The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, attended the opening reception where he liaised with delegates and offered his opening remarks to launch the event. The Honourable Paul Shelley, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and the Minister Responsible for Immigration, was also present and addressed some 250 delegates in attendance. Plenary and concurrent workshops were held on a wide range of Immigration topics relating to attracting and retaining immigrants in NL.

Senior staff from the Association for New Canadians actively participated in the event. Among the presenters, Bridget Foster, the Executive Director of the ANC (Association for New Canadians), participated in the Integration and Retention Panel addressing the important role Immigrant Serving agencies play in the effective settlement and retention of newcomers. Eileen Kelly-Freake, the Manager of the Career Services Division of the ANC, took part in the Foreign Credential Assessment and Recognition Panel. She outlined the challenges associated with the credentialing process and highlighted initiatives that are in place at the local level to assist newcomers.

Click here to view FCR Presentation.

The first ever Provincial Immigration Symposium was held in St.John's at the Fairmont Hotel on September 17th and 18th, 2006. The symposium brought together province-wide representatives from municipalities, business and labour, community-based agencies, educational institutions, and various interested stakeholders and government officials.