Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration

In October 2024, Akwaba Community held the Salon Afrique-Canada Immigration et Investissement in Douala, Cameroon, attracting over 3,500 participants daily over a 3-day period. This annual event showcased Francophone minority communities and promoted immigration and investment opportunities between Sub Saharan Africa and Ontario, focusing on labour needs in various sectors. This initiative is the result of close collaboration with members of the Réseau en immigration francophone du Centre-Sud-Ouest de l’Ontario and the Government of Ontario.

The Université de l’Ontario français manages the Observatoire en immigration francophone, an interdisciplinary space that collects and disseminates knowledge on Francophone immigration in a minority context. Relying on evidenced-based data, the Observatoire helps decision-makers identify challenges and solutions to promote more inclusive Francophone immigration. It produces analytical tools and shares promising practices to guide interventions in Francophone immigration.

The Société économique de l’Ontario leads a project to place approximately 90 qualified Francophone candidates and their families in jobs that meet the labour needs of Northern Ontario. This project is carried out in collaboration with employers who participate in the integration of these talents in priority sectors. This project contributes to the demographic weight of Francophone minority communities in rural areas and in Northern Ontario.

The Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité Canada supports the recruitment of qualified Francophone talent through the 20th edition of the Destination Canada Forum Mobility. Representing over 280 employers, the Réseau’s members participate in events in Paris, France and Douala, Cameroon, and plan to meet with 7,000 candidates both in-person and virtually. The goal is to attract more Francophone immigrants, support economic growth and strengthen the vitality of rural communities.

Campus Saint-Jean is conducting a study on the impact of intersectional factors related to the Francophone student population from visible minorities on the access to the teaching profession. The aim is to reduce systemic barriers and improve the representation of French-speaking immigrants in the teaching field in Alberta. The project seeks to identify strategies and develop policies to support the professional integration of these individuals and facilitate their selection in permanent residence programs.

The Government of New Brunswick's Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is implementing a project to recruit teachers and early childhood educators to meet the province's workforce needs. This project includes research on the recruitment and retention of immigrant professionals, the development of a targeted promotion strategy, and credential recognition. The aim is to support a total of 600 French-speaking candidates in these sectors.

The Campus Saint-Jean is launching a project to become a hub for Francophone immigration in Western Canada. By improving the reception and support for the Francophone international student population, Campus Saint-Jean will strengthen the vitality of the Francophone community in Alberta. The project aims to improve Campus Saint-Jean’s capacity to process applications from French-speaking students and to assist them in their transition to permanent residence in Canada.

The Société de développement économique de la Colombie-Britannique proposes a project which aims to address labour needs in various economic sectors across the province. Key stakeholders, including the Government of British Colombia, will form a working committee dedicated to increasing Francophone immigration. This project includes a study on Francophone pools, and matching activities between employers and candidates. Ultimately, the project will assist 180 French-speaking candidates in aligning their skills with local employer needs.

The Commission nationale des parents francophones is conducting a study to facilitate the recruitment of qualified early childhood education talents in Francophone communities outside Quebec. The findings will help create an official guide for employers, enabling them to evaluate international graduates before hiring processes with IRCC programs. This project aims to attract and integrate competent professionals, while enhancing access to French-language daycare services.

The Réseau du Nord, through the Carrefour francophone de Sudbury, is developing a promotional strategy to make Northern Ontario a destination of choice for Francophone immigration candidates. This project will include, among other things, a baseline, consultations with stakeholders, the development of a visual identity and a concerted promotional strategy. The strategy will provide a clear vision of the actions to be taken during the 2025-2030 period to attract more French-speaking candidates and thus support the vitality and economic development of Francophone communities in Northern Ontario.

The Association francophone à l'éducation des services à l'enfance en Ontario is proposing to recruit 100 internationally trained Francophone candidates to meet the labour needs in Ontario's early childhood sector. This project is structured around two main activities: an innovative recruitment process and the organization of two international recruitment missions. The objective is to improve access to French-language childcare services and promote the retention of workers in Francophone minority communities.

Beyond Ontario, this project will have a direct impact on the growth of French-language child care, with positive spin-offs in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Yukon.

The Société Nationale de l'Acadie, supported by members of the Comité atlantique en immigration francophone, is planning to organize job fairs to meet the labour needs of the four Atlantic provinces through the recruitment of French-speaking candidates. The development phase involves undertaking a study of the most relevant talent pools for priority economic sectors in Atlantic Canada (health, technology, construction, education, tourism) and the development of a concerted implementation plan for job fairs.