Guiding Principles

The work of the Kingston Immigration Partnership is guided by the ten following principles:

Settlement by all

As a community, we will welcome newcomers; making newcomers a part of the community is everyone’s responsibility.

Building on our strengths

We will attract newcomers to build on our existing and emerging strengths in the fields of education, health care, green economy, and research & development.

Attraction by reputation

We will attract newcomers through the opportunities and support that we offer to immigrants, international students and temporary residents already present in our community.

Waste not, want not

We will not accept underemployment as suitable employment, and will strive to ensure that immigrants find work related in their field of expertise.

Growing our social capital

We recognize and support the familial and social networks of newcomers and immigrant communities, and will work to integrate them with existing formal and informal community networks.

Including-by-doing

We will create opportunities for inclusion by encouraging the hiring of newcomers, including newcomers in boards of directors, committees, and decision-making processes, and actively including newcomers in professional and social networks.

Coordinate, then innovate

We will check with the community for potential partnerships and shared goals when planning new initiatives, and we will work for their continuity through those partnerships.

Learn from the best

We will seek out best practices in settlement and newcomer integration, and adapt them to the Kingston context.

Tearing down barriers

We will build better relations among the distinct communities of Kingston, and enable the community as a whole to support and integrate immigrants.

Sharing and celebrating diversity

We will work to create opportunities for the wider community to share in, learn from, and value the myriad cultures of our newcomers and established immigrant communities.