Free conference about life and work in Northern Ontario

On May 8, 2026, there will be an online event for immigrants planning to move to the region.

On May 8, 2026, the virtual conference Newcomer Destination: Northern Ontario will take place, focusing on opportunities for immigrants in the northern part of Ontario province. The event is organized by New Canadians TV Network media company with support from the Planning for Canada program. Participation is free, and registration is now open.

The conference will be held online from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). It's designed for both those who are just planning to move to Canada and those who are already in the country and considering relocating to smaller cities and regions.

What to Expect at the Conference

The event will showcase opportunities for living, working, and settling in Northern Ontario. Participants will be able to connect directly with local employers, immigration settlement specialists, and community leaders. The conference program includes real stories from immigrants who have already moved to the region and successfully built their lives there.

Key topics include information about settlement programs and support for newcomers, career opportunities and job openings in the region, as well as everyday life in Northern Ontario communities. Prize draws are expected during the conference.

Why Northern Ontario Attracts Immigrants

Northern Ontario is a vast region that includes districts such as Algoma, Cochrane, Greater Sudbury, Kenora, Nipissing, Thunder Bay, Timiskaming, and others. The region is actively attracting new residents by offering a more affordable cost of living compared to the Greater Toronto Area, less competition in the job market, and well-developed immigrant support programs.

The region's key economic sectors are mining, forestry, healthcare, and services. Many employers in these sectors are facing serious labor shortages and are ready to hire immigrants.

Immigration Programs for Northern Ontario

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducts separate draws for candidates with job offers specifically in Northern Ontario. In April 2026, 303 invitations were issued to candidates with job offers in the region. The cutoff scores for Northern Ontario are noticeably lower than for the Greater Toronto Area: for example, the minimum score for the Foreign Worker stream was 60 in the northern region versus 61 and higher in the metropolitan area.

The Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot program is also aimed at attracting skilled workers to regions outside the largest cities, including Northern Ontario. This program appears in nearly every OINP selection round in 2026, making it one of the most consistent tools of provincial immigration policy.

How to Register

Canadian visa centers in Russia have stopped accepting passports

If you're considering immigration to Canada or relocating to another region within the country, and you need professional help assessing your chances and choosing the right program, you can book a consultation with a licensed immigration consultant.

Source

#immigration to the region

#OINP program

#provincial selection