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With 24%, or almost one in four Edmontonians having immigrated to Edmonton in their lifetime, Edmonton is certainly a multicultural city.(1)  With the population now more than 722,260 people, there are over 180,565 neighbours, coworkers and friends in Edmonton whose comforts of urban culture and urban design are likely somewhat to very different than the Canadian status-quo. Based on the language spoken at home, Figure 1 shows the nation of origin of many new Edmontonians, including 40% from India, the Philippines and China, thousands from Germany, the Ukraine, Poland, Spain, the Middle East, Vietnam and many other countries. Edmonton is home to over 70 different ethnic groups.(2)  This multiculturalism could be called one of the backbones of the Canadian identity - and one which the Canadian government continues to pride itself on at national and international levels. At our municipal level, the City of Edmonton has stated it "acknowledges the diversity of Edmontonians and [has charted] a course of inclusion where all people can be confident of the opportunity for success in [the] city".(3) However, to truly plan for a multicultural city we must include and go beyond hosting food and dance fairs and funding cultural associations. To build a city that is reflective of its people means to provide room for the very public spaces and culturally-relevant buildings that inhabit and nurture the essence of urban culture that exist in its people's way of being. So how does the City of Edmonton contribute to the celebration and accommodation of the diversity of its citizens through the built form? The City's newly released 'Ways' documents including The Way We Grow (Edmonton's Municipal Development Plan (MDP) for urban growth) and The Way We Live (Edmonton's plan for community development and social service delivery) provide some insight to Edmonton's plans for cultural inclusivity through urban design using a livability framework.(4, 5) From the MDP Th

Workforce DevelopmentThe shortage of skilled workers was unquestionably the mostimportant challenge faced by Edmonton industry in 2008. Inits third year, EEDC's Edmonton Workforce Connection (EWC)program continued in conjunction with industry and governmentto address regional labour challenges. EWC worked with industrystakeholders, immigrant-serving agencies, the City of Edmonton,educational institutions and Alberta Employment and Immigrationto launch the Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Council.This organization was created to help address the underemploymentof skilled immigrants in the region.EWC also provided new opportunities for businesses and workersto connect. These included developing the Employers of Choicewebsite to highlight local employers, creating a link to WOWJobs that enabled companies to advertise job opportunities, andconnecting Edmonton employers to university career centresacross Canada.EWC has a new name - EEDC's Workforce Development Program- and new challenges. The focus of the program will be optimizingthe labour force to address a growing skills shortage that isdriven by an aging population, competition, innovation and newtechnologies. Alberta employers are reassessing their needs andthe future of their businesses in light of the economic slowdown.EEDC will continue to need blue and white-collar workers who areemployed to their maximum capacity to rebuild the economy. Productivity & InnovationIn 2008, EEDC made a strategic decision to be a leader inpromoting greater productivity through innovation in the Edmontonregion.In collaboration with the province and cities across Alberta, EEDChosted Innovative Manufacturing Works tours in Edmontonin October 2008. Thirty industry representatives visited threeEdmonton-area manufacturers, which are focused on continuallyrefining their processes to achieve peak efficiency. Events such asthese improve public awareness of the capability of local industryand encourage other firms to adopt be

WorkforceEEDC's workforce development program continued forits fourth year in 2009. With industry, education andgovernment partners, EEDC addressed regional labourchallenges and helped to plan for anticipated increases in thedemand for skilled labour in 2010. The program supportedthe Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Council, whichhelps immigrants gain experience working in Canada andprovides tools to help them find meaningful employment.Workforce development created opportunities for businessesand workers to connect through its enhanced web presenceat edmonton.com. The site informs employees aboutliving, working and educational opportunities in Edmonton.Employers were connected with programs designed toassist under-employed and unemployed segments of thelocal workforce. To address higher rates of unemployment,information was provided on how to access employmentopportunities in the Edmonton region. Productivity & Innovation Productivity improvements within the Edmonton regioncontinue to be a major focus for EEDC. Manufacturersand producers are experiencing increased internationalcompetition. With partners including the Government ofAlberta, we offer industry the opportunity to reviewbusiness processes, product improvements, evaluatenew markets, reinvent business models and explore newtechnological innovations.EEDC was actively involved in producing Reaching NewMarkets, a seminar that provided insights into new waysof growing business during challenging times. As part of aleadership development series, EEDC sponsored At the Speedof Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey at the Shaw ConferenceCentre in June. EEDC co-ordinated two best practicesmissions to Ontario in which corporate participants wereexposed to world-class manufacturers that have made greatstrides in productivity improvements.EEDC supported the heavy oil industry's National Buyer/SellerForum, which attracted 650 delegates from around the world,providing local companies the opportunity to sell into thein

To support the development of a robust all-inclusive labour market in the Edmonton region that fosters skill development and capacity building, and attracts a diverse young workforce eager to participate in the Edmonton region and northern economies on a long-term basis.  

