Deloitte Leads the Way with Immigration and Diversity in Greater Halifax
April 1, 2010

Recognized as one Canada's best employers for new Canadians, Deloitte is a leader in making immigration work in Halifax. Striving to attract and retain professionals with a broad range of experiences from across the globe, this international firm understands that it can deliver the best solutions to their clients by diversifying their workforce and their work environment.

Deloitte Halifax is working with the Greater Halifax Partnership to engage their employees and work with business leaders in the community to promote immigration and diversity.  In October 2009, Deloitte and the Partnership co-hosted an Investor breakfast to discuss the importance of immigration to Halifax.  Deloitte’s Chief Diversity Officer Jane Allen explained how many organizations in Canada focus on hiring visible minorities, however, most Canadian workplaces are not inclusive to the needs of other cultures. 

Following the investor briefing, the Partnership was asked to present an overview of its current immigration initiatives at a Deloitte office-wide meeting.  Approximately 60 employees attended and took a keen interest in the Connector Program.

“The Partnership's Connector Program is something that I am absolutely passionate about – in a strategic and tactical way, the program facilitates the introduction of newcomer job-seeking professionals with high quality employers,” said Jamie Welsh, Senior Manager with Deloitte.  

So far, 13 connections have been made through Deloitte employees, and as a result of the referral process six newcomers have secured employment. 

Working with senior leadership, Ms. Allen is developing and implementing an Atlantic Canadian workplace diversity strategy. The company has committed to adopting the Connector program as part of its strategy.

In 2009, Deloitte& Touche LLP received an award from The Best Employers for New Canadians. The competition is managed by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers in partnership with ALLIES, a joint initiative of the The Maytree Foundation and The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation.

Reasons why the company was selected included:

• Active participation in TRIEC's the Mentoring Partnership program, with over 150 employee mentors helping new Canadians access jobs and establish networking relationships in their fields of expertise. Deloitte was one of the first corporate partners to get involved in the program.
  
  
• Providing internships to new Canadians through the Career Bridge program, and have hired former interns as full-time employees.
  
  
• Operating a unique web-based Cultural Navigator Program, a self-assessment tool that familiarizes skilled immigrant employees on Canadian workplace culture.