Claresholm Unveils Designated Employers for Rural Immigration Pilot and Highlights Current Job Openings
Claresholm, a welcoming community in southern Alberta, has announced the list of designated employers participating in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP). This program offers foreign nationals a streamlined pathway to permanent residence, provided they secure a job offer from employers designated by the pilot.
Understanding the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
The RCIP is designed to attract skilled workers to rural communities by connecting foreign nationals with local employers facing labor shortages. To qualify, candidates must receive a valid job offer from a designated employer in one of the participating towns or regions, such as Claresholm, which encompasses a 25-kilometer radius including nearby towns Granum and Stavely.
Claresholm’s Designated Employers and Hiring Status
The town has shared an updated roster of businesses involved in the pilot. Some employers are actively hiring, while others are supporting permanent residency applications for their current temporary foreign workers.
| Employer | Sector | Hiring Status |
|---|---|---|
| El Molino | Manufacturing & Utilities | Not Hiring |
| Structural Precast | Manufacturing & Utilities | Hiring |
| A&W | Sales & Services | Not Hiring |
| CFI Flight Academy | Education & Law | Hiring |
| Casa Roma | Sales & Services | Not Hiring |
| Antree | Sales & Services | Not Hiring |
| Roy’s Place | Sales & Services | Not Hiring |
| Tim Hortons | Sales & Services | Hiring |
Communities stress that candidates should only reach out to those employers currently hiring. Employers marked as “Not Hiring” are using the RCIP to facilitate permanent residence for existing temporary workers.
Job Opportunities and Application Process
All job openings through the RCIP must be posted on the Canada Job Bank, where interested applicants can verify positions and cross-reference with the list of designated employers.
Claresholm has been granted 30 RCIP nomination slots for 2025. To manage demand fairly, four nominations will be released each month. Unused nominations will roll over to the year’s end, ensuring no spots go to waste.
Eligibility Criteria for Claresholm RCIP Applicants
Beyond holding a job offer from a designated employer, applicants must:
- Work in one of the pilot’s priority occupations.
- Meet experience, education, language proficiency, and settlement fund requirements.
- Collaborate with the designated employer to prepare the application package, which will be submitted to the Claresholm Economic Development Corporation (EDC) for approval.
Approved applicants can then apply directly to the federal government for permanent residence. Additionally, successful candidates may be eligible for an LMIA-exempt work permit during the PR processing period, enabling them to work legally while awaiting final decisions.
Looking Ahead
Claresholm’s active involvement in the RCIP highlights the community’s commitment to addressing labor shortages while providing foreign workers with a clear route to Canadian permanent residency. The community will continue updating the list of designated employers as the program progresses.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
