North Bay can learn from an immigrant entrepreneur study recently completed for the Far Northeast Training Board, says the study’s author.
Don Curry, president of Curry Consulting of North Bay, says staff at the North Bay & District Multicultural Centre identified more than 70 first generation immigrant-owned businesses in North Bay. He said the results of a study he did for the region from Latchford north to Hearst, and Kirkland Lake to Chapleau, will likely apply for North Bay as well.
He interviewed 38 immigrant business owners in the study area at their places of business and found that together they own and operate 58 businesses. Twenty own restaurants or fast food franchises, 15 own motels, 10 own convenience stores, seven own gas stations and two own pharmacies. Other businesses include a landscaping business, a nail salon, a strip mall and a movie theatre. Immigrant professionals other than pharmacists in the study area were not interviewed.
Twelve businesses employ five people or fewer; 18 employ six to 10 people; two employ 11 to 15 people; three employ 16 to 20 people and four employ more than 21 people, with the largest having 37 employees.
“What was really interesting,” Curry said, “was that more than half of those interviewed said they knew family and friends who might move north for the right business opportunity. That means that if someone is looking to sell a business in North Bay the immigrant business community already here is a good place to start.”
Curry said almost all the business owners were secondary migrants, mainly from the Greater Toