Antigonish Regional Development Authority, where ideas take root

Regional Immigration Navigator Program

Population Attraction and Retention is one of ARDA’s four strategic directions. It is ARDA’s goal to create a more welcoming community to effectively position Antigonish within the theme “a great place to live, work, and play”.

In February 2010, the Nova Scotia Association of Regional Development Authorities, the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities and the Nova Scotia Chamber of Commerce held a Population Forum. It was the first crucial step in facing Nova Scotia’s population crisis head on.

ARDA’s efforts to create a more welcoming community and fill the labour force gap have been through the continued support of our immigration program.

The Regional Immigration Navigator Program is delivered on a regional level through the partnership of three RDA’s – ARDA, the Strait-Highlands, and Guysborough County. 

We share a Regional Immigration Navigator who provides settlement services to newcomers in the quad counties.

This year, an active steering committee consisting of representatives from the three RDA’s and Tanya Felix, our Regional Immigration Navigator, were able to launch of series of successful initiatives to assist newcomers.
 
A Relocation and Settlement Guide was designed. It was designed with immigrants in mind but has also been a valuable resource for people moving here from other parts of Canada and even former residents. It was developed in response to requests from newcomers and organizations for more information on the process of immigration and settlement.

A series of welcoming community workshops were held around the quad county region. They focused on: Hiring Temporary Foreign Workers, the Nova Scotia Nominee Program and the International Graduate Stream, Newcomers in Business, as well as Cross Cultural Communication for Healthcare Providers and Service Providers.

Welcome Kits were also put together and distributed throughout the quad counties.

In the last year, the program has received 235 inquiries from newcomers and stakeholders. In total, 774 points of contact have been made – that’s 124 more than the previous year

There are 64 families or individuals living in the quad county region as new immigrants or permit holders. This represents a total of 155 new/potential residents.

Service to clients in Antigonish has actually grown this year and represents 29% of newcomers served.