Sessions in Sydney and Port Hawkesbury to support employers facing workforce challenges
Unama’ki – Cape Breton, NS – The Cape Breton Partnership is inviting local employers to take part in an upcoming Lunch & Learn series focused on the organization’s Immigration Services and how their team can support local employers’ hiring goals, explore programs designed to find new talent, and address workforce challenges holding local businesses back from growth.
Led by the Cape Breton Partnership’s Immigration Services Team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants, the sessions will provide an overview of their Immigration Services and Programs, and the range of supports available to employers navigating immigration pathways.
“Many employers across our Island are facing real and immediate workforce pressures,” said Kelly MacKinnon, RCIC, Labour Market & Immigration Advisor with the Cape Breton Partnership. “Our Immigration Services have been developed to provide practical, affordable, and trusted support to employers who are looking to recruit and retain international talent. These sessions are an opportunity to walk employers through our services and help them understand how immigration can be part of a long-term workforce solution.”
Participants will learn more about the services offered by the Cape Breton Partnership Immigration Services Team, including support for key immigration pathways such as the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), and Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA).
“Employers often tell us that immigration processes can feel complex or overwhelming,” said Dani Mombourquette, RCIC, Immigration Engagement Coordinator with the Cape Breton Partnership. “These Lunch & Learn sessions are designed to create a welcoming space where employers can ask questions, connect with peers, and leave with a clearer understanding of the supports available to them right here in Unama’ki – Cape Breton.”
The series will include two Lunch & Learn sessions on Tuesday, March 24 (12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Horizon Achievement Centre in Sydney) and Thursday, March 26 (12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre). Each session will include a guided presentation followed by a facilitated question-and-answer discussion, as well as opportunities for networking and peer connection within the local business community.
Tickets are $10.00 plus HST, which includes a lunch, with all proceeds proudly donated to local food banks in Unama’ki – Cape Breton. Registration is open now at https://capebretonpartnership.com/immigration-services-sessions.
This event is part of the Cape Breton Partnership’s Business & Breakfast / Lunch & Learn series, which brings together Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s business community for learning, discussion, and shared growth.
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Media Contact:
Alyson Oliver, Communications Coordinator
Cape Breton Partnership
902-562-0122
Alyson@capebretonpartnership.com
About the Cape Breton Partnership
The Cape Breton Partnership is Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s private sector-led economic development organization supporting companies and entrepreneurs by promoting our Island as a great place to live, work, and invest; fostering creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and connecting businesses to the resources they need to succeed. For more information, visit www.capebretonpartnership.com.
Unama’ki – Cape Breton, NS – The Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership, also known as the CBLIP, has launched an online survey to gather input from people who were born outside of Canada and now live in Unama’ki – Cape Breton.
The Immigrant Survey is a survey open to all immigrants, refugees, claimants, international students, and temporary foreign workers in Unama’ki – Cape Breton, who are 16 or older. The Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership, funded by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada and administered by the Cape Breton Partnership, is a collaborative effort among local organizations working together to foster welcoming and inclusive communities for newcomers.
“Local immigration plays an essential role in the future of Unama’ki – Cape Breton,” says Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “To build responsive programs, services, and policies that truly meet community needs, we must take the time to listen carefully to those who have experienced the immigration journey firsthand, and we are proud to launch this survey in that effort.”
The survey is estimated to take about 20 minutes to complete and aims to hear from at least 300 immigrants on topics including education, housing, employment, health, belonging, discrimination, community building, and more. Demographic questions are included so that survey results can be analyzed and disaggregated to show the various experiences of different immigrant groups.
“We recognize that no two immigration stories are the same,” says Kailea Pedley, the Cape Breton Partnership’s CBLIP Program Manager. “By creating space for newcomers to share their experiences, we gain valuable insight into how we can strengthen supports, remove barriers, and continue building welcoming communities across Unama’ki – Cape Breton.”
People who complete the survey can enter a draw for one of three gift certificates for the Cape Breton Food Hub.
The CBLIP invites all residents, organizations and businesses in Unama’ki – Cape Breton to be #ImmigrantSurvey supporters and help encourage all immigrants to participate in the survey by sharing survey information through family, friends, neighbourhoods, and workplaces, as well as through other networks and social media.
