Warm welcome, ‘big goals’ for healthcare workers recruited from the Philippines
In Spring 2023, a team of Manitoba healthcare professionals travelled to the Philippines to interview potential candidates for healthcare jobs in the province. As part of this initiative, Concordia Hospital and Concordia Place bid for and initially accepted twenty-seven individuals for positions at our site in either Health Care Aid(HCA) or nursing positions.
Concordia welcomed the first Philippines Recruitment Initiative (PRI) employees on September 29, 2023. Concordia Hospital was also the first site in Winnipeg to receive an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) candidate. There are ninety-five active newcomers province-wide, with twenty-five of them in the WRHA and almost 50% at Concordia.
Concordia has eight HCAs and four LPN candidates. We are currently expecting to receive two more RN candidates and one more HCA.
Through the PRI, both HCAs and nursing candidates are supported with travel reimbursement, immigration, housing, and education courses at Red River Polytechnical College and the University of Manitoba. Overall, the average immigration journey from the recruitment to the arrival in Winnipeg is 153 days for HCAs and 166 days for nurse candidates.
Our candidates and their families were personally greeted at Winnipeg Richardson Airport with flowers and warm hugs, a gesture that symbolizes our appreciation for their decision to join us.
We also warmly welcomed each candidate at the hospital’s front entrance on their first day of work. Our dedicated team is committed to supporting our candidates as they adjust to life at Concordia, Canadian weather, and all things Winnipeg!
Participating in this initiative to strengthen our workforce and community at Concordia is truly exhilarating. Each of our candidates brings a unique story, such as [specific story], a strong determination, like [specific determination], and a warm smile. Their courage and hope continue to inspire us and their contributions to our patients, staff, and community are shaping Concordia into a better place. Read two personal stories that inspire and encourage.
