We understand that attracting and retaining talent is a key barrier to local business expansion. Supporting both the Rural Renewal Stream and Rural Entrepreneur Stream and attracting new talent to Lethbridge will be a key driver in the success of our business community.
Listed below are some of the programs and resources we are working on that will lead to individuals and businesses considering Lethbridge as a place to call home and do business.
Candidate reviews for the Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream are conducted bi-weekly on Fridays. Employers and candidates are asked to have their forms completed and submitted by Thursday of that week. The Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Community Partnership will notify businesses and candidates by Wednesday of the following week to the status of their application.
For more information or any inquiries please email immigration@chooselethbridge.ca
Economic Development Lethbridge is honoured to administer the Rural Renewal Stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program for the City of Lethbridge. The Rural Renewal Stream offers approved employers in eligible industries the ability to seek out non-permanent residents to fill labour gaps in eligible occupations within designated industries. This program provides employers access to a wider labour pool, while offering eligible workers a pathway to employment and permanent residency. Through the parameters of this program Economic Development Lethbridge is able to help reduce labour shortages by endorsing employers and job seekers to fast track immigration for eligible candidates.
The Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream
Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Forms and Resources
Please make aure to submit the most current RRS Forms, thay have been updated to reflect information needed to make the process of approving businesses and candidiates as easy as possible. Links to these forms can be found below.
Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Community Partnership
The Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Community Partnership is made up of community stakeholders with a shared mandate of supporting employers and newcomers to the community.The partnership is made up of:
Economic Development Lethbridge
Lethbridge Family Services – Immigrant Services Division
Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce
Flexibility Learning Systems
Lethbridge Construction Association
The ‘Community Partnership’ is responsible for approving eligible employers and endorsing candidates who are a good fit for the community and are interested in applying for permanent residency through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – Rural Renewal Stream.
Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Forms
Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Tips For Employers & Candidates
Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Job Board
All job opportunities from approved Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream employers will be posted here.
Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become an approved employer to access this program?
Access to the Lethbridge Rural Renewal Program is currently restricted to companies operating a business within the City of Lethbridge in the following NAICS categories:
Manufacturing (NAICS 31-33)
Construction (NAICS 23)
Architectural, Engineering & Related Services (NAICS 5413)
Health Care & Social Assistance (NAICS 62)
Automotive Repair & Maintenance (NAICS 8111, 4411)
Why is access to this program restricted to companies in these industries?
Demand for this program exceeds the resources presently in place to facilitate it. As a result, entry to this program has been limited to private sector applicants in wealth-generating industries that produce goods as well as industries with a core focus on innovation and Industry 4.0 concepts. The Partnership Council will monitor the volume of applications and could amend the eligibility criteria as the program evolves.
Can consultants or HR Staffing companies represent a business.
Employers are required to designate an internal employee as a point of contact as part of the approval process. Consultants and HR Staffing firms are not eligible to represent a business under program parameters.
What is required of the employer designated point of contact?
This point of contact must provide timely communication and be responsive with program administrators if & when their business is approved. Failure to do so (or to use an external agent to facilitate the program on the employers behalf) will result in disqualification from the program.
If I am an approved employed in an eligible industry, are all job vacancies I have eligible for the program.
Even if an employer is approved, they must demonstrate that they have made efforts to fill vacant positions locally. This is defined as posting the vacant position on local and national job boards and indicating when these available positions were posted. This helps to ensure the program operates efficiently while maintaining access for those with vacancies pertinent to their core business function.
How do I obtain an endorsement letter through this program?
The Partnership Council overseeing the Lethbridge program cannot offer letters of endorsement directly to prospective candidates. Candidates must receive a job offer from an employer based within the City of Lethbridge who has been approved by the Partnership Council to use the program. It is the responsibility of the employer to apply to ensure they meet the criteria for entry (the program is presently restricted to specific NAICS codes), apply to the program, vet and select the best candidate and request the endorsement letter on their behalf. Once employers have been approved to use the program, eligible job vacancies they would like to fill will be posted on the job posting board on the chooselethbridge.ca website. Prospective candidates must follow the application details within each job posting.
Please be advised that Economic Development Lethbridge and the Partnership Council will not address issues regarding an endorsement letter until after a job offer has been issued. In the event a candidate reaches out about an endorsement letter to either Economic Development Lethbridge or the Partnership Council (or another City of Lethbridge entity), they will be redirected to the website highlighting program rules.
I have experience that matches the job description for a posted position. Will I be a good fit for this role?
Please be sure to go through the licensing, registration & certification requirements outlined on the Alberta Rural Renewal Stream eligibility website. You must have the required licensing, registration or certification to work in your current occupation in Alberta or occupation in your Alberta job offer as well as experience that matches program requirements. If you are working in a compulsory trade, you must have a valid Alberta Apprenticeship & Industry Trade recognized trade certificate. Please review the TEER category when considering an application to ensure the job offer and work experience criteria match.
