Attract, Retain, Support

Attract, Retain & Support: Dianna Prest, Autism Outreach Coordinator with Autism Nova Scotia

Cliff MacDonald, Employer Engager for Mainland Nova Scotia at ISANS — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Dianna Prest who is the Autism Outreach Coordinator with Autism Nova Scotia, speaks about the many services that Autism Nova Scotia can offer to assist individuals with gaining meaningful employment. Dianna also offers insight to employers on how to build a inclusive environment leading to the success of her clients while building community partnerships demonstrating the effectiveness of collaboration.

Contact Dianna - dprest@autismns.ca
Autism Nova Scotia - https://www.autismnovascotia.ca/

Attract, Retain & Support: Michael Tunyan, Renewables Project Delivery Manager with Stantec and Michelle MacDougall, Coordinator for the Professional Mentorship Program at ISANS

Cliff MacDonald, Coordinator, Employer Engagement — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 08:10:29 -0400

Please join us to learn about how mentoring can lead to success for newcomers!

As a mechanical engineer and a project manager, Michael has worked both behind the scenes and on the front lines of energy and manufacturing project delivery. Working on teams with diverse, multidisciplinary technical experts has shaped him into a seasoned leader and team player. He believes listening is key to successful collaboration and building great relationships.

Michelle coordinates the ISANS Professional Mentorship Program connecting Nova Scotia professionals with newcomer talent for short-term mentorships that often lead to job security. With a background in Oil and Gas (Engineering) and being an immigrant to Canada, herself; she is especially passionate about helping professionals facing numerous challenges entering Nova Scotia’s workforce.

Attract, Retain & Support: Devin Cooke of Cooke Aquaculture INC. and Paul Pickering, Coordinator for the Intercultural Workplace program at ISANS

Cliff MacDonald, Coordinator, Employer Engagement at ISANS — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:50:56 -0400

Welcome back!

Our guests today are Devin Cooke and Paul Pickering.

Devin Cooke is the Corporate Trainer with Cooke Inc. Devin has a total of 9 1/2 years of experience in professional development in the corporate realm.

Paul Pickering has created and delivered intercultural and diversity-focused learning since 1995 and has been the Coordinator of the Intercultural Workplace Program at ISANS since 2013.

Please join us in a discussion on how Devin's organization has utilized the Intercultural Workplace Program at ISANS, to build a welcoming and culturally diverse work environment and to learn how this program can be of benefit to all employers wanting to create this for their workplace.

Attract, Retain & Support: Erin Barclay, Project Manager with Futureworx

Cliff MacDonald, Coordinator, Employer Engagement at ISANS — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:14:04 -0400

Please join the chat today as we sit down with Futureworx's very own, Erin Barclay.

Erin Barclay is a Project Manager and the Communications Specialist at Futureworx, where she brings a heartfelt passion for responding to the needs of communities in Nova Scotia and across Canada. For over twenty years, Erin has dedicated her career to positively impacting the social, cultural, and economic well-being of the people and regions Futureworx serves.

To learn more about Futureworx, please visit www.futureworx.ca

Attract, Retain & Support: Atlantic Immigrant Career Loan Fund (AICLF), Ken Partridge and Carolina Hernandez

Cliff MacDonald, Coordinator, Employer Engagement for Mainland Nova Scotia — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 08:57:26 -0300

Please join us in this episode where we will be chatting with Ken Partridge. Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, AICLF. Ken joined ISANS in 2023 after 35+ years as a journalist and editor working on newspapers and magazines across Atlantic Canada. Ten years ago, he helped create My Halifax Experience Magazine, a quarterly publication dedicated to telling the stories of immigrants and their contributions to this region’s growing diversity. This led to his involvement with My East Coast Experience, the Most Inspiring Immigrants in Atlantic Canada Awards, the Mosaic International Film Festival, and finally ISANS, where he now helps internationally trained immigrants get their credentials recognized so they can continue the careers they love.

