Congratulations to the 2007 Immigrant Success Award winners!

Small Employer Award: Steam Whistle Brewing
Mid-size Employer Award: Xerox Research Centre of Canada
Large Employer Award: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Small Employer Award Steam Whistle Brewing

Since Steam Whistle Brewing was founded in 1999, the company has prided itself on making great beer and hiring talented employees - including skilled immigrants.

Just ask Stefan Atton, the company's director of marketing. The Sri Lankan native came to Toronto five years ago after working for companies such as Carlsberg, Procter & Gamble, and Guinness. He had been a brand manager overseas and hoped to find the same job in Canada.

Stefan sent out over 700 resumes with no success, so he applied to Steam Whistle Brewing as a driver and sales representative. He thought he would have to start in entry-level positions and work his way up because he didn't have any Canadian experience. Luckily, he was wrong. Steam Whistle recognized Stefan's talent and he was awarded the position he currently holds. Over five years, he's steered the company through a growth rate of 130% by retaining their retro-style branding strategy and through unique marketing opportunities.

Steam Whistle promotes career advancement of its staff by paying for the full cost of courses that will add to an employee's skill set, from writing to computer classes. Steam Whistle even hired a newly-landed immigrant as their chief financial officer and paid the tuition toward his Certified General Accountant designation.

More than half of the company's management team is comprised of skilled immigrants, including staff from the Czech Republic, Sri Lanka, Portugal, Russia, Japan, and Cuba. Steam Whistle welcomes referrals for potential candidates from existing employees in an effort to attract more skilled immigrants. With an employee retention rate of 90%, it's a recipe for success.

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Mid-size Employer Award Xerox Research Centre of Canada

The Xerox Research Centre of Canada has always employed a high percentage of skilled immigrants since its establishment in 1974. Currently, the company has 137 employees from over 35 countries. Twenty-eight per cent of their employees graduated from university in their home countries - almost half have doctorate degrees. They contribute to the Centre's expertise in areas such as chemistry and chemical engineering. Dr. Hadi Mahabadi, the Centre's current vice president and centre manager says, "I came to Canada because the country respects multiculturalism. I did my homework and saw that Xerox respects diversity of thought by hiring researchers with different backgrounds. As a scientist, this is very important to me."

Encouraging a diversified workforce is embedded in the company's hiring practices. For example, there are typically 8 -12 employees - including skilled immigrants - on each team that interviews potential new hires.

The Centre promotes professional development among its employees by providing English as a Second Language courses on public speaking and writing. To assist skilled immigrants in attaining leadership positions, the Centre offers management training up to the vice president level, and other development programs for new managers and emerging leaders.

The Centre has a cooperative education program and offers employment to skilled immigrants from the Yorkdale Adult Learning Centre, Dufferin-Peel Adult Learning Centre, and Brian J. Fleming Catholic Adult Learning Centre. Since 2001, the Centre has hosted 32 candidates from these agencies - many of whom were later hired full-time or on contract.

Bringing skilled immigrants on board has been a winning formula for the Centre: In 2006, they were awarded their 1000th U.S. patent, a remarkable feat for any research facility. The Centre's top performers include three skilled immigrants - each has surpassed the 100 patent mark.

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Large Employer Award Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is constantly developing new opportunities for skilled immigrants and expanding programs to diversify its workforce.

TRCA offers the Professional Access and Integration Enhancement (PAIE) Program, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, which is a one-year program for internationally educated environmental professionals. Through training, mentorship, and paid placements, participants gain Canadian experience that can help them find work. In 2006/2007, the PAIE Program focused on working with internationally trained geoscientists and planners. TRCA is developing a similar program for environmental engineers.

TRCA also spearheaded the Diversity Network, a group of 22 community agencies and environmental organizations working to improve access to environmental work for new Canadians. Their Environmental Volunteer Network has provided work experience and education to 500 new Canadians since 2002; several immigrant volunteers have been hired.

TRCA participates in the YMCA's Newcomer Work Experience Program and The Mentoring Partnership. The organization also works with World Education Services to assess international education credentials.

TRCA disseminates job openings through immigrant service organizations, organizes environmental career expos for new Canadians, and hosts an annual Canadian Multiculturalism Day to promote greater awareness of the challenges and opportunities created by an increasingly diverse workforce. Ten per cent of their 713 employees are considered skilled immigrants.

TRCA created a diversity committee, which has delivered cultural competence training to 400 full-time staff and volunteers. It is currently exploring new strategies to include members of diverse cultural backgrounds in leadership roles and to ensure that all employees are part of the organization's developing culture.

