The York Region government is being recognized for its efforts to help integrate immigrants into the workforce by providing foreign credential recognition guidelines to employers.
Since 2009 York Region has been distributing the guides to employers, which include flowcharts for the recertification process as well as other resources such as assessment request templates.
“The guide (prevents) hiring managers passing over good, qualified candidates,” said York Region human resources consulting manager Kyle Verrips.
Approximately 43 percent of the population of York, a small community located just on the outskirts of Toronto, is foreign-born. With about 27 percent of the current working population being foreign-born, it appears as though integration efforts are working.
The 2013 Toronto Star Award for Excellence in Integration was awarded to York Region this year in recognition of these efforts. The Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council gives out the awards to employers and organizations who have demonstrated “leadership and innovation in recruiting and retaining immigrants in the GTA region.” This year 17 nominations for the award were recognized.
Source: Toronto Star
