We Mean Business - Red Deer Chamber of Commerce

The Red Deer Regional Economic Development Partnership
RDRED
Moving to Red Deer or know someone who is? RDRED has
created a website to make the transition of moving to the
Red Deer Region easier.
The downward shift in the availability of labour, due to aging
Baby Boomers and a decreasing Canadian birth rate, will be
a significant issue for local businesses in the near future. In
2018, Alberta is expected to have a shortage of 93,000 workers.
Currently, two thirds of Canada’s population growth is a result
of immigration. In the next ten years, immigration is expected
to account for 100% of population growth. This is the reason
that RDRED focuses on labour attraction, with attention given
to immigration attraction, settlement, and integration.
The website, www.MovingtoRedDeer.ca, provides a one-stopshop
for potential immigrants and newcomers to the Red
Deer Region. Here they can obtain information on a variety
of research topics including; housing, education, language
services, healthcare, and the cost of living.
MovingToRedDeer.ca is attuned to the language barriers
that new immigrants might encounter. The site opens with
a welcoming message in Spanish, Tagalog, Chinese, French,
Persian and English. On the home page of the website, video
messages from people who have immigrated to Red Deer
are playing. Each person gives a welcoming message in their
home language regarding the positive experience they had
when immigrating and why one should relocation to the Red
Deer Region. In addition, there are testimonials, which allow
newcomers to hear firsthand experiences from immigrants who
have recently moved to the region or who have been established
in the area for an extended period
of time.
Information
on the website
is presented in five
sections; about the Red Deer
region, before you arrive, after
you arrive, working in Red Deer and
success stories.
About the Red Deer Region has information
on Red Deer’s economy, government structure,
climate, history, recreation and arts and culture as
well as facts about Alberta and Canada.
Before you Arrive explains how to immigrate, cost of living,
health care, housing options and learning English programs.
After you Arrive describes the cultural groups, educational
facilities, childcare information, transportation, places of
worship, and police and emergency services available in the
Red Deer Region.
Working in Red Deer outlines ways to find jobs locally,
employment standards, setting up your own business and
interview tips.
The final section, Success Stories features recent and seasoned
immigrants describing their move to Red Deer as well as the
quality of life in the region.
All of these website sections provide important information to
ensure a smooth transition for newcomers into our beautiful
Central Alberta communities.
RDRED has worked diligently with CARE (Central Alberta
Refugee Effort) to ensure that content on MovingtoRedDeer.
ca is user-friendly. By partnering with CARE, RDRED was able to
create an informative website attuned to viewers’ needs with
an intuitive layout, large captions and a clean, uncluttered
appearance, allowing for easy navigation.
www.MovingToRedDeer.ca benefits a wide Central Alberta
audience. The information on the website is current, accurate
and easily obtainable and provides a welcoming venue for
immigrates, newcomers and those researching the area. The
increased attraction and retention of new labour into the
region will help to subdue a critical labour shortage issue that is
expected in years to come.
Alberta’s Occupational Demand and Supply Outlook, 2008-
2018. Information obtained at http://employment.alberta.ca/
documents/LMI/LMI-LMF_occ_demand_supply.pdf, April 20,
2009.
* Does not include aboriginal population growth.
T A K I N G C A R E O F B U S I N E S S T O G E T H E R 21