Hiring immigrant talent
Why hire immigrants
Hiring immigrants helps your business grow. They bring skills, new ideas, and different ways of thinking. This makes your team stronger and more creative. You'll also reach new customers with their language skills and connections around the world.
On this page
Proponents – Champions for Immigrant Employment is a group that supports employers in building inclusive and effective hiring practices. It connects employers with a pool of immigrant jobseekers and engages through industry and business events. The Proponents offer free services to help employers access diverse talent across Waterloo Region.
The Proponents include the following programs:
Employment Ontario (EO)
Employment Ontario (EO) provides free, practical services to help employers find, hire, and retain the right talent for their business or organization. Employers can access personalized support from counsellors for guidance on recruitment, financial incentives, and workforce planning, as well as tools to support training, onboarding, and employee development. Through EO services, employers also gain access to skilled candidates, including newcomers and internationally trained professionals, along with support for building diverse and inclusive workplaces that support long term retention.
You can book a counsellor for personalized advice on recruiting, accessing financial incentives, or managing workforce changes.
Here’s a list of local service providers you can connect with for support in hiring, recruiting, and developing talent:
| Provider | Location(s) |
| Agilec | Kitchener |
| John Howard Society of Waterloo-Wellington | Cambridge |
| March of Dimes | Kitchener |
| Reception House Waterloo Region | Kitchener / Waterloo |
| Region of Waterloo | Cambridge |
| Starling Community Services | Kitchener and Cambridge |
| The Working Centre | Kitchener |
| Employment Services | YMCA of Three Rivers | Kitchener and Cambridge |
Bring talent from outside Canada
Permanent hires
As an employer, you can hire a permanent skilled worker or tradesperson from outside Canada through the Federal Government's express entry system.
You can also hire permanent skilled workers through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.
Temporary hires
Employers can hire talent from outside Canada to fill temporary roles through several immigration programs. The Federal Government provides information and tools to help employers hire a temporary foreign worker.
Free government support
The federal and provincial governments provide free services to help businesses navigate economic immigration programs and access the talent they need. You can learn more about federal services for employers to help attract global talent, including available tools and supports.
Immigration rules change often. Talk to a licensed immigration consultant for your specific needs.