Carolina Hernandez decided to start her CPA journey here in Nova Scotia as this was her career in the Dominican Republic. Once she discovered the loan program, Carolina decided to take the chance and put in the hard work to achieve her goals. Come and learn about her experience with the program and how it has impacted her life.

To learn more about AICLF please visit - www.aiclf.ca or email for more information at info@aiclf.ca

Attract, Retain & Support: Physician Recruitment with the Nova Scotia Health Authority

Cliff MacDonald - Coordinator, Employer Enagagement, Mainland NS — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 07:31:53 -0300

Welcome back to our second season of Attract, Retain & Support! This season will see a new episode on the second Tuesday of each month from September to June.

Our first episode is with the Nova Scotia Health Authority https://www.nshealth.ca/ Our guests are Sarah O’Toole and Katrina Philopoulos. Sarah works with Nova Scotia Health’s Medical Affairs department as a Physician Recruitment Consultant in the Eastern Zone while Katrina is the Director of Physician Recruitment. Please join us to learn about the recruitment and retention strategies utilized by the Health Authority here in Nova Scotia.

Meet Ann MacGregor; Employment Engagement Specialist with Career Connections in New Glasgow

ISANS - Cliff MacDonald - Mainland NS Employer Engager — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:19:34 -0300

Ann MacGregor is the Employer Engagement Specialist for Pictou County. She has a background in communications and is passionate about her community. Ann is excited about connecting with local businesses and non-profits, many of which she is already very familiar with after 20 years working at the local radio station. Come and listen how Ann can assist your place of business with hiring needs and learn the importance of partnerships to build a stronger community. About | Career Connections

Attract, Retain & Support: North Shore Local Immigration Partnership(LIP) Coordinator, Esther Bejarano

ISANS Employer Engager: Cliff MacDonald — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 08:01:43 -0400

Please join me for a chat with Esther Bejarano who is the Coordinator with the North Shore Local Immigration Partnership (LIP). Esther, herself an immigrant, understands the complexity and challenges people experience when moving to a new country, which has been a valuable perspective to have when supporting immigrant settlement and integration which she did with YREACH for 6 years in Colchester County under the umbrella of the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth. Esther’s work with local employers and other organizations on recruiting and retention, shows the important responsibility the community has, and that we must welcome newcomers by educating ourselves on services available and working collaboratively.

Attract, Retain & Support: Nova Scotia Business Owner, Stephanie Jones

ISANS — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 14:37:04 -0400

Stephanie Jones is a proud 2nd generation Owner/ Operator. She started her McDonalds career early, working her first shift at age 11. She worked in the restaurant with her parents and sister, leaving after university to pursue a career in teaching in 1999. She returned to the business and purchased her first 2 locations in 2010. She is now the proud owner of 11 locations in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Stephanie is a strong believer in immigration, and takes great pride in playing a part in many of her employees moving to Canada, achieving PR, and calling Canada their home.

Attract, Retain & Support: ISANS Employer Supports with Kyle Turner

ISANS, Business Workforce & Integration team — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 08:19:23 -0300

Kyle connects with employers to help them strengthen and diversify their workforce; the main focus of his role at Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) is Employer Engagement. He has a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Marketing from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. Kyle is a public relations professional with extensive experience in project management, sales promotion and event planning in private and public sectors. He works in partnership with employers and ISANS staff to plan, develop and deliver supports to employers of all sizes related to recruiting, retaining and integrating immigrants in the workplace.

Learn how ISANS employer support programs can assist with hiring and retention. For more information, please contact Cliff MacDonald at cbmacdonald@isans.ca

#recruitmentandretention #nsimmigration #welcomingworkplaces

Welcome to Attract, Retain, Support

ISANS — Tue, 14 May 2024 13:34:37 -0300

Are you busy building your business, but can’t find the talent you need to sustain your growth? Look no further than ISANS supports for employers to help attract and retain immigrant talent.