Company: RBC
Innovation: Integrating Newcomers to Cananda
Date Introduced: 2012
Award Recognition: Top Ten (#9)

RBC recognizes the important role that immigration plays in Canada’s social, cultural, and economic development. A priority established by the RBC Diversity Leadership Council in their global Diversity Blueprint is the integration of newcomers to Canada.

In the workplace, RBC provides internships to new immigrants, many of whom are subsequently hire. They also offer targeted learning and onboarding programs. To ensure access to leadership opportunities, staffing protocols, and goals for women and visible minority executives, a pipeline to executive levels was established.

Within RBC, employees who are newcomers to Canada are matched with local mentors and are also connected to MOSAIC, the ERG for visible minorities and newcomers to Canada. They are also invited to a webcast series to help them gain a deeper understanding of RBC and how to network effectively. A reciprocal mentoring initiative matches senior leaders with newcomers, and their Talk English Café e-learning initiative offers communications and language training.

RBC also maintains a Welcome to Canada website, which includes help for newcomers wanting to grow a business, fact sheets in fourteen languages, and telephone banking services engaging translators who speak over 150 languages.

In the broader community, RBC has established strong partnerships with not-for-profit organizations. For example, they have outreach partnerships with groups that specialize in supporting newcomers, including ACCES employment services, Career Bridge, and the Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP). Annually, the RBC Scholarship Program for New Canadians offers twelve awards to young people who immigrated to Canada.

From a community leadership perspective, RBC is engaged in public dialogue, championing initiatives, and research. For example, RBC sponsors the Immigrant Success Awards. Additionally, in 2011 RBC released a study raising awareness about the employment challenges facing immigrants.