12 Brandon employers join immigrant job program

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This article was published 04/07/2025 (318 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Twelve employers in Brandon are now part of a federal pilot program aimed at hiring and retaining skilled immigrants.

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) helps immigrants who have relevant work experience, or a certain level of education, apply for their permanent residency if they find a job with specific companies.

“Finding skilled labour in our city and surrounding area continues to be an issue employers are dealing with,” Jennifer Ludwig, president of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, told the Sun. “This pilot program may be very helpful in attracting newcomers to Canada to select Brandon as a place in which to work and live.”

Recent immigrants who wish to be part of the program have to receive a job offer from one of the 12 companies involved, have a certain language proficiency, a Canadian or equivalent foreign credential and at least one year of relevant work experience in the last three years.

People who studied at post-secondary institutions and get jobs in the community of their schooling are exempt from the minimum work experience.

The Brandon employers that are part of the project are Prairie Mountain Health, Keller Developments, the Brandon Clinic, Saputo Dairy Products, Maple Leaf Foods, Kumon, Koch Fertilizer, Glendale Industries, Gateway Mechanical, Walsh Construction, The Wellness Clinic and Modular Industrial Structures Brandon.

“Having 12 locations within Brandon will make our city just that much more appealing to those looking to immigrate to Canada and Manitoba,” Ludwig said in an email. “I do believe (RCIP) can help fill a need.”

“This is another avenue where these companies can look to in order to find the skilled workforce they need in order to operate.”

Ludwig said a similar program called the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot — which ended last year — was “very successful” in the area.

“I believe that any support that can be provided to newcomers to Brandon will make the transition easier, and hopefully make them more likely to live in Brandon for the long term,” she said.

Kevin Carter, the regional lead of human resources for Prairie Mountain Health, told the Sun the program will help provide meaningful employment for people seeking their permanent residency, who will hopefully settle in the area and work for the health region long term.

“Prairie Mountain Health is pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the RCIP project,” Carter said in a statement. “Recruitment of health care workers from outside of Canada is not new to PMH, and the RCIP project provides another important avenue for recruitment of skilled workers to meet the needs of people in our region.”

A spokesperson for federal Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the pilot program is important because rural communities have additional challenges when it comes to finding workers.

“Rural and francophone communities face unique challenges due to an aging population and labour market shortages,” the spokesperson wrote in an email to the Sun. “It is critical for these communities to attract the skilled workers they need.”

City of Brandon corporate communications officer Merrilea Metcalf said being part of the program is great for the city.

“We are fortunate that Brandon was selected as one of the 14 communities across Canada to participate,” Metcalf wrote. “Brandon is in a strategic location with a diversified economy. Being part of the RCIP allows Brandon to attract and retain skilled foreign workers.”

She said Brandon’s involvement in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot was successful, and demonstrated the “city’s strong track record in supporting immigration and workforce development,” she said.

“This not only helps local employers fill critical labour shortages, but also contributes to the city’s long-term growth and enhances community diversity, supports population growth, and strengthens the local economy.”

The city didn’t respond to followup questions asking how the companies and agencies were selected, or if other employers had applied.

Brandon is one of 14 communities in Canada to be part of the program. In Manitoba, Steinbach and Altona are also part of it.

Some of the employers involved only have specific positions that are part of the program.

The Sun reached out to Koch, Saputo and The Wellness Clinic for comment, but none of them responded by press time.

» alambert@brandonsun.com