All survey information is available at welcometocapebreton.ca/immigrant-survey. The survey will remain open until 4:00 p.m. on March 25, 2026.
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Media Contact:
Jeremy Martell, Director of Communications
Cape Breton Partnership
Jeremy@capebretonpartnership.com
(902) 631-5442
About the Cape Breton Partnership:
The Cape Breton Partnership is Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s private sector-led economic development organization that supports companies and entrepreneurs by promoting our island as a great place to live, work, and invest; growing a culture that values and celebrates creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship; and connecting entrepreneurs and companies to the resources they need to succeed. Learn more at https://capebretonpartnership.com/.
About the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership:
The Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership brings together organizations across Unama’ki – Cape Breton to work collaboratively to foster welcoming and inclusive communities for newcomers to Canada. Learn more at http://www.capebretonpartnership.com/cblip.
Unama’ki – Cape Breton, NS – Nominations are now open for the 2026 Safety First in Cape Breton Awards, recognizing individuals and businesses across Unama’ki – Cape Breton who demonstrate outstanding commitment to advancing workplace health and safety standards across the Island.
The awards, which are generously manufactured and sponsored by Protocase, will be presented on May 6, 2026, at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre as part of the 2026 Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium, proudly presented by WCB Nova Scotia, the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration (LSI), Nova Scotia Power, and the Cape Breton Partnership. Tickets for the Symposium will go on sale in March 2026 through Eventbrite.
“The Safety First in Cape Breton Awards honour those who prove that safety is more than a rulebook,” said Blaise MacNeil, Safety Advisor with the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, and Co-Chair of the Safety First in Cape Breton Network. “It’s leadership in action. When we put safety first, we protect not only our people, but our communities, our families, and our future.”
The Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium and Awards are an initiative of the Safety First in Cape Breton Network, administered by the Cape Breton Partnership since the Network’s establishment in 2012.
“The Safety First in Cape Breton Awards shine a spotlight on the individuals and organizations who make workplace health and safety a priority every single day, celebrating that commitment and fostering a culture where safety always comes first,” said Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “As the Island’s private sector-led economic development organization, we recognize the importance of workplace health and safety, and we are proud to work with our event partners to help build a culture where a commitment to workplace health and safety is an essential part of growing community prosperity and an innovative economy across the Island.”
Nominations for the 2026 awards will be accepted for the following categories: Young Advocate; Small Business Trailblazer; Engagement Ally / Safety Champion; Outstanding Health & Safety Committee; and Innovation Expert.
To nominate an individual or organization for a Safety First in Cape Breton Award, please visit https://capebretonpartnership.com/safety-first-awards and make a nomination by noon on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
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Media Contact
Alyson Oliver, Communications Coordinator
Cape Breton Partnership
Alyson@capebretonpartnership.com
(902) 562-0122
About the Cape Breton Partnership:
The Cape Breton Partnership is Unama’ki’ – Cape Breton’s private sector-led economic development organization that supports companies and entrepreneurs by promoting our island as a great place to live and invest; growing a culture that values and celebrates creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and connecting entrepreneurs and companies to the resources they need to succeed. For more information, visit https://capebretonpartnership.com.
About the Safety First in Cape Breton Network:
The Safety First in Cape Breton Network was formed by a passionate group of health and safety leaders in 2012 to help address business needs and improve workplace health and safety culture, the Safety First in Cape Breton Network is an Island-wide initiative that promotes the importance of a strong health and safety culture in workplaces, provides opportunities to network and engage with other safety practitioners, and learning opportunities to help enhance HSE programs across Unama’ki – Cape Breton. Learn more at https://capebretonpartnership.com/initiatives-services/safety-first-in-cape-breton/.
Unama’ki – Cape Breton, NS – The Cape Breton Partnership is hosting an interactive webinar for local employers focused on understanding the role culture plays in workplace communication, collaboration, and team effectiveness. The webinar will take place on Monday, February 23, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., via Zoom.
