Immigrant Employment Council of BC

06/10/2026

June's mentor spotlight: Meet Swapnil Shah, a Senior Product Manager with experience spanning the healthcare, semiconductor, e-commerce, and iGaming industries.

Through , Swapnil supports emerging professionals as they navigate Vancouver’s tech ecosystem, with a particular focus on product management and related career paths.

He helps mentees translate their impressive skills and experience into the Canadian context by providing guidance on the local job market, strengthening their professional stories, building confidence, and developing practical strategies for long-term career success.

His commitment to empowering newcomers demonstrates the impact that mentorship can have in helping skilled professionals unlock new opportunities, thrive in their careers, and maximize their contributions.

Why mentorship matters to Swapnil:

"Every mentorship journey is a two-way learning experience. While I support mentees I also gain valuable insights from their experiences, perspectives, and career journeys. Each conversation broadens my understanding and reinforces the importance of continuous learning.

One of the most rewarding aspects of mentorship is seeing others grow while growing alongside them. It’s a reminder that investing time in someone else's success can be just as enriching for the mentor as it is for the mentee."

Want to build your leadership skills, grow your network, and stand out? Join as a mentor today: https://iecbc.ca/our-work/programs/mentorconnect/

06/09/2026

📅 May recap: As the days grew warmer, so grew IEC-BC's momentum, partnership building, and employer and stakeholder engagement efforts.

Last month was all about bringing people together to identify workforce challenges, share insights, and explore practical solutions that support both employers and job seekers in a rapidly evolving labour market.

A key highlight was hosting our first of the fiscal year, and the first-ever forum in Langley, in partnership with Trinity Western University. Employers and community partners from across the Fraser Valley came together to discuss regional workforce needs, talent shortages, and opportunities to strengthen employment pathways through cross-sector collaboration with representation from healthcare and social services, skilled trades and construction, technology and engineering, transportation, and manufacturing sectors.

Our team also attended the Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium Forum BC, where manufacturers, government representatives, and industry leaders explored opportunities related to infrastructure investments, supply chain resilience, domestic production, and long-term economic growth.

As we look ahead to the summer, we're inspired by the community's work building a stronger BC economy based on integration, innovation, and inclusion.

06/08/2026

Calling all newcomers, internationally trained professionals, students, and early-career talent in and :

Join (WCE Vancouver) Women in Consulting Engineering Vancouver and IEC-BC for a evening of practical insights, industry perspectives, and networking focused on building a career in Canada's consulting engineering sector. All genders are welcome.

You can:

- learn about the EGBC certification and registration process
- hear directly from industry professionals, employers, and newcomers who have successfully navigated the Canadian engineering landscape
- gain insights into hiring practices, career progression, and workplace culture
- expand your professional network and connect with industry leaders and peers

Whether you are actively pursuing engineering registration, exploring career opportunities, or looking to strengthen your professional connections, this event will provide valuable guidance and real-world tips to support your career journey.

Date: Wednesday, June 17
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Where: ISSofBC - Immigrant Services Society of BC, Victoria Drive, Vancouver

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/engineering-pathways-for-newcomers-in-canada-tickets-1990303155315

WCE is an inclusive community open to all genders. While the discussion will focus on consulting engineering, many of the topics and insights will be valuable for professionals across STEM fields.

We look forward to welcoming you and helping you build connections that can support your future in Canada's STEM workforce!

06/03/2026

A new report from the Institute for Canadian Citizenship has found that roughly a quarter of immigrant degree-holders are working below their skill level not because they lack capability, but because hiring systems and processes screen them out through credential bias, “Canadian experience” requirements, and risk-averse processes.

So often, the constraint is access. Many qualified immigrant candidates never get that first relevant role, and once they fall into 'survival' employment, the gap compounds, robbing us all of their contributions.

For employers, this is a missed operational advantage, and Canada leaves tens of billions in productivity unrealized each year as a result of this underemployment.

The ICC's proposed Fair Licensing Act and other policies are a big part of the solution to this economic challenge, but most employers can still improve their results (and Canada's) with quick action.

