Waterloo Region - The Task for met to plan for this fall’s Competitive Advantage Forum. This year instead of November the forum will take place on September 22nd and plans are progressing well to confirm the keynote speaker and agenda. The focus as in previous years is on best practices relative to attracting, hiring, integrating and retaining skilled an professional immigrants. If you know of an employer that should be considered let us know?

WRIEN met this week with the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI) team in Toronto and talked about challenges and positive progress towards our mutual goals. We also talked about the new and different challenges that result from a high unemployment environment.

WRIEN’s Employment Initiatives Work group met today – key items on their agenda included employer challenges during a recession, plans for the September 22nd Competitive Advantage Forum, employer engagement strategies and budget for year four and the new WRIEN Employer of The Year Award criteria for the award that will be presented at the Chambers Annual Excellence Awards Gala that will be held next February.

Two of our partners have positions available to be filled

Conestoga College is now accepting enrollment for the April 27 Language Training for Engineering Professionals Program – for details click on the following link: http://www.wrien.com/documents/ENG_Language_Training.pdf?&

WRIEN to be well represented at June 10, 11 ALLIES – Leading With Ideas Conference in Vancouver

Upcoming Meetings and Events:

o April 21 – Diversity in the Workplace Seminar – To attract and retain talent – Delta Hotel Kitchener – 8:00am to 10:00am – 4 spots left call Agueda

o April 22 – Competitive Advantage Task Force meeting – Chamber office 8:00am

o April 23 – Qualifications Recognition & Enhancement Work Group meeting – Chamber office – 9:00am – 10:30am

o April 29 – Networking and Recruiting Event – 4:00pm to 6:00pm, Cambridge City Hall

o April 23 – Mentor Recognition Event – 5:00pm to 8:00pm, Golf’s Steak House

o May 7 – Employers Tools and Supports for hiring ITI’s Event – 3:00 – 6:00pm – Minister Michael Chan to launch the new Employer Resource Guide – Bingemans – see invitation above