touted the results of the federal pilot program that launched in February of 2020.
“We have recommended over 600 [applicants] since 2020 to our region who have applied through this skilled worker program, and along with accompanying family, almost 1,200 people (1,177),” Horsfield told council, adding the program has also helped amplify diversity in Vernon and the North Okanagan.
Horsfield stated roughly 45 per cent of the immigrants brought to the region through RNIP were from India and 11 per cent were from the Phillipines. China, Korea and Mexico each added another three per cent of the participants; two per cent came from the Ukraine; and the remaining 29 per cent were classified as “other.”