Thank you for your interest in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) in the West Kootenay region.
West Kootenay Rural & Northern Immigration Updates
UPDATE: July 31, 2024. The pilot is now closed.
When we have more information on the new Rural Community Immigration Pilot, we will post that here.
A change to processing Permanent Residence applications as of March 1, 2024: Candidates who receive a recommendation from our community must submit their permanent residency application before August 31, 2024.
Please visit Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s website to learn about other pathways to immigrate to Canada.
The West Kootenay Region was recognized as an area that could benefit from this pilot and entered into a partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2019-2020. The West Kootenay region uses this pilot to strengthen local economies and support workforce development. Each of the 11 participating communities across across Canada have tailored the pilot to address their needs and economic development goals. For more information on the benefits of immigration, please go to Immigration Matters.
If you are interested in participating in this program, please click on one of the two buttons below:
RNIP Success Stories
Many lives have changed forever thanks to the West Kootenay Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.
This pilot has helped over 1000 newcomers apply for their Canadian permanent residency. Additionally, over 200 West Kootenay employers have used the pilot to support existing employees or hire skilled foreign workers to support their workforce needs… Read more
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Fexey: A new beginning filled with community generosity and a drive to succeed
Shortly after Fexey Xavier’s first child was born in 2017, her desire to leave India was solidified. Her career as a registered nurse in the province of Kerala didn’t offer enough compensation for her family to live comfortably, and the economy troubled her. She says, “Nursing salaries are less there compared to Canada. If my…
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Vyacheslav and Oksana: The kickstarter to a long-awaited family reunion
Vyacheslav and Oksana Apostolyuk decided to move to Canada from Ukraine for many reasons. For one, the couple’s combined salaries were not enough to support their family of four. “It was a hard decision, especially because Oksana had a very good career at the university. But we didn’t see any future for us and our…
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Lars and Simon: A garden party of new experiences and shared knowledge
During Simon and Lars’ adventures around the world, they often envisioned a quieter life for themselves outside of Hamburg, Germany. “We were getting tired of city life. We’d travel to places we liked and start dreaming that we’d retire there one day,” Simon reflects. In 2017, the couple travelled to British Columbia and were overwhelmed…
Our Region
The West Kootenay is a welcoming region of over 30,000 people. Visitors come to the Kootenays in every season to experience the majestic mountains, abundant wildlife, and many beautiful lakes and rivers.
Business is alive and well in the Kootenays. Primary economic drivers are resource extraction and forestry, with agriculture, tourism, and vigorous entrepreneurial activity across many other sectors also making a considerable contribution to local economies.
