North Okanagan-Shuswap unveils sectors and jobs for RCIP.

The selected priority sectors are:

  • Health
  • Trades and Transport
  • Sales and Service
  • Education, Law, Social, Community and Government Services
  • Manufacturing and Utilities

Below is the list of eligible occupations for North Okanagan-Shuswap’s RCIP program:

Occupation NOC Code
Accounting technicians and bookkeepers 12200
Accounting and related clerks 14200
Accommodation service managers 60031
Administrative assistants 13110
Appliance servicers and repairers 72421
Assemblers and inspectors of other wood products 94211
Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers 72410
Carpenters 72310
Construction trades helpers and labourers 75110
Early childhood educators and assistants 42202
Executive housekeepers 62021
General office support workers 14100
Hairstylists and barbers 63210
Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics 72402
Heavy equipment operators 73400
Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing 95103
Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors 72100
Manufacturing managers 90010
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates 33102
Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants 33103
Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors 94212
Plumbers 72300
Restaurant and food service managers 60030
Social and community service workers 42201
Welders and related machine operators 72106

The wage standards are as follows:

  • Restaurant and food service managers, accommodation service managers, and executive housekeepers: Minimum $25/hour
  • All other listed professions: Minimum $22/hour

Additionally, a recommendation cap per employer has been introduced for certain occupations:

Occupation Cap Per Employer
Executive housekeepers 2
Labourers in wood, pulp, and paper processing 10
Accommodation service managers 2
Assemblers and inspectors of other wood products 10
Construction trades helpers and labourers 10
Restaurant and food service managers 2
Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors 10

Further restrictions apply to these subsectors:

NAICS Subsector Recommendation Cap by Subsector Recommendation Cap per Employer
722512 Fast food (limited-service eating places) 40 2
4471 Gasoline stations 20 2

About The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)

The RCIP offers a pathway to permanent residence (PR) for foreign nationals with qualifying job offers in selected rural communities.

Each participating community can designate up to five priority sectors annually throughout the pilot’s duration.

Employers must be designated by a local economic development organization to make qualifying offers.

Foreign nationals must also meet other eligibility requirements beyond securing a designated job offer.

North Okanagan-Shuswap, a participating region located in British Columbia, includes parts of the northern Okanagan Valley and the Shuswap area.

When Are The Intake Windows Scheduled?

North Okanagan-Shuswap unveils sectors and jobs for RCIP. Employer designation opens May 1, and job offer intake windows are:

  • May 12 to May 26
  • July 7 to July 21
  • August 25 to September 8
  • October 13 to October 27
  • November 24 to December 8

Recommendation meetings will be scheduled between each intake window.

Why Priority Sectors And Jobs Matter For RCIP?

Since RCIP is employer-driven, only employers operating within one of the selected sectors and offering jobs in listed professions can:

  • Become designated employers
  • Participate in the RCIP

Priority will be given based on the employer’s sector over the NOC code. A job must align with both an eligible sector and NOC code to qualify.

Other communities that have already published their sectors and professions include:

  • Thunder Bay
  • Timmins
  • Brandon
  • Sault Ste. Marie

Remaining participating communities are expected to release their details soon.

Applicants must have a qualifying job offer, meet general RCIP criteria, and achieve at least 50 points under North Okanagan-Shuswap’s points system.Only those with the highest scores will move forward for community recommendation.

Which Areas In North Okanagan-Shuswap Are Covered?

North Okanagan-Shuswap unveils sectors and jobs for RCIP. The eligible territory covers the entire Regional District of North Okanagan and Electoral Areas C, D, E, F, and G of Columbia Shuswap Regional District, including the City of Salmon Arm.

Communities include:

  • Armstrong
  • Ashton Creek
  • Anglemont
  • Blind Bay
  • Bench
  • Celista
  • Cherryville
  • Coldstream/Lavington
  • Deep Creek
  • Enderby
  • Falkland
  • Grindrod
  • Lumby
  • Salmon Arm
  • Scotch Creek
  • Sicamous
  • Silver Creek
  • Sorrento
  • Spallumcheen
  • Vernon

What Is The RCIP Program?

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is a federally backed, employer-led pathway to Canadian permanent residence launched on January 30, 2025.

Its purpose is to help fill labour shortages in 14 selected rural communities. Foreign nationals must secure a job offer from a designated employer to apply.

The pilot will run for five years.

If successful, RCIP could lead to a permanent immigration program, similar to the Atlantic Immigration Program.

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