2017 ANNUAL REPORT
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS………………………………………………………………………….. 2 2. GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE…………………………………………………………………………. 3 3. CHAIR’S REPORT……………………………………………………………………………………. 4 4. OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTION………………………………………………………………….. 5 5. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S UPDATE…………………………………………………………… 6 6. CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………………………13
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Talent Pool is governed by a volunteer board of directors that acts as a direction setting governance board that is responsible for the oversight of the organization. The board of directors of the Talent Pool is a professional, connected and committed group of volunteers who have an interest in, and valuable contribution to offer to the work the organization does. Vance Langford Partner, Field Law
Chair
Michael Andriescu Director of Finance & Administration Calgary Chamber of Commerce
Treasurer
Chris Thomas Senior Consultant Business Consulting Group
Secretary
Bernie Humphries Vice President Operation Calgary Airport Authority
Board Member
Elza Bruk Dean, Centre for Excellence in Immigrant & Intercultural Advancement Bow Valley College
Board Member
Brenda Holder Entrepreneur & Business Owner Mahikan Trails
Board Member
Mohammed Azim Secretary-Treasurer Wild Rose School Division
Board Member
STAFF Nicole Jelley
Executive Director
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GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE
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OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTION OUR VISION A community where all who are able and want to work are fully and appropriately employed. OUR MISSION Close the gap between companies that are having difficulty finding skilled workers and individuals who were either under-employed or not employed at all. Provide Calgary and Alberta businesses with information, resources and links to pools of talent that are often overlooked: Aboriginal People, Immigrants, People with Disabilities, Mature Workers, Women and Youth. OUR FOCUS The Talent Pool is the Employment Resource and Information Hub. ▪
We will continue to assist newcomers and employers to find each other.
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We will connect employers to existing underutilized pools of workers with skills that are overlooked and increase our outreach across Western Canada.
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We continue to develop our user friendly, one-stop employment and info website, connecting employers to job seekers, coordinating large in person and virtual job fairs with the ability to interview candidates, matching mentors with newcomers, providing diversity training, posting breaking news feeds of job postings, training, issues and information on events, developing workshops and other capacity building services for newcomers, agencies and employers.
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Our website is a HUB of connections.
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We will be effective and efficient in connecting employers to job-ready workers and meet the needs identified in the region.
Newcomers (all permanent residents) and employers/businesses will benefit and increased labour market participation will bolster the economy of Alberta. Workplaces will become more welcoming and employers will be connected with newcomer pools of employees. Newcomers will be connected to the local labour market and find employment commensurate with their skills and experience.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT BACKGROUND I am pleased to offer an overview of the Talent Pool’s activities from September 2016 until May 2017. It has certainly been a busy and highly productive time for us. We offered professional development events, initiated research projects, updated our Employment Support Services Directories, increased our social media and public outreach generating a robust communication platform. This report aims to provide an inclusive overview of our activities in the past year as well deliver a brief glimpse of our plans for the coming year. Let’s all be inspired!
