cavera, Author at Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC)

TIMMINS, ON – The Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) is leading a project to address racism and discrimination in Timmins and build awareness of the many cultures that exist in the city. Bringing together a diverse group of community partners and local residents, the goal of the project is to help foster a welcoming and inclusive community.

Made possible in part by the Government of Canada, the Timmins Diversity Awareness Project is one of 85 projects selected across the country to receive funding through the Anti-Racism Action Program, which provides funding for projects that address barriers to employment, justice, and social participation among Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities, and religious minorities.

“Our commitment to combating all forms of racism and discrimination is unwavering,” said the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth. “This project will help address the barriers to employment experienced by newcomers, while making sure that local employers have the resources to create workplaces that are consciously more inclusive. I’m pleased that our government is supporting this local initiative, which will bring awareness to the contributions of racialized newcomers in Timmins.”

“Cultural diversity plays a key role in economic growth and development,” said Fred Gibbons, Chair of the TEDC Board of Directors. “Communities that are open to different cultures and ethnicities benefit from an increased range of skills and experiences, creativity, and innovation.”

Building on a recommendation in the Timmins 2020 Strategic Plan, the Timmins Diversity Awareness Project will include a public awareness campaign sharing individual stories and highlighting the positive contributions of diverse groups in Timmins, as well as a workplace-focused initiative that will provide businesses with resources and tools to promote inclusive workplaces.

“The City of Timmins is pleased to be a partner on this important project,” said Mayor George Pirie. “This is an opportunity to build on the resolution council passed last February to join the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities and commit to creating a more welcoming and inclusive community.”

Project Advisory Group members include local residents, the City of Timmins, Timmins and District Multicultural Centre, Newcomers Encouraging Self-Empowerment in Timmins, Timmins Native Friendship Centre, Kunuwanimano Child and Family Services, Reseau du Nord, Université de Hearst, Collège Boreal, Northern College, Timmins Chamber of Commerce, and members of the Indigenous Advisory Committee.

An online survey is currently open to gather input on incidences of racism and discrimination experienced by community members. The survey can be accessed here.

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For more information, please contact Kelsey Luxton at kelsey.luxton@timmins.ca or (705) 360-2656.

About the TEDC

The TEDC is the city’s non-profit community economic development team. We facilitate and support economic and social activity that creates jobs, diversifies the economy and improves quality of life.

TIMMINS, ON – The Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) has concluded its first year of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot program. Receiving over 60 applications, the TEDC issued 41 community recommendations to applicants in support of their application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent resident status. The recommendations issued to candidates span a variety of industries and sectors including health care, community and education services, information technology, and food services.

“We are thrilled with the response from the first year,” said Fred Gibbons, Chair of the TEDC Board of Directors. “Not only are these individuals filling employment gaps within the city, but many applicants are Northern College graduates and have been living in Timmins for a few years already, actively contributing to the community,” Gibbons added.

In 2019, Timmins was selected as one of 11 communities from across Canada to participate in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. The pilot is designed to spread the benefits of economic immigration to smaller communities by creating a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to work and live in Timmins. The TEDC is assisting employers using the pilot to address labour demands and fill positions that they have been struggling to fill with Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

“The RNIP program has been very beneficial for the YMCA of Timmins,” shared Courtney Berlinghoff, Regional Manager of the YMCA of Timmins, acknowledging the organization has struggled to find qualified employees in the past. “Through this program we have been able to hire employees with their Early Childhood Education diplomas and who are registered with the College of ECEs. This has allowed us to continue to serve the child care needs in our community and continue to offer high quality care to families. Our international staff continue to positively contribute to our organization,” said Berlinghoff.

Local grocery retailer Pick of the Crop has also benefited from the immigration pilot. “Hiring foreign employees has allowed us to fill some key positions that we had struggled to fill, and in turn has helped us to grow our business,” said Store Manager Isabelle Godmaire.

The Timmins pilot has received a lot of interest with nearly 3,000 inquiries coming from around the world from people interested in finding a job and settling in Timmins. In the second year of the pilot, the TEDC has a total of 150 recommendations that can be issued in 2021. The community criteria has also been updated in order to better identify candidates who fit the community’s needs and intend to reside in Timmins long term.

A survey is being conducted to gather feedback on RNIP and what supports employers may need in order to participate in the program. The survey can be accessed here.

Employers interested in learning more or participating in the pilot can contact the TEDC.

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For more information, please contact Kelsey Luxton at kelsey.luxton@timmins.ca or (705) 360-2656.

About the TEDC

Ontario’s North Economic Development Corporation (ONEDC), an alliance of economic development entities in northern Ontario, is rolling out an initiative that will connect small to medium-sized mining supply and service companies with markets in the Nevada gold and silver mining district.

MineConnect, Ontario’s mining supply and services association, has been selected to lead the initiative as part of the Northern Ontario Exports Program, funded by FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC).

The association will hire an in-market representative to support qualifying companies from a base in Elko, Nevada. MineConnect has extensive expertise to assist companies with the development of leads and contracts in international markets.

