Connecting Canada Project

Before arriving in Canada

The Connecting Canada project believes that if more immigrants knew about opportunities to live, work, and grow in smaller urban and rural communities before they arrived in Canada, more of them would choose to start their Canadian journeys there.

By introducing pre-arrival immigrants to community members and employers who are motivated to hire immigrants, Connecting Canada helps pre-arrival immigrants learn more about the wide range of communities they could choose to settle in and the services they can access to help them.

Over the last two years, we’ve worked alongside communities and employers across Canada, and we’re now accelerating that work. Connecting Canada is working with communities across Canada to help pre-arrival immigrants take advantage of the benefits to starting their Canadian journeys in a smaller community.

ACCES Employment’s research partner, the Social Research Demonstration Corporation of Canada, will actively evaluate this program to map, track, and create best practices and knowledge to help service providers and decision makers craft more effective services and policy.

For communities that are interested in particular, please reach out to [email protected].

Program Components

E-learning content and live webinars to help pre-arrival immigrants recognize the opportunities in non-traditional landing communities.
Attraction Webinars to help smaller urban and rural communities promote themselves to pre-arrival immigrants.
Networking Events to build connections between pre-arrival immigrants and professionals in smaller communities
Hiring Events to help employers in smaller communities connect with and hire immigrant talent

Program Benefits

Pre-arrival immigrants taking part in Connect Canada will be able to make more-informed choices about where they might settle in Canada
Smaller communities will receive support in connecting with pre-arrival immigrants who are open to settling in their communities
Employers in smaller communities will be able to access the talent pool of pre-arrival immigrants, which will help them address persistent skills and labour shortages
Policy makers and service providers will benefit from the knowledge and evidence created through Connecting Canada

Program Eligibility

All communities in Canada outside of Quebec (excluding traditional major landing communities in the GTA, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton) are eligible to engage in the project.
Immigrants who are eligible for pre-arrival services can engage in Connecting Canada activities.
- English and/or French language proficiency and professional experience requirements will vary be event

Program Fees

This project is fully funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and all services offered to communities and pre-arrival immigrants are offered free of charge.