The B.C. government has recognized the economic and social contributions immigrants make to the province by handing out WelcomeBC awards to three well-deserving recipients.

Multiculturalism Minister of State Harry Bloy presided over the event as part of WelcomeBC Day, with awards going to two immigrants and an immigrant-supporting agency. The successful provincial nominees have also created or enabled job creation in B.C., which supports one of the three pillars of 'Canada Starts Here: The B.C. Jobs Plan'.

The award winners include:

• Nathan Yang, who immigrated to B.C. from China over four years ago to set up Kuzco Lighting Inc, a highly successful business with promising growth potential.
• United States immigrant John Eckland, renowned for his renovation of the historic Kaslo Hotel, turning it into a thriving business and major economic driver for the community.
• The Immigrant Employment Council of BC for its online one-stop-shop for employers to gain direct access to a database of work-ready, pre-screened, skilled immigrants: www.tapintotalent.ca

WelcomeBC Day was proclaimed for the first time in October 2010 and is marked with a celebratory event to recognize outstanding contributions by immigrants. The WelcomeBC umbrella brings together a strong network of settlement programs and services throughout the province for newcomers and immigrants to access free language training, settlement and labour market services.

Through WelcomeBC, the Province will invest $132.9 million in 2011-12 in English language training, labour market participation and community inclusion programs. The breakdown is:

• Adult English language development ($64.4 million).
• Settlement and inclusive communities ($41.7 million).
• Labour market participation ($26.8 million).

WelcomeBC is funded under the Canada-BC Immigration Agreement.

Quotes:

Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney -

"The Government of Canada continues to work in partnership with the Province of British Columbia to help newcomers transition, integrate and succeed in their communities. We celebrate the accomplishments of the WelcomeBC Day award recipients."

Kelly Pollack, executive director, Immigrant Employment Council of BC -

"Receiving the 2011 WelcomeBC Day award is such a great honour for all of us at the Immigrant Employment Council of BC. British Columbia has always been an example of attracting the best and brightest in the world, and at IEC-BC we are committed to developing innovative solutions that help local businesses integrate the skilled immigrants that are vital to our future and to our economy."

Quick Facts:

• B.C. welcomed 44,183 new immigrants from over 170 countries in 2010-11.
• The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) was introduced in 2001 to increase the benefits of immigration to British Columbia by allowing the provincial government to nominate foreign workers and entrepreneurs for accelerated permanent resident status based on labour market and economic development needs and priorities.
• More than 14,000 entrepreneurs and skilled and semi-skilled workers have been attracted to the province through the BC PNP.
• Over the next decade, British Columbia's Skills for Growth Strategy projects 1.1 million job openings due to economic growth and retirements

Learn More:

Watch videos about this year's award winners: http://www.youtube.com/user/WelcomeBCca

The WelcomeBC Settlement and Integration Services 2010-11 annual report was released at the event and can be viewed here: http://www.welcomebc.ca/wbc/service_providers/publications_and_reports/index.page?WT.svl=Body

BC Provincial Nominee Program: www.welcomebc.ca/pnp

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts:

Caroline McAndrews
Communications Manager
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-0613

Candice Malcolm
Media Relations, Minister's Office
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613 952-1650CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Oct. 28, 2011 Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

WelcomeBC Day Award Winners

Nathan Yang, Kuzco Lighting Inc.

Shaokun (Nathan) Yang, a BC Provincial Nominee from China, immigrated to British Columbia over four years ago to set up Kuzco Lighting Inc. in Surrey. With more than 15 years of experience in the lighting business, Yang has more than doubled his initial investment and expanded his business for a total investment of $2.5 million. Kuzco Lighting currently has 12 employees and expects to double its warehouse capacity with continued growth over the next year.

John Eckland, Kaslo Hotel

In 2006 John Eckland came to British Columbia from the United States as a business immigrant under the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program and settled in Kaslo. With a $2.8-million investment, Eckland completely renovated the Kaslo Hotel and created 24 new jobs. Capitalizing on his management experience and knowledge of the hotel business, he completely renovated the historic building, transforming it into a thriving hotel with thousands of dollars in spinoff benefits for other local businesses. In recognition of his contribution, Eckland was also named one of the Top Ten Kootenay Business People of 2010 and awarded the Gordon Wilder Memorial Award for significant achievement in support of tourism in British Columbia's Kootenay Rockies region.

The Immigrant Employment Council of BC

The website www.tapintotalent.ca is a one-stop-shop for employers with a wealth of labour-market resources and tips on attracting, hiring and retaining immigrant talent. The value for employers is that they can have direct access to a database of work-ready, pre-screened skilled immigrants. Through its unique online job-matching tool, TalentMatch BC, the website gives employers access to a pool of pre-screened, experienced, internationally trained talent at no cost. Through its mentoring program section, tapintotalent.ca introduces employers to a host of learning and professional-development opportunities for their staff.

Contacts:

Caroline McAndrews
Communications Manager
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-0613

Candice Malcolm
Media Relations, Minister's Office
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613 952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca