BCHA is committed to support our members’ workforce needs by cultivating strategic partnerships and providing resources to help employers access international and domestic workers, upskill and retain staff, and understand best practices in recruiting – saving you time and money.
The labour recruitment market today is competitive, and navigating international and domestic recruitment options can be both challenging and complex.
To support you in overcoming these challenges, BCHA partners with three trusted organizations: Alicat Immigration Consulting, Bell Alliance, and RaDar Immigration Inc. These allied members provide a range of services to assist with recruitment, from Temporary Foreign Worker program guidance to permanent residency support and domestic recruitment strategies.
Learn more about our recruitment partners:
Our partners offer comprehensive services to help address staffing challenges in the hospitality industry. These services include advice and support for the following:
Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs)
BCHA continues to maintain strategic partnerships through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with countries like Barbados, Mexico, and El Salvador. These agreements are designed to address staffing shortages in BC’s hospitality sector and connect employers with skilled workers.
BCHA Education Workspace (Member-Exclusive)
The BCHA Education Workspace connects employers with co-op placement opportunities, helping integrate skilled and trained students into the hospitality industry. To learn more, log in to the member portal and navigate to the Workspaces module.
Destination Canada Mobility Forum
BCHA also represents participating hospitality employers at the annual Destination Canada Mobility Forum, a key international recruitment event that connects Canadian employers with highly skilled global talent. By attending on your behalf, BCHA ensures your property gains direct access to qualified candidates ready to contribute to your success. Learn more about this hiring program here.
If you have any questions about the above resources or would like to explore available opportunities, please contact Karissa Bourgeault – BCHA Project Manager, Lead on Sustainability, Education, and Workforce – at karissa@bcha.com.
 While there are many recruitment programs and resources for employers, not all will be suited to your business. The BCHA has carefully vetted and established partnerships that will support the best interests of BC accommodators and their employees.Â
There are 3 streams available when applying for a LMIA:
RECENT CHANGES TO LMIA PROGRAM | AS OF SPRING 2022
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
MOSAIC: One of Canada’s largest settlement and employment services organizations, we’re improving communities by welcoming and supporting newcomers. MOSAIC programs help immigrants and refugees settle and start a new life in Canada.
Employment programs:
Employment Services | MOSAIC Services (mosaicbc.org)
Job Postings:
employers@mosaicbc.org
Language Support Services:
Immigrant & Refugee Resources | MOSAIC (mosaicbc.org)
Translation Services:
Translation – Interpretation & Translation Services (mosaicbc-lsp.org)
From housing and education to employment services, ICA’s Settlement Services team can help newcomers navigate and connect with important resources and support.
Immigrant Welcome Centre:
Immigrant Welcome Centre – Inter-cultural Association of Greater Victoria (icavictoria.org)
Employment Services:
Employment Services – Inter-cultural Association of Greater Victoria (icavictoria.org)
Gateway to Tourism & Hospitality for Newcomers Program:
Gateway to Tourism and Hospitality for Newcomers – Inter-cultural Association of Greater Victoria (icavictoria.org)
Game Changer: Youth Employment Program
Game Changer: Youth Employment Program – Inter-cultural Association of Greater Victoria (icavictoria.org)
Learn English:
Learn English (LINC) – Inter-cultural Association of Greater Victoria (icavictoria.org)
Through training and organizational coaching, the program will help organizations and businesses develop cultures of inclusion, close racial gaps and maximize anti-racist impacts in your place of work :
Tools for Equity – Inter-cultural Association of Greater Victoria (icavictoria.org)
The BCHA has partnered with the team at Talent Beyond Boundaries. TBB matches skilled refugees with companies in need of their skills, helping employers gain valuable talent and supporting displaced people to rebuild their careers and lives.
In addition, the BCHA is currently working closely with the provincial government to advocate for changes to the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) to create a new pathway for refugees to gain permanent residency in Canada.Â
RECENT CHANGES TO TBB PROGRAM | AS OF JUNE 2023 – New Federal Pathways stream:
Highlights of the Federal Pathway:
Given the highlights mentioned above, while we will still have access to existing pathways (including PNP), our approach will be to use Federal Pathways in most cases.