TALENT POOL PROJECTS HR in a Box Series In a fast paced and radically changing environment, organizations and people need to adjust to the organizational changes. Operations and HR professionals are in a great position to be a catalyst for change in our workplaces. The program was designed for HR professionals, NFP Executive Directors, and front-line managers who have the responsibility of overseeing their organization's most important asset: its people. In a highly competitive environment, impacted by economic contractions and shifting imperatives due to technological impact, the need to reinforce the existing knowledge base and skills set of multiple community partners in HR best practices was identified as an imperative. The Talent Pool, with the support of the Government of Alberta, and in partnership with diverse partners such as the HRIA (now CPHR AB), Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO), Red Deer Chamber of Commerce, Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce, and it’s longstanding partner Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (CCVO), developed the 2016-2017 HR in a Box Series to share best practices and innovative solutions designed to help organizations of all sizes build current HR knowledge and capacity. The series was built on the success of the 2015 HR in a Box released in Calgary with CCVO. HR in a Box Cycle 2 – Calgary: In the fall and winter of 2016, the Talent Pool, in cooperation with CCVO, HRIA and Salopek & Associates, offered HR in a Box Cycle 2 in Calgary. The panel of
Page 7 experts provided in-depth discussion based on the prior year’s topics by using case studies and real-life examples. The topics covered included: a) Workforce Planning, b) Retention Strategies, c) Enhanced Performance Management, and d) Competencies. Participants expressed enthusiasm about new learning, connecting with other professionals, their willingness to participate in future events, as well as suggesting a number of new topics for the upcoming 2017 Cycle 3 series. HR in a Box Cycle 1 – Edmonton, Red Deer, Medicine Hat: Over Fall and Winter 2016, HR in a Box Cycle 1 was offered in Edmonton, Red Deer and Medicine Hat. The series was planned and delivered with six (6) in-depth workshops analyzing best practices that constitute the internal strong HR Cycle needed to support an effective and efficient delivery of operational strategies. The topics included: a) Workforce Planning, b) Retention Strategies, c) Enhanced Performance Management, d) Competencies/Skills/Developing, Planning & Transferability, e) Workforce Management Processes, and f) Impact of Layoffs and Bullying & Harassment. Participants again expressed that they had valuable learning from the sessions, and more importantly, motivation to introduce their new learning in their daily work routine. Overall, the series achieved its objectives as evidenced by the level of interest as well as the feedback provided by the participants in post event surveys, which has consistently been very positive and constructive. It has helped us shape the HR in a Box 2017- 2019 series, which will start in September 2017. All videos of HR in a Box Series are available on Talent Pool website and YouTube channel: http://www.talentpoolhub.com/#!learning-moments/crr7 https://www.youtube.com/user/TalentPoolCalgary Building Capacity & Removing Barriers to Employment of Foreign Talent: A pilot project with the support of the Department of Foreign Qualifications & Recognition of the Ministry of Labour the project aims at reinforcing existing capacity of Career Practitioners in the Immigrant Settlement Sector. In-house consultation on existing best practices provided the platform for a unique workshop reinforcing and building deeper capacity among Career Practitioners. The outcomes of the pilot will be presented at different stakeholder meetings in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge in 2017. Collaboration with Bow Valley College’s Centre For Excellence In Immigrant & Intercultural Advancement (CEIIA): We partnered with CEIIA for two projects: a) A Webinar series (2 parts): “Creating an Inclusive Workplace – A Guide” (2016-2017), and, b) Part-time Customer Care: Cultivating the Culture and Language of Service at CLB 4-6 course (2017). Support was provided to help CEIIA connect with employers in Calgary as well as giving both projects enhanced visibility through our regular social media and events updates.
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TALENT POOL EVENTS In the period from September 2016 until June 2017, we organized and co-hosted a total of 6 workshops and events. Small Business Week 2016: Small Business Week 2016, a Calgary Chamber of Commerce signature event, was held on October 17-21, 2016, to pay tribute to the contributions that small business make to the Canadian economy (those that are less than 100 employees). The Talent Pool participated at the event on October 20th hosting a breakout session focused on the Future of Work and showcasing HR in a Box series. Chris Thomas, Board Director and Janice MacPherson, CPHR, represented the Talent Pool at the event. The YYC Welcoming and Employment Fair: On October 26, 2016, the Talent Pool organized the YYC Employment and Information Fair, held at the Red & White Club, University of Calgary. The event was designed to assist individuals, particularly immigrants, with information and guidance on viable options for accreditation, certification and vocational training in several areas. The event showcased social service agencies, education institutions, vocational training institutes and, professional associations. The participants (refugees and newcomers) were invited through the social services providers in Calgary and surrounding area to attend the event as well as via the Talent Pool’s social media network. ‘2017: Your Time is Now’ – Job Fair: The Talent Pool organized the marquee event on April 24, 2017 as part of Alberta Works Week, at the Grandstand, Calgary Stampede Park. It aimed at facilitating connections between unemployed, underemployed, Albertans and hiring employers. The Honourable Minister Irfan Sabir, Minister of Community and Social Services, attended the event and provided opening remarks.