Up to 30 mining supply and service companies are expected to benefit from the program over the next two years. More information, including how to participate, will be released at www.investnorthernontario.ca and www.mineconnect.ca.

ONEDC is comprised of the five Northern Ontario communities – Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Greater Sudbury, North Bay and Timmins. Since its incorporation in 2005, ONEDC has focused on Pan-Northern Economic Development projects to foster retention and attraction of employment and investment in the region.

FedNor and the NOHFC fund the Northern Ontario Exports Program with matching contributions of $1.6 million.

Quotes:

“Our government recognizes the strategic importance of Northern Ontario’s mining supply and service sectors, which generate an estimated $5 billion annually and support more than 20,000 jobs in the region. We are proud to invest in projects such as this to help businesses create jobs, fuel our recovery and position Northern Ontario for strong and sustainable growth.”

• the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for FedNor

“Our government is pleased to support the economic development opportunities being fostered through the Northern Ontario Exports Program. Not only will this project create good-paying jobs, it will increase Northern Ontario’s capacity to attract new investment, grow existing businesses and strengthen mining sector resiliency.”

• Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines

“The City of Greater Sudbury is proud to deliver the Northern Ontario Exports Program on behalf of ONEDC. This partnership between the five cities has been instrumental in supporting export development and business growth for mining supply and service companies across Northern Ontario. I am confident that establishing the Nevada storefront in partnership with MineConnect will go a long way to helping Northern Ontario firms gain a foothold in this key mining market.”

• Brian Bigger, Mayor, City of Greater Sudbury

“Providing a storefront option in a mine rich area like Elko, Nevada will assist Northern Ontario mining suppliers to access new markets. Exporting products and services is one of the key foundations for economic diversification. We are very pleased to be working with MineConnect on this initiative. We believe this opportunity will provide many opportunities for our Northern firms.”

• Christy Marinig, Chair, ONEDC and CEO, Timmins Economic Development Corporation

“Our mission statement reads ‘Suppliers of Choice to the World’. Having been selected to lead the Nevada storefront further positions our organization as a critical link for Northern Ontario companies seeking to generate business from outside of Ontario. Our mandate is focused on assisting our member companies grow their businesses regionally, nationally and internationally and this initiative represents another significant step forward.”

• Paul Bradette, Executive Director, MineConnect

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Media Contact:

Elena Zabudskaya, Project Manager, Northern Ontario Exports Program

Email: elena.zabudskaya@greatersudbury.ca

Tel: 705-674-4455 extension 4625

Changes to Productivity and Innovation Centre will give entrepreneurs tools to optimize and grow

TIMMINS, ON – The Productivity and Innovation Centre (PIC) is streamlining its services to help business-owners and entrepreneurs pursue opportunities, build capacity and find funding for their venture. PIC is hosting its Virtual Rebrand Launch during Small Business Week on Wednesday October 21^st to announce the changes.

“Once we decided to update our programming, we recognized that our brand needed to reflect the forward-thinking services we offer and generate some excitement around the changes,” said Ross MacDonald, Business Development Specialist at the Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC). “Our new programming will help businesses overcome unique challenges and take their operations to the next level,” added MacDonald.

The new federally funded program allows PIC to offer tailored services that help entrepreneurs and businesses create a roadmap, and develop a customized plan to see their vision through. Fred Gibbons, Chair of the TEDC board said, “Not only does this program give clients a clear pathway to achieve their business goals, it also provides an opportunity to fund 50% of business development costs up to $10,000 through the new BOOST program.”

Since 2014, the PIC has supported over 75 small to medium-size enterprises resulting in over $1.2M investment in business operations through its flagship Productivity Assessment & Implementation Program (PAI). Jocelyne and Dave Sharp, owners of Conveyor’s Plus have sought the expertise of PIC in the past, saying “They helped us secure funding for prototyping and market development for our Sure-Align Tracker products. They gave us a clear direction for our business, which allowed us to develop and grow.”

Learn about PIC’s new brand, services, workshops and programs on Wednesday, October 21^st at 9:30am.

About PIC
PIC is supported by the Timmins Economic Development Corporation, FedNor and the Government of Canada. PIC is one of 18 Regional Innovation Centres in the province.

September 22, 2020
For immediate release

Learn about Timmins’ immigration pilot program at upcoming info sessions

TIMMINS, ON – The Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) will be hosting online information sessions in October for employers interested in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP). The pilot will address labour force shortages and skills gaps by creating a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers. The TEDC is helping employers identify their labour demands and fill positions that they have been struggling to fill with Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Census data shows a steady decline in Timmins’ population over the last two decades, a loss of 12% since 1996, due to both youth out-migration and a declining birth rate. Coupled with an aging population soon facing retirement, the concern among employers is growing. According to the 2019 Business Confidence Report from the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, 88% of employers cited that a lack of access to a skilled workforce is impacting their business operations and future potential growth.

Fred Gibbons, chair of the TEDC board said, “This new federal immigration pilot is an opportunity to welcome immigrants who will contribute to our local labour market and economy.” The TEDC is leading the pilot, with support from over a dozen partners, including the Multicultural Centre, the City of Timmins, the Chamber, the Far Northeast Training Board, Timmins Employer Council, Collège Boréal and Northern College.

