Town of Westlock

UPDATE - RENEWAL RENEWAL PROGRAM PAUSE

The Town of Westlock has paused its participation in Alberta's Rural Renewal Stream and will not be issuing new Endorsement Letters until further notice.  As of Friday, October 17, 2024, no new Endorsement Letter requested will be accepted. 

Reasons for Pause

1. Increased Processing Times

Backlog of applications waiting for Government of Alberta approval (currently approx. 7 month backlog).

AAIP has moved to "expression of interest (EOI)” format as of September 30, 2024.

Candidates submit an EOI and are placed in a selection pool.  AAIP then ranks candidate EOIs on a number of categories and invites select candidates to apply.

This new process may further delay the existing +7 month wait time for employers to get new workers, or in some cases completely eliminate the possibility of candidates being selected to apply.

2. Affordability & Housing Availability

Many positions requested under Westlock’s Rural Renewal Stream tend to be for low-wage & entry-level positions.

If candidates cannot afford to live or unable to find a place to live in Westlock (a requirement of the program) under the wage they are paid, they are likely to only stay for a short time before moving on to other opportunities.  This does not support our goal of attracting long-term residents.

Additionally, the Federal Government’s recent announcement to limit low-wage temporary foreign worker streams will further reduce the ability for our local employers to get a TFW that can start work while their Rural Renewal application is processing.

Going Forward:

Endorsement Letters requested prior to the pause will remain in our queue.

However, employers should be aware that under AAIP’s new EOI format, it may be months before their candidate is selected to apply for nomination, if at all.

No new employer or candidate applications will be considered until further notice.

We will continue to monitor the provincial Rural Renewal program and local workforce needs.  If feasible, Westlock may consider accepting more endorsement letter requests in the future.

Please note that the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has recently introduced a new Expression of Interest (EOI) process for Candidate applications. Learn more about the recent program updates here.

Applicants to the program must meet all candidate eligibility criteria before applying for the job posting. 

Candidates must:

• Have a minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience in the last 18 months (in Canada or abroad)
• Speak English proficiently and pass a fluency test
• Have completed a minimum of high school education (equivalent to Canadian standard)
• Demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves and their family 

Applicants that meet the criteria must apply for a job directly to the employer.  Eligible employers with vacant positions will be posted below once approved.

 Job Offers & Endorsement

Once a candidate receives a job offer, the employer will give a copy of the job offer to the Town of Westlock to issue a letter of endorsement.  

 AAIP requires that job offers are signed by the employer and employee and must state that the position offers:

• Continuous, paid work in the Town of Westlock
• Full-time work for 12 months or more
• Wages and benefits that meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for your occupation

To be endorsed by the Town of Westlock, candidates must have:

• A job offer of employment contract from an approved employee for an approved job signed by both parties - the offer or contract must be provided to the Town by the employer directly;
• A valid Canadian work permit; and
• Evidence that they have housing in the Town of Westlock or will have on arrival.

AAIP Nomination

Once a candidate receives a job offer and is endorsed by the municipality, they can submit an expression of interest & all required documentation through the AAIP Online Portal.  The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program is not obligated to assess/process any applications. Applications to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program are treated as an Expression of Interest (EOI), and as such, will be processed according to quality of the application (completeness, eligibility), labour market information, occupational supply and demand forecasting, Alberta Advantage Immigration Program application volumes, and/or any other factors at the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program’s discretion.  Click here to see what to do after you are nominated.

Job Opportunities - Alberta Advantage Immigration Program

If all eligibility requirements are met, candidates may apply for available postings. Applications should be made directly to the employer outlined in the posting. Candidates are encouraged to review job postings carefully to ensure they meet the requirements for available positions, as well as the eligibility requirements for the Rural Renewal stream.   

Job postings can be found by contacting the participating employer's directly:  

Newcomer Supports & Services

Town of Westlock is committed to providing newcomers with access to the information and support they need to prosper in Canada.  Local, provincial, and federal resources will be used to ease the transition to our community.

 Local Resources 

• We are currently pursuing partnerships and agreements with local support services to determine roles & responsibilities for newcomer support. 

Provincial Resources

• Opportunity Alberta
   Learn how to make Alberta your new home.  Find helpful pre-arrival services here.
• Alberta Advantage Immigration Program
   Runs the Rural Renewal immigration stream and nominates individuals for permanent residence in Alberta.  

Federal Resources

• Canadian Newcomer Services
   Central online hub for newcomer support services in Canada; find local services near you!
• Welcome to Canada
   What to do before and after you arrive in Canada.
• Living in Canada Guide
   Fill out a short questionnaire about your current situation, and get advice on what you need to settle in a community.
• Permanent Resident Services
   Information on permanent residency, how to apply, and what's involved.