A partnership between The Saskatoon Open Door Society (SODS) and Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce aims to support entrepreneurs who have immigrated to Saskatoon.

Through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the intent is to have a physical Newcomer Business Office to support immigrant entrepreneurs, build employment connections and coordinate training sessions and networking events.

Jason Aebig is CEO of Saskatoon’s Chamber of Commerce and says, “If you can put yourself in their shoes-perhaps you are a business owner here in Canada and then move to a new country and have to navigate the regulations of establishing your business there-it would be extremely difficult to do.”

Aebig says working closely with the newcomer business owners to give them resources to navigate their new community, is really important for their success.

Aebig says we all win the minute they feel supported and successful, because they are creating jobs in our community, and they’re making a strong and important economic contribution already, so it’s in our collective best interest to make sure these entrepreneurs feel supported and connected as soon as they get here.

The partnership will focus on:

-Establishing a Newcomer Business Office that will assist with regulations, licensing, and the business landscape in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan,

-Building employment connections between chamber members and skilled newcomers, with an emphasis on filling local workforce gaps and,

-Coordinating training sessions and networking events to provide newcomer business owners and job seekers with the tools and relationships they need to thrive.

Aebig says, “We want to see people come to Saskatoon not only to establish their businesses, but to stay.”