Here's how:

– Evaluate skills directly, not only proxies like degrees
– Remove experience filters that don’t predict performance
– Create structured entry points for experienced professionals
– Build onboarding that accelerates contribution

Employers that adjust how they assess and integrate talent will not just improve hiring outcomes but also outperform competitors hiring from any given talent pool.

Read the ICC report and its recommendations:

06/01/2026

IEC-BC is ! Here's a quick spotlight on our LMS and Learning Systems Specialist role.

This role calls for a talented and motivated person to lead the backend administration of our Moodle learning platform and support the digital infrastructure behind our workforce development programs.

Are you driven by building and improving on open-source systems, deploying learning technology, and creating an impact for BC? Apply now!

Know someone who is? Send them this opportunity!

Learn more and apply here: https://iecbc.ca/opportunities/

05/29/2026

We're hiring! Here's another spotlight on one of our three open roles.

We are looking for an Instructional Design Specialist to design and build evidence-based learning resources that help BC employers hire and retain immigrant talent and equip immigrant jobseekers with the labour market skills to succeed.

If you're all about learning design, employer capability-building, and making an impact for BC's economy and communities, or know someone who is, we'd love to hear from you.

Learn more and apply here: https://iecbc.ca/opportunities/

The IEC-BC is a not-for-profit organization that provides BC employers with solutions, tools and resources they need to hire qualified immigrant talent.

05/27/2026

We're hiring!

We'd like to share a few more details here about our open roles, starting with the LMS and Learning Systems Specialist:

We are searching for an LMS and Learning Systems Specialist to lead the backend administration of our learning platform and support the digital infrastructure behind our workforce development programs.

If you're passionate about open-source systems, learning technology, and community impact, or know someone who is, take action today!

Learn more and apply here: https://iecbc.ca/opportunities

05/23/2026

IEC-BC is growing, and we're looking for three people to join our team.

The work? Empowering employers to attract, hire, and retain skilled immigrants across BC, ensuring everyone can contribute to their full potential.

Three roles are open for application now:

1️⃣ Workforce Development Coordinator: support the delivery of our partner-led programs and help connect immigrant talent with top employers and meaningful career pathways.

2️⃣ Specialist, Instructional Design: design and build evidence-based learning resources that help BC employers hire and retain immigrant talent.

3️⃣ LMS and Learning Systems Specialist: lead the backend administration of our Moodle learning platform and the digital infrastructure behind our workforce development programs.

If you're passionate about making an impact for employers and unlocking opportunities for newcomers, or know someone who is, we'd love to hear from you.

Learn more and apply here: https://iecbc.ca/opportunities/

05/22/2026

Yesterday we hosted our first ever in Langley.

We were thrilled to see such a strong turnout and enthusiastic engagement from employers and community partners across Langley, Surrey and the Fraser Valley.

A huge thank you to Trinity Western University for their partnership, commitment, and providing such a welcoming and inspiring space for these important conversations.

We are grateful to everyone who joined us, shared their perspectives, and contributed to such thoughtful and solution-focused conversations. We’re excited to continue building these connections and bringing more employer voices into the conversation across BC and Canada.

The majority of our participants represented four core industries that are shaping the region’s workforce needs and future growth:

🏥 (Healthcare & Social Services)
🛠️ , Construction, Infrastructure
⌨️ , &
🚊 , , Equipment Operations

There were valuable insights shared across sectors, highlighting key challenges and opportunities related to hiring and retaining talent.

Want to participate and be the first to know about upcoming forums? Email us at: [email protected]

05/15/2026

For Rufina Ajalie, Human Resources Manager at Crosby Foods Limited, the skills that matter most now and in the future go beyond technical expertise. She points to “power skills” such as people management, communication, and inclusion as critical to sustaining a strong workforce.

“Unlocking immigrant talent skills, for me and my sector, means including them in all the decisions that you have to make.” Rufina emphasizes that inclusion creates belonging and enables employees to contribute more fully when they are invited into systems, conversations, and decision-making.

How does your organization embed inclusion into everyday workplace decisions?