According to Christy Marinig, CEO of the TEDC, “Applicants must have a full-time, permanent job offer from a local employer in order to be eligible, as well, applicants must have a certain amount of funds in their bank account to help them settle in the community.”

Kristin Johnson, Human Resources Manager at engineering, architecture, and planning firm J.L. Richards & Associates said, “Participating in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot has been a simple and straightforward process.” She added, “As employers, it allows us to connect with a wider community to engage talented job seekers. Everybody benefits when we can learn from each other’s diverse experiences in the workplace.”

Employers wishing to participate in the pilot can contact the TEDC. View the list of priority occupations and sectors here.

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For more information, please contact Kelsey Luxton at kelsey.luxton@timmins.ca or (705) 360-2656.

About the TEDC
The TEDC is the city’s non-proﬁt community economic development team. We facilitate and support economic and social activity that creates jobs, diversifies the economy and improves quality of life.

TIMMINS, ON – The Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) in partnership with the Cochrane District Agri-Food Land Assembly Project and the Northeast Community Network (NeCN) is asking property owners in the City of Timmins to indicate their interest in leasing, renting, or selling their land for agricultural development. This project will give landowners access to agricultural investment inquires made to the municipality.

The NeCN is conducting a survey with the aim of creating an inventory of private land with agricultural potential in the area and to attract business and boost the local agricultural sector.

Participation in the survey is voluntary and landowner information is confidential. There is no cost to participate and landowners can remove their information from the database by request to the TEDC. The online survey is facilitated by the independent consulting firm Harry Cummings and Associates and funded by OMAFRA.

To complete the survey online, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/necnagrifoodlandassemblyproject

To receive a paper copy of the survey, contact Kelsey Luxton at kelsey.luxton@timms.ca or (705) 360-2600 ext 7083.

For more information, contact:

Gilles Matko, Executive Director, The Nord-Aski Regional Economic Development Corporation at gilles.matko@nordaski.com or by phone at (705) 362-7355.

Harry Cummings, Director, Harry Cummings & Associates or Christine Zwart Cooper, Consultant, Harry Cummings & Associates by email at harry@hcaconsulting.ca or christine@hcaconsulting.ca or by phone at 519-823-1647 (Harry) or 226-868-0787 (Christine)

TIMMINS, ON – A new bilingual cultural competence training program will help employers, service providers, and employees in Northeast Ontario welcome people from diverse backgrounds.

Cultural Competence in the Workplace was developed by l’Université de Hearst in collaboration with the Regional Research and Intervention Centre for Economic and Community Development (CRRIDEC). The main objective of the training is to help integrate people from diverse cultural backgrounds into the workforce. Training is free and interactive and incorporates videos, quizzes, concrete examples and testimonials.

“Cultural competence is vital to the development of diverse and productive workplaces,” said Mike Scott, Local Immigration Partnership Coordinator at the Timmins & District Multicultural Centre. “Employers who invest time and resources to improve their cultural competence and that of their workers are much more likely to attract and retain top talent,” Scott added.

“Employers in Northern Ontario have long experienced challenges with recruiting and retaining workers,” said Christy Marinig, Chief Executive Officer at the TEDC. “As a community business partner, we’re thrilled that a tool exists to help employers foster diversity and inclusion and mitigate workforce challenges,” added Marinig.

Anthony Miron, Research Coordinator at CRRIDEC and co-head of the development team, is pleased to see the interest in the online training program. “Many employers in our region voiced the need for such training, indicating that it can also help retain newcomers and their families,” said Miron. “We designed the course to meet the needs of the northeast and to help businesses and organizations welcome people from diverse cultures.”

Access the training in English here and in French here.

For more information, contact Kelsey Luxton at kelsey.luxton@timmins.ca or 705-360-2600 x 7083.

The TEDC in partnership with the City and Chamber Joint Business Continuity Recovery Advisory Task Force is sharing the May results of the COVID-19 Business Impact Survey.

The results are posted on the Chamber website at https://www.timminschamber.on.ca/covid-19.html

The City and Chamber Joint Business Continuity Recovery Advisory Task Force partners include The Downtown Timmins Business Improvement Association, The Venture Centre, Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board, FedNor, and the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines.

For more information, contact Kelsey Luxton at kelsey.luxton@timmins.ca or 705-360-2656.

The TEDC is helping businesses navigate available supports related to COVID-19. In partnership with the City and Chamber Joint Business Continuity Recovery Advisory Task Force, the TEDC is the designated hotline for individuals seeking business assistance.

Contact the TEDC at 705-360-2656 or TEDC@Timmins.ca for support including:

Getting your business online.
Accessing wage subsidies and low-interest loans.
Securing funds for PPE and plexiglass installation.
Addressing supply chain management gaps.
Launching your productivity analysis.
Acquiring professional services.

For more information, contact Kelsey Luxton at kelsey.luxton@timmins.ca or 705-360-2656.

Divisions of the TEDC