Partner Showcase – Department of Labour, Skills, and Immigration

Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration

The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration (LSI) helps jobseekers prepare for opportunities and build the skills they need to obtain employment. LSI promotes safe work environments and helps employers and employees get informed about their rights and responsibilities. LSI works with various partner organizations and all levels of government to support individuals who have immigrated to Nova Scotia. The department also supports the labour market by providing career information, employment services and more.

BBI has partnered with the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration on many programs, including: • BBI Business Skills Training • Kickstart Events • Culinary Journey BBI Business Skills Training

We provide free business and professional development opportunities to Black and racialized entrepreneurs and employees. These programs are strategically selected to accommodate market trends. The programs specifically address client needs, helping to build the skills, knowledge, and confidence of our participants. Training offerings are delivered through 11-week programs, workshops, webinars, conferences, business consultations, and more. Our Training department provides a variety of learning opportunities throughout the year. These activities engage our clients and support their business growth, the expansion of their professional networks, their leadership abilities and other key entrepreneurship skills. Some of these training opportunities include workshops and lunch & learns co-hosted with partners who have expertise on various business topics. We subsidize costs or—thanks to the generosity of our partners—provide tickets to educational and empowering conferences or networking events.

Kickstart Events

We also partnered with LIS on Kickstart Events. These were a series of one-day events designed to highlight, promote, and increase understanding about the skilled trades and the apprenticeship system. The idea to host Kickstart came out of the community meetings that the Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs (ANSA) and the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency (NSAA) hosted in collaboration with community organizations across the province in 2017 and 2018.

Culinary Journey

The Culinary Journey was a pathway to Red Seal certification in the culinary arts industry for African Nova Scotians. The program provided essential personal development skills and key support to help build the knowledge and confidence of participants while giving them relevant work experience in the sector. The program intended to increase the number of African Nova Scotians participating in the sector while addressing the industry’s perennial shortage of qualified chefs.

The Promise Scholars initiative is increasing diversity in business schools across Atlantic Canada.

Mount Allison recently announced new financial support for current BIPOC students.

We would like to thank Emera for generously funding three $1,500 awards for three years through their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fund.

The first Emera BIPOC Returning Student Awards were given out in February 2022.