Page 9 Employers in the service sectors were invited to participate in the event, including hospitality, food services, retail, financial services, health services, security services, transport, horticultural & landscape, and agriculture. Over 1,300 people attended the event! Extensive outreach was done through Talent Pool’s social media platform and the event attracted media coverage by all the local media providing greater visibility to the job fair. ‘2017: The Age of Skills Disruption and Transformation’: As a precursor to the upcoming HR in a Box Series 2017-2019, a panel session was held on May 25, 2017, focusing on the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on existing skills sets. Javier Lozano - Lozano Management Inc. - and Janice MacPherson, CPHR, highlighted the importance of identifying and enhancing transferable skills in the face of a radically shifting landscape of work. ‘When Robots Come for Your Job: How Freelance and Technology is changing the Future of Work’: On June 13, 2017, a panel session was organized in partnership with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. The event included experts such as Todd Hirsch, Chief Economist with ATB Financial, Javier Lozano, a Business Transformation Strategist and IT Consultant, Dan Boucher, Director, Regulatory Affairs & Research, Registrar of CPHR, Alberta. The three speakers brought their own perspectives and industry experience to discuss skills disruption and its impact on businesses. Session on ‘Competencies Framework for Canada’: Talent Pool collaborated with Canada West Foundation to host a discussion on June 22, 2017 on the importance of having a national and provincial competency framework. Janet Lane, Director of the Canada West Foundation’s Human Capital Centre, and Jeff Griffiths, Executive in Residence at GO Productivity and CEO of Griffiths Sheppard Consulting Group, discussed the merits of a comprehensive framework and how it might be applied to various economic sectors. Guests included representatives from various government departments, social services agencies and employers.
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TALENT POOL RESEARCH STUDIES Generational Skills Disruption and Shifts: A trend analysis of the shifts in skills set of five generations in the labour market and the impact of evolving technologies on the workforce. The research was conducted in partnership with Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council (CRIEC). The Talent Pool examined the impact of a workforce that now includes workers from five different generations, a welcome diversity and also a challenge for organizations with respect to employee engagement and internal collaboration. The aim of the study was to provide information on the impact of the diversity of generations within the labour market and how critical it is to address skills requirements and shortages that continue to persist in several industry sectors across Alberta and Western Canada. The research addresses the evolution of technology, its impact on the five generations as it relates to visibility and innovativeness as well as contributions to economic advancement, organizational efficiency and effectiveness. The report will soon be published on our website. Environmental Scan of Calgary Employment Support Services: In November 2016, we updated our Environmental Scan of Calgary Employment Support Services. The document presents a snapshot of the current state of job demand, strategies and the specific circumstances relative to each of the six underrepresented groups we cater to: Aboriginal people, Immigrants, Mature workers, Persons with disabilities, Women and Youth. It also reports on our comprehensive assessment of labour market programs in each of six groups, identifying what may appear to be overlaps which in turn may create opportunities for services, based on relative demand in that segment. Finally, we present suggestions for potential program and service delivery to create cost-effective, efficient and successful outcomes. This report can be accessed on our website: http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a23874_ed36128ff45f4ece9739b5ffedd3b745.pdf Transferable Skills – Addendum Report on Competencies and Critical Skills: In May 2016, the Talent Pool, in partnership with Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council (CRIEC), completed the Addendum Report to the Competencies and Critical Skills Research Project. The research presented the idea that Canada should integrate the acknowledgement of the importance of essential skills into the national processes. The Express Entry system could be the vehicle to integrate,
Page 11 acknowledge and score transferable skills. It also indicated an extra option could be the integration of pre-arrival services into national immigration programs, by making these programs obligatory, and to improve labour mobility in Canada we need a world-class learning recognition system. The report is available on our website. http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a23874_203fe69cb09341bc9721ff9ab796304e.pdf Waste of Talent: This study is the continuation of work conducted in 2006 on the same subject with the support of the Department of Foreign Qualifications & Recognition of the Ministry of Labour. Leah Hamilton and Christian Cook, Assistant Professors at Bissett School of Business, Mount Royal University, undertook the onerous task of researching what evolution occurred among businesses recruitment practices of foreign talent in the 10 years since the original study was published by the Talent Pool. The conclusions of the study are being finalized and will be presented to various stakeholders at launch meetings currently under preparation. The report will be posted on the website once its finalized.
COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH WEBSITE A steadfast and healthy growth in terms of website visitors and their engagement continued to be evidenced between September 2016 and May 2017. During this period, 2,407 users visited the website, of which 75% were new visitors and 25% returning users. WEBSITE PAGE VIEWS 7,406
8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000
1,718
1,000
0
Au g-16
May -17
Employment Support Services Directories: The Employment Support Services Directories continue to be the one-stop information place for employers and community partners regarding all the programs and services social services agencies offer related to employment. It showcases the organizations who provide employment support services to the under-represented groups: Indigenous People, Immigrants, Mature workers, People with disabilities, Women and Youth.
Page 12 The Directories are updated annually and can be accessed on the Talent Pool website: http://www.talentpoolhub.com/employment-directories. Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs): In late 2016, we added a section on our website to provide information related to Local Immigration Partnerships and relevant resources. Directories for Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan have been updated. It is expected that additional information will be added to the repository in the near future. This resource will help newcomers to Canada locate services and key information in their vicinity. The resources pages can be accessed through our website. http://www.talentpoolhub.com/lips SOCIAL MEDIA FORUMS The Talent Pool uses several channels to create awareness about employment trends, labour market information, its services, activities and upcoming events: Talent Pulse Newsletter, Events Updates, regular social media postings and the Talent Pool website. Our main social media channels share information via Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook. The following graphs showcase our steady growth across all social media channels.
LINKEDIN FOLLOWERS
TWITTER FOLLOWERS 1,279
1,300 1,250 1,200
1,150
2,085
2,000 1,500
1,000
1,050
500
1,000
0
May-17
Aug-16
YOUTUBE VIEWS
May-17
FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS 1,267
150
1,270 1,260 1,250
89
1,240
1,238
1,230 1,220
Jul-16
3,000 2,500
1,100
1,093
Aug-16
3,500
2,918
May-17
Aug-16
May-17
160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0
Page 13 TALENT PULSE NEWSLETTERS AND EVENTS UPDATES During the reporting period, we sent out 3 issues of Talent Pulse Newsletter. In addition, we initiated an Events Update to highlight our events. In the same period, we sent out 5 issues of the Events Update. To date, many of the event participants indicated in the post event surveys that they received information about the event through the Events Update. PUBLIC OUTREACH September 20th, 2016, the Talent Pool Executive Director, Nicole Jelley, along with Chris Thomas, Board Director, made a presentation on the Talent Pool and its scope of work at a three-day Calgary Local Immigration Partnerships meeting. February 16th, 2017, the Talent Pool Executive Director, Nicole Jelley, made a presentation on the success of the HR in a Box Series to the High River Chamber of Commerce membership. February 23rd, 2017, the Talent Pool Executive Director, Nicole Jelley, participated in the information session on Creating Mentally Healthy Workplaces, organized by Champions Career Centre. May 4th, 2017, the Talent Pool Executive Director, Nicole Jelley, presented on “Transferable and Marketable Skills” at Career Boost 2017 organized by Career Connections – Bow Valley College. June 17th, 2017, the Talent Pool Executive Director, Nicole Jelley, presented on “Tomorrow Skills” as part of a panel at the Calgary Mayor’s Youth Council event hosted at City Hall.
CONCLUSION Talent Pool has come a long way and continues to evolve in its efforts to be the Hub of information for industry sectors, community partners, regarding trends and opportunities for the under-represented groups: Indigenous People, Immigrants, Mature workers, People with disabilities, Women and Youth. Our strategy of providing “just in time” information and resources, targeted to our diverse audiences, continues to evolve and deliver relevant information. Our recent focus on the impact of the 4th industrial revolution, the rapidly changing landscape of work, the growing importance of transferable skills for the future of work, is gaining increased attention. We have been able to connect with several new partners and create successful working collaborations as well as develop new initiatives for the remainder of 2017 and beyond.
Page 14 The challenges we may face in terms of multiple skills mismatches, supply-demand mismatches, geographical mismatches, under-employment (over-skilled) mismatches; under-skilled/overemployment mismatches, propel us to work towards creating solutions by working with likeminded organizations. We aim to continue our work using information sharing and active engagement with our stakeholders. We are excited about the future as we continue to support employers, industry sectors, under-represented groups and the community at large. Stay tuned!
Talent Pool Contact: 6th Floor, Burns Building 237 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0K8 Phone: (403) 750-0439 info@talentpoolhub.com www.talentpoolhub.com