A three-year project to make Prince George more welcoming to new immigrants will be coming to a close at the end of the month.
Welcome PG was launched in 2008 as a partnership between the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society, Initiatives Prince George and Prince George Chamber of Commerce to attract and retain skilled workers immigrating to Canada.
Program manager Noureen Khan said a multicultural banquet is being held on Saturday to celebrate the success of the program.
"As part of the project... we were trying to change the perception of employers about hiring new Canadians," Khan said. "We met with 400 employers. All the employers we met with were very open to the idea."
Having a job to support themselves and their family is critical for new immigrants, she said. However there are barriers for new immigrants trying to find work - particularly with smaller employers who don't have dedicated human resources staff to ease the process, she said.
Welcome PG met with employers ranging from, "mom and pop stores," to major industry, Kahn said. On their website, www.welcomepg.ca, there is a guide for employers looking to hire immigrants.
The program also provided information for recent immigrants and people looking to immigrate to Prince George, she said.
"We got questions from all around the world - people asking how they can come to Prince George" Khan said.
In addition to celebrating the past, Khan said Saturday's banquet will feature an announcement about the future of the program.
