Leaders
in Employment
Dedicated to a fully inclusive labour force that reflects Canada’s diversity, skills and experience.
Uniquely positioned to fuel stability for Canada’s economy now, and always.
Canadians understand the value of immigration to our country and our economy. With almost all of our population growth now dependent on immigration, Canada is welcoming 500,000 newcomers a year. But while immigrants fuel our economy and can bring the skills employers need, they continue to face barriers to employment. Racialized minorities and immigrants experience greater unemployment and underemployment and are attracting lower paying jobs, creating an immigrant wage gap estimated to cost Canada’s economy $50 billion a year.
In this context, ACCES Employment’s significant contributions to newcomers and the Canadian economy are underscored.
Our infrastructure, programs, and relationships built over 37 years mean we are uniquely positioned to ensure the integration into the labour market of skilled immigrants who are so critical to Canada’s success.
Our work is important to Canada’s future, and particularly right now.
We’re setting newcomers up for success even before they arrive. We’re pivoting quickly to help refugees and asylum claimants fleeing conflict and fear of persecution in their own countries. We’re providing options for newcomers who want to come to our largest cities, helping them settle successfully and work in smaller urban and rural communities all across Canada. We’re anticipating labour market need, and adapting our programs to sectors such as healthcare, trades, and STEM. We’re bringing employers into the conversation, working with industry to tailor our programs. We’re helping entrepreneurs create jobs for themselves and others.
We’ll stay innovative in our workforce development, always learning and providing our expertise, no matter what shape the economy takes.
We value our country’s diversity. We benefit from our differences. And we want everyone who comes here to thrive.
ACCES Employment is about more than just a job. We see a world where newcomers are able to live their best lives, finding stability despite the uncertainty. A world where we have a fully inclusive labour force reflecting Canada’s diversity, skills and experience. We see a world where everyone contributes to and shares in our country’s prosperity.
We thank our government funders, corporate sponsors, donors, employers and community partners for helping us make our vision a reality. We also want to thank our incredible staff who lead and deliver on our mission each day.
We also extend our gratitude to our outgoing Board Chair Brian G. Bachand for his incredible contributions, leadership and guidance. Brian shared our passion for a prosperous, diverse Canada and he brought us closer to achieving that vision with inspiration and fortitude.
President & CEO
ACCES Employment
Andrea Robertson
Vice-Chair, Acting Chair of the Board
Our Commitment
to Inclusion
Land Acknowledgement
In the Greater Toronto Area where we operate, we acknowledge this land is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
As we carry out our mission to support all jobseekers, many of whom are recent immigrants to Canada, we embrace our responsibility to learn about the history and culture of Indigenous communities, the past and present harm, and impact of colonialism. We are committed to working together towards building a more inclusive, just and equitable future.
Our commitment to diversity and antiracism includes creating a workplace and culture where everyone feels respected and included, where different perspectives are welcomed and valued.
Canada is one of the most diverse countries in the world with immigrants speaking more than 450 languages coming here from nearly 200 countries to build new lives, however newcomers continue to face many challenges finding and maintaining employment. Various equity-deserving groups also face significant barriers.
Skills, language or cultural barriers, in addition to understanding systems and norms, gaining access to labour market information, and making new contacts all combine to make the jobseeker experience complex.
Because we champion diversity, we strive to achieve equity and inclusion in everything we do.
SUCCESS STORIES
“The warm and inspiring atmosphere, coupled with exceptional instructors and a comprehensive curriculum, made me feel welcomed and equipped to tackle any challenge. I am grateful for the opportunities ACCES opened up for me. Thank you for providing such an amazing program and being an integral part of my success story.”
CHAPTER 1
Collaborating
for Growth
- Employment Ontario
- Connecting newcomers
- Helping refugees
- Sector-specific programs
Helping people launch their own businesses
Pre-Arrival program
Through the Entrepreneurship Connections Pre-Arrival program, we served 525 people before they arrived in Canada by providing one-to-one business advice, webinars, guest speakers and introductions to start-up supports in cities across Canada.
Helping people launch their own businesses
Connections program
Fifty-five per cent of the 114 clients who completed the Entrepreneurship Connections program started a business in year one as they learned all aspects of start-ups, from validating a good idea to pitching to potential investors, marketing, creating a business plan and business operations.
This program also included a specialized stream assisting 237 recent Ukrainian arrivals. They received tailored services in their own language to help them start a business in Canada.
Research partnership supporting entrepreneurs
A research project called Mentorship for Success was funded by The Metcalfe Foundation that focused on the importance of mentorship for low-income and newcomer entrepreneurs, with findings and recommendations on ways to advocate for more critical funding.