The session will be delivered by Paul Pickering, Intercultural Workplace Program Coordinator with ISANS (Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia). Drawing on extensive experience working with employers across Nova Scotia, Pickering will guide participants through practical strategies for navigating cultural differences in the workplace and leveraging diversity as a strength.
During the webinar, participants will explore how culture influences communication styles, expectations, and day-to-day interactions at work. The session will also introduce the concept of “cultural add,” reframing how organizations think about diversity by focusing on how varied perspectives and lived experiences can strengthen teams, enhance problem-solving, and improve organizational outcomes.
The webinar is part of the Cape Breton Partnership’s ongoing work to support employers through immigration, workforce, and population growth initiatives. It is intended for employers, managers, supervisors, HR professionals, and business owners who work with diverse teams or are seeking to strengthen inclusive workplace practices.
Registration is required, and the Zoom link will be shared with participants in advance of the session.
Employers interested in learning more about the Cape Breton Partnership’s immigration services and supports can visit www.capebretonpartnership.com/immigration or contact the team at immigration@capebretonpartnership.com.
To register for the webinar or learn more about this event, visit www.capebretonpartnership.com.
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Media Contact:
Jeremy Martell, Director of Communications
Cape Breton Partnership
jeremy@capebretonpartnership.com
902-562-0122
Unama’ki – Cape Breton, NS – The Cape Breton Partnership is pleased to announce the launch of Immigration Access+, an expanded immigration service model designed to better support employers across Unama’ki – Cape Breton. Developed with input from local employers, the new model offers a deeper level of hands-on immigration services, including professional representation and case management, with pricing structured to improve accessibility while delivering practical, start-to-finish labour and immigration solutions for eligible employers.
This new addition to the Cape Breton Partnership’s Immigration Advisory Services offering is focused on supporting long-term sustainability in the local workforce and addressing the growing demand for immigration and labour services across the Island. Support from Cape Breton Partnership Investors plays a key role in keeping service fees well below market rates, while expanding access to high-quality immigration services for employers.
The Cape Breton Partnership has increased its capacity to provide timely, comprehensive immigration representation and application services to employers navigating federal and provincial immigration pathways with two Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) on the team. While application-based services have transitioned to the new paid model, general support through immigration advisory services will continue to be offered free of charge to employers across Unama’ki – Cape Breton.
“Immigration Access+ strengthens our ability to provide employers in Unama’ki – Cape Breton with consistent, high-quality immigration services delivered locally,” says Kelly MacKinnon, Labour Market & Immigration Advisor and a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant with the Cape Breton Partnership. “The model allows us to offer more hands-on, start-to-finish support, while keeping services accessible for employers across the region.”
Victoria Co-operative Fisheries is an Investor of the Cape Breton Partnership and a client of its Immigration Advisory Services, utilizing a tailored approach to support its management team in navigating immigration and labour needs.
“We have been utilizing the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for our immigration needs since 2013, engaging with the Cape Breton Partnership through its Immigration Advisory supports,” shares Osborne Burke, General Manager at Victoria Co-operative Fisheries. “Immigration Access+ has taken that support to a new level, allowing us to bring in more workers to support our business, all while helping us manage costs through consistent support. Navigating the process would be impossible without the guidance and knowledge of the Cape Breton Partnership, and Immigration Access+ has truly made a meaningful difference in how we operate as a Cape Breton employer.”
Immigration Access+ was developed to offer a locally-grounded option that reflects the needs and realities of Unama’ki – Cape Breton employers and newcomers, helping address gaps in locally available immigration services. The Cape Breton Partnership also collaborates with immigration lawyers as needed to ensure businesses and newcomers can access the right level of support at every stage of the process.
Employers interested in learning more about Immigration Access+ and other Immigration Advisory Services offered by the Cape Breton Partnership are encouraged to visit capebretonpartnership.com/immigration-services.
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Media Contact:
Jeremy Martell, Director of Communications
Cape Breton Partnership
902-562-0122
Jeremy@capebretonpartnership.com
About the Cape Breton Partnership
The Cape Breton Partnership is Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s private sector-led economic development organization supporting companies and entrepreneurs by promoting our Island as a great place to live, work, and invest; fostering creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and connecting businesses to the resources they need to succeed. For more information, visit www.capebretonpartnership.com.