Workforce Expansion and ImprovementThe shortage of skilled workers is unquestionably one of themost important challenges faced by Edmonton industry. Moreover,demographic forecasts indicate that today's acute labour shortageswill only become worse without strategic initiatives to grow ourworkforce through immigration and increased participation ratesfrom under-employed segments of society. Increased productivityand innovation within organizations are also part of the long-termsolution.EEDC's Edmonton Workforce Connection program continues tostrategically implement practical initiatives, in conjunction withindustry and other levels of government, to address regionallabour challenges. These initiatives will continue to be focused onbusiness development (primarily through improved productivityand innovation), labour retention and labour attraction.

Urban Aboriginal Population: A Statistical Profile of Aboriginal Peoples Living in the  City of Edmonton

Tracking the Trends 2011: Edmonton's Increasing Diversity October 2011 tracking the TRENDS is the ESPC's flagship publication that offers a comprehensive collection of current and historical demographic and socio-economic data focused on the Edmonton region. The publication divides the trends into six major categories: Demographics - indicators of population growth, immigration and population diversity. Education & Employment - indicators of educational achievement and employment status of the population. Cost of Living & Housing Trends - indicators of the costs of basic necessities, such as food and housing, as well as the housing status of the population. Wages, Income & Wealth - indicators of the changing value of the wages, incomes and net worth of individuals and families. Poverty - indicators of the prevalence of low income, as well as the incidence of acute forms of poverty, such as homelessness. Government Income Supports - indicators of the investments made by governments towards improving financial security and the impact of those investments on low income families.

"Report examines Alberta labour market, impact of labour shortages Study reveals cost of labour shortages, offers recommendations for tackling one of the province's most pressing policy challenges. By Jamie Hanlon on July 18, 2013 (Edmonton) The scope of Alberta's labour shortage and the need for recommendations on how to address it were the catalyst for a year-and-a-half-long study of one of the province's most pressing policy challenges. The University of Alberta's Institute for Public Economics commissioned the study to foster informed debate on the highly relevant policy issue. An Examination of Alberta Labour Markets explains that the opportunity cost of not filling jobs under an economic scenario similar to that outlined in Alberta's 2013 budget is $33 billion in current dollars over four years. Lost personal tax revenue to the provincial and federal governments is estimated to be nearly $6.8 billion over four years. The report emphasizes that several industries risk significant shortages-including retail, hotel and food services, and health care. Edmonton and the Banff-Jasper region are two areas at the greatest risk for labour shortages. To counteract these trends, the report's authors developed a number of recommendations to provide access to otherwise untapped labour groups including mature workers, disabled people and First Nations people. "This comprehensive analysis leads to a number of concrete policy actions that can be taken by both the federal and Alberta governments," said Robert Ascah, director of the institute. "The report's recommendations are aimed at developing a highly skilled workforce, which will benefit all Albertans. "This means attracting the most skilled workers possible and ensuring we are doing everything we can to have apprentices complete their training." The study was funded by the Government of Alberta and 12 associations and unions with an interest in addressing periodic labour shortages in A

Alido, Editha Market Research Team Leader, All Markets Strategic Marketing Employment and Immigration 4th fl Commerce Place 10155 - 102 Street Edmonton, AB T5J 4L6 Phone: 780 644-3133 Fax: 780 644-3329 E-mail:

Labour Force Development Organizational Unit Name Phone Title Main Number 780 644-4306 Boehm, Marilynn Executive Director Labour Force Development Employment and Immigration 6th fl Centre West Building 10035 - 108 Street Edmonton, AB T5J 3E1 Phone: 780 422-1851 Fax: 780 422-6400 E-mail: marilynn.boehm@gov.ab.ca Mail Label view map 78