Zhou, president of Sunrise Group, said having a diverse workforce has improved his business as they bring a host of knowledge and experience with them from their native countries.
“I think diversity is a strength for P.E.I.,” said Zhou.
Zhou said immigrants also contribute to the community in general by adding more culture and diversity.
“I always believe that diversity and immigrants can bring a lot of opportunity to both our economy and to our cultural differences,” said Zhou. “We need to find out what their strengths are because they have unique experience that some other nationality doesn’t have.”
Zhou was one of five people who brought that message home during a panel discussion on diversity and its positive impacts on the Island economy.
The panel included Zhou, Lester Wood, executive director of human resources at BioVectra, Zara Bakhtiar, founder of Zara Interior Design, Dwane Roach, team lead at Invesco and Heath MacDonald, minister of economic development and tourism.
This event was held at the Startup Zone in Charlottetown on Feb. 8, giving the general public and industry partners a chance to have this interactive discussion.
Bakhtiar said she brought diversity to P.E.I. by starting her own interior design business.
“For P.E.I., I try to bring a totally different look. It’s not that we didn’t have such a thing in P.E.I. but in my opinion, even in Canada, the design industry is not as up to date compared to other countries.”
Wood said they depend on diversity to fill difficult positions, as they can’t always find local talent.
A prime example, he said, is that BioVectra is in the process of emigrating a director of drug development from India after not being able to find someone through a North American search.
“I think the opportunities are limitless and it’s up to us to be creative in creating ways for immigrants to settle here,” said Wood.
The panel members also agreed that the Island economy would grow when embracing diversity.
“I think to be open to different culture, it will help our economy, it will help the diversity,” said Bakhtiar.
MacDonald added the Island continues to be enhanced by immigrants’ culture and knowledge.
“We are investing in P.E.I. by allowing immigrants into Prince Edward Island.”
Roach said industries need to do a better job in identifying who is out there and the skillset they bring with them.
“They are here and we just need to figure out a way to utilize them better.”
Some suggestions were also offered to help attract a more diverse workforce.
Roach said industries need to continue to work with UPEI and Holland College in their on the job training and co-op programs to build a relationship between the workforce and immigrants.
MacDonald added, “They have the language, they have the skillset and they are graduates… We need to do more to find them a position on the Island.”
Wood said once diversity is established, the next step is inclusion by creating a warm and welcoming environment for immigrants so they want to stay on the Island.
“We need to make it easier for immigrants to come to P.E.I. and to be aware of what opportunities are here and to recognize their credentials and just make that whole pathway to P.E.I. easier.”
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