In addition, TRCA has exported its very own Diversity Training Toolkit, offering guidance to other environmental organizations about creating a comfortable environment where new Canadians can thrive.

Influencer George Brown

George Brown College (GBC) is a leader in systemic change on the issue of integrating skilled immigrants into the labour market. As one of the largest and most diverse colleges in the country, the organization has made it a priority to help newcomers successfully transition from the classroom to the workforce.

GBC worked with other colleges in the province to develop Colleges Integrating Immigrants to Employment (CIITE), a three-phased project funded by the provincial government that seeks to eliminate barriers for immigrants in Ontario's college system. CIITE aims to improve services and support provided to immigrants across the province in various areas, from admissions to employment preparation.

GBC is also co-chair of the national Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) Affinity Group on Immigrant Integration. Post-secondary colleges across the country use the group to share best practices and advocate for greater support to new Canadians. GBC is participating in an ACCC pilot project to assist and effectively prepare immigrants before they arrive in Canada.

In partnership with the Institute for the Advancement of Teaching in Higher Education (IATHE), GBC launched the College Teachers' Bridging program last year. Unique in Canada, it encompasses a paid internship and classroom study. The program is a win-win situation: skilled immigrant teachers get Canadian experience, while employers get job-ready candidates from diverse backgrounds. GBC has hired 35 per cent of recent graduates. Their five other fast-entry bridging projects range from computer programming to early childhood education.

In 2004/2005, GBC created a comprehensive immigrant strategy, which has been shared with other institutions. Part of that strategy included the establishment of a new Immigrant focused-team on campus to help newcomers into the workforce.

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Canadian HR Reporter Individual Achievement Award - Sischa Maharaj

Sischa Maharaj is a tireless advocate for the integration of skilled immigrants.

Within her first three months as CIBC's senior manager of intake programs, Sischa established a new partnership with Skills International, a web-enabled searchable database that matches pre-screened skilled immigrants and employers. CIBC is the first bank to link this technology to its recruitment management system. Over 45 recruiters at CIBC have been trained on using this resource, which has resulted in over 100 positions being posted and led to job offers to immigrant candidates.

Sischa helped CIBC increase the number of interns who were hired by the bank after placements through the Career Bridge program. She also coordinated career fairs for new Canadians and cross cultural training for senior staff.

"Hiring managers are receptive to and have a good understanding of the benefits of hiring new immigrants, as a direct result of Sischa's efforts," says Sue Simone, CIBC's senior director wealth management, HR.

Sischa was the driving force behind a new portal for newcomers on the CIBC career website. It includes information on foreign credential assessment, interviewing tips, agencies to assist newcomers, mentorship, paid internships and a diversity recruitment calendar, which lists events where immigrant job seekers can meet directly with CIBC recruiters.

As a volunteer in The Mentoring Partnership program, she provides one-on-one coaching to skilled immigrants, guiding them along the road to career success. "The greatest feeling is seeing the transformation from unemployment or underemployment to empowerment, hope and motivation, and making a difference in corporate Canada," she says. "Everyone, regardless of their level of experience, can make a difference in the immigrant experience in Canada."

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Toronto Star "People's Choice" Award for Outstanding Achievement in Immigrant Success - Alan Rego

When Alan Rego arrived in Canada in April 2002, he spent two years toiling away in positions unrelated to his prior occupation or skills. He worked in market research and the financial services sector despite his experience in eight Asian countries as a communications professional with Fortune 500 companies. Alan knew he was capable of more.

Every day, he would draw inspiration from a poster his teenaged daughter had given him. It read, "What your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

Alan joined Procter & Gamble after a paid internship through Career Bridge; today, he is the company's manager of external relations. Although Alan now considers himself successful, he never lost sight of the struggles he faced when he first immigrated to Canada.

In May 2005, he and a team of 11 others launched a networking group for skilled immigrants called CAMP - Communications, Advertising and Marketing Professionals. CAMP has more than 150 members and aims to enhance the career success of its members in Canada. The group meets monthly to share job leads and career tips, learn from industry leaders, and network with other professional associations. "We also want to provide a forum for employers and recruiters to interact face to face with a diverse group of skilled talented immigrants," Alan says. CAMP members are already contributing to the success of organizations such as Hudson's Bay Company, Sheridan College, Hallmark and Unilever.

Alan is a founding board member of TRIEC and a passionate champion of The Mentoring Partnership program. Alan was nominated for the IS Awards by Seneca College, where he sits on their advisory board. Seneca's Alison James says he constantly motivates others with a simple but powerful message: "If I can do it, so can you."