April 16, 2007-- The Standing Committee on Immigration of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress-Saskatoon Branch (UCC-SB) will be providing an information session and taking registrations for ESL (English as a Second Language) classes at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at Bishop James Mahoney High School, 231 Primrose Drive. A social will follow the formal sessions.

Enrollees in these classes will be workers and their spouses who have arrived under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). The program operates under an agreement with the federal government and provides an alternate and quicker means of entry into Canada. Qualified applicants are nominated by the Saskatchewan government for landed immigrant status under criteria established by the province.

The UCC-SB’s ESL sub-committee developed the strategy for the delivery of English language classes for the workers as well as a strategy related to the acquisition, storage and distribution of household items that members of the public donate for the purpose of assisting with the furnishing of condos, apartments and houses for the workers.

Funding for conducting the classes comes from a special development fund provided by the province.

Saskatchewan’s Minister Responsible for Immigration, Pat Atkinson said, “Inviting people from around the world to build their futures here in Saskatchewan will foster our economy’s growth and will make life better for everyone, including new immigrants. We are well ahead of schedule to achieve our goal of welcoming 5,000 newcomers by 2008.”