The program is intended to help fill labour gaps but also to build communities. With this in mind, candidates will be screened by the Partnership Council to ensure they are familiar with Lethbridge and express a desire to build a life in the city.
If I receive a job offer from an eligible employer and a subsequent endorsement letter from the Partnership Council, when should I apply to the AAIP?
Once the letter of endorsement is issued by the Partnership Council, the candidate/employee is expected to enter their information into the AAIP Portal as soon as possible. Once the information is entered into the portal, the nomination for permanent residency begins immediately.
How does the Rural Renewal Stream help local employers/Lethbridge?
The Rural Renewal Stream provides an opportunity to hire a candidate with temporary status that would otherwise be prohibited from hiring under current federal or provincial temporary worker programs. It also represents an opportunity to bring new individuals into Lethbridge.
Can Ukrainian nationals apply for postings by approved employers?
Yes – the Rural Renewal Program is open to any eligible candidate who has a formal job offer from an approved employer so long as they have a valid temporary status and meet the program requirements as outlined by the provincial government under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program.
Can Economic Development Lethbridge or the Community Partnership answer specific questions regarding applications or candidates?
The best place to look for information on the Rural Renewal Program for the most current information is on the provincial page. Program updates that outline provincial rules regarding candidate eligibility and required documents will be located here. The program is intended to be straightforward to use and all required information should be accessible through the provincial page and the Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream website (hosted at chooselethbridge.ca).
The Lethbridge Rural Entrepreneur Stream
The Lethbridge Rural Entrepreneur Stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) allows Economic Development Lethbridge (EDL) on behalf of the City of Lethbridge to potentially nominate entrepreneurs who want to start a new business or invest in an existing business in the city. The Rural Entrepreneur Stream will promote economic growth by attracting immigrants who can start new ventures or assist with succession planning for businesses with owners looking to either retire or move on.
Basic steps in the process:
1. Candidate
Read the AAIP terms and conditions from the provincial website. The AAIP process is involved and takes considerable time. Be sure you understand what is involved. (https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-rural-entrepreneur-stream.aspx)
2. Candidate
Review the eligibility criteria to ensure you qualify, complete a self assessment. (https://extern.labour.alberta.ca/AAIPSAT/aaipsat-rural-entrepreneur-stream.aspx)
3. Candidate
Provide a detailed business plan to us for review. (Email: immigration@chooselethbridge.ca)
4. EDL
Review business plan for alignment with local goals and objectives as well as provincial program guidelines. If successful, issue invitation for exploratory visit.
5. Candidate:
Conduct Exploratory visit to Lethbridge if invited to do so. (Be sure to check travel visa requirements as necessary.)
6. Both:
Review discussions from exploratory visit, update business plan as necessary.
7. EDL:
Conduct second business plan review to ensure alignment and fit.
8. EDL
Issue Community Support letter.
9. Candidate:
Submit Expression of Interest or EOI (proof of English qualification, all supporting documents etc.) to the Government of Alberta.
10. Candidate:
Complete and submit full Business Application Package (if EOI is approved) to the Government of Alberta.
11. Candidate
Apply for work permit with the Government of Canada.
12. Candidate
Begin provincial nomination process.
13. Candidate
Establish business in Lethbridge.
Investor Eligibility:
The Government of Alberta mandates a number of requirements for prospective investors including but not limited to:
- must have a minimum of 3 years of experience as an active business owner or manager
- minimum of high school equivalent to the Canadian standard is also necessary at the time of application
- minimum Canadian Language Benchmark level of 4 for each English language skill: reading, writing, listening and speaking
- minimum net worth of $300,000 where all assets are the candidate’s own personal holdings or that of their spouse
- minimum ownership of 51% of a new business or 100% ownership for business succession
Candidates should carefully review the detailed program eligibility requirements here: https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-rural-entrepreneur-stream-eligibility.aspx
Exploratory Visit:
If we are satisfied that the proposed business will be a benefit to the community, we will extend an invitation to meet for an exploratory visit. This in-person visit is mandatory and the purpose of the exploratory visit is to assist the entrepreneur in making an informed decision about operating and managing a business in our community.
Community Support Letter:
After the exploratory visit, the entrepreneur will provide a copy of the updated Business Proposal to Economic Development Lethbridge for further review and consideration. The Business Proposal Summary should reaffirm the discussions on the business venture in the community during the exploratory visit. If the community deems that the entrepreneur and their business proposal is a benefit to the community, the community representative will endorse the Business Proposal Summary and issue the Community Support Letter to the entrepreneur.
Expression of Interest:
Once the entrepreneur receives the endorsed Business Proposal Summary and Community Support Letter, the entrepreneur can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program Portal pending they meet all Rural Entrepreneur Stream eligibility criteria.
