West Kootenay, a small community in southeastern British Columbia, has published the list of designated employers under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP).
The RCIP designated region in West Kootenay stretches along the U.S. border from Rock Creek in the west to Yahk in the east. Its northwestern boundary reached the vicinity of Hughes Peak, while the northeastern boundary extends to the area near Duncan Lake.
RCIP community includes communities such as Nelson, Castlegar, Trail, Kaslo, and Nakusp. International graduates you can target these areas for job offer to be eligible under this program.
It’s important to note that RCIP serves as an employer driven path to permanent residency in Canada. To be eligible , foreign nationals must secure a permanent job offer from a designated employer plus that job offer must be approved by a local economic development organization.
West Kootenay RCIP-designated employers
Health
- Ancron Medical Services, Nelson
- CareCorp (Mountain Lake Village), Nelson
- Castleview Care Centre, Castlegar
- Misha Zibin Society, Grand Forks
- Trail Association for Community Living
Education, Law, Social, Community & Government Services
- Blueberry Creek Community School, Castlegar
- Brent Kennedy Learning Centre, South Slocan
- Community Connections Support Services, Trail/Nelson
- Four Winds Daycare
- Golden Bears Children’s Centre, Rossland
- Growing Steps Academy, Trail
- KES-Kootenay Employment Services – Creston office
- KFP-Kootenay Family Place, Castlegar
- Kootenay Society for Community Living, Castlegar
- Silly Monkeys Childcare, Castlegar
- Songbird Early Learning Centre, Nelson
- Sunningdale Childcare Centre, Trail
- The Schoolhouse ECLC, Nelson
Accommodation, Food Services, Retail & Other Services
- The Adventure Hotel, Nelson
- Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort, Ainsworth
- Amanda’s Restaurant, Nelson
- Ashley Furniture, Trail
- Boston Pizza, Castlegar
- Canadian Tire, Trail
- Hume Hotel, Nelson
- Simran’s No Frills, Grand Forks
Trades, Transport, & Equipment Operators
- A3 Plumbing, Nelson
- Ace Couriers, Castlegar/Grand Forks
- Babe’s Automotive, Slocan
- Mountain City Painting, Trail
Manufacturing & Utilities
- Kalesnikoff Lumber, Thrums
- KC Recycling, Trail
- Nelson Naturals, Nelson
Eligibility Requirements of RCIP
- Full time job offer from designated employer
- Job offer must be under the priority occupation list
- Applicant must receive recommendation from the community
- 1 year (1560 hours) of relevant work experience within the last three years
- In Contrast, International Graduates of the region’s DLI are not required to meet work experience requirement
- Meet the Language proficiency requirements
- Canadian high school educational credential or equivalency in foreign education
- Sufficient financial resources to support themselves and any accompanying family members in pr application process
FAQ Section
Q1: What is the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)?
A: It’s an employer-driven pathway to PR in smaller Canada communities.
Q2: Do international graduates need work experience to apply?
A: No, if they graduated from a eligible DLI in the region, they are exempt.
Q3: Can I apply without a job offer?
A: Nope, a full-time job offer from a designated RCIP employer is required.