The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) provides an opportunity, through HIRES EMPP, to access a new immigration stream that enables you to fill staffing needs and make a positive global impact — connecting refugee youth overseas to employment opportunities in Canada.Â
WUSC offers Canadian Companies:
About WUSC:Â WUSC is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. WUSC has supported refugees throughout its history since the 1920s; more recently sponsoring refugees from 39 countries through the Student Refugee Program since 1978, and advancing economic mobility pathways for refugee youth through HIRES and now HIRES EMPP.Â
Hear from employer champions in the HIRES Video Series
Contact: Eliza Seaborn eseaborn@wusc.ca
The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) was created to help skilled refugees immigrate to Canada through existing economic programs to support Canadian labour market needs.
The following requirements must be met to qualify:
International Experience Canada provides the opportunity to travel and work in Canada for up to two years. There are three separate streams available that include Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op (internship). Canada has an agreement with 38 visa-exempt countries, so citizens of those countries have a streamlined process to be eligible to work in Canada.
The most utilized of these streams is the Working-holiday permit, which is particularly popular among younger adults. This permit, allows workers to freely work and travel in Canada. Permits are typically issued for one year, but some countries allow for more than one opportunity to participate if the person reapplies under a different stream.
Application submissions are most often handled by the worker, but some may choose to work with Recognized Organizations (ROs) to assist with their applications. BCHA is pleased to have signed a partnership agreement with Languages Canada who are a recently appointed RO. This partnership will open doors for our members, offering greater access to individuals keen to explore all areas of BC. These candidates are wanting to gain experience and skills in hospitality-related jobs, including light duty cleaners, launderers, front desk clerks, and servers.
Job seekers will have an open work permit when they are hired and are not required to remain with a single employer for the duration of their permit, and as a result, these programs are often very popular among those seeking seasonal workers.Â
The Francophone Mobility Program is an initiative of the Government of Canada which facilitates work permits for skilled Francophone foreign nationals. As the program’s aim is to encourage growth of French-speaking workers across Canada, candidates must be French-speaking, although it doesn’t have to be their primary language.
Recent changes to the program now allow job offers to all positions in any Tier – 0-5. This means positions such as light duty cleaners, front desk clerks, kitchen helpers are now eligible as well as skilled positions such as housekeeping supervisors, food service supervisors, cooks, etc. Permits are valid for up to three years and employers are required to submit an online offer of employment, paying a $230 fee.Â
The BCHA has participated in the Destination Canada Mobility Forum for the past two years. Look for an announcement this fall 2024 for more details on how to participate in this event. We also partner with Société de développement économique de la Colombie-Britannique (SDECB) for year-round support of hiring French-speaking workers. Â
​The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows international students who have recently graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions to obtain an open work permit in Canada. The duration of each permit depends on the length of the graduate’s studies.
The PGWPP is often a pathway to permanent residency, leading to opportunities for long-term employment, and as the student is responsible for applying, there are no added costs to the employer.Â
Effective November 2024, students can work a maximum of 24 hours per week off campus and full time during holidays and school breaks. Employers are now required to provide the following pamphlets regarding the rights and protections available to Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) while working in Canada. Please ensure you have a copy available for your TFW on their first day of work.Â
The Skilled Worker category of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is a way for workers in a professional, management, technical, trade or other skilled occupation to gain permanent residence in BC.
BC PNP may issue targeted invitations to apply for select occupations. These targeted occupations are Childcare, Healthcare, Veterinary Care, Construction sector, and Technology sector.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR HIRING INTERNATIONAL WORKERS (NEW):Â
IRCC outreach team who are available to assist employers navigating IRCC programs:
Bibiana Au – Outreach Officer
Telephone: 343-549-3722
Email: promotions@cic.gic.ca
Janet Fan
Telephone: 604-353-2488
Email: janet.fan@cic.gc.ca
Darcy Bromley
Telephone: 604-315-7672
Email: darcy.bromley@cic.gc.ca
Here is a link to additional resources:
Employer’s Roadmap to hiring and retaining internationally trained workers
International Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) contain provisions to facilitate, on a reciprocal basis, temporary entry for businesspersons to work within Canada—an example of this is the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement. Eligible persons entering under an FTA will generally require a work permit and there is a $230 fee that is paid by the employer. While FTAs provide a streamlined employment for foreign workers, eligible occupation categories can often be limited and frequently change.Â
In an effort to grow interest in the hospitality sector and support upskilling and training the BCHA has partnered with Western Community College (WCC) and Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS), to offer the Hotel Operation Services Skills Training project, which provides fully funded training to unemployed and underemployed individuals from the Metro Vancouver area. The project targets individuals with some industry experience and focuses on readying candidates for meaningful work in the industry with the opportunity for students to connect directly with our members following the completion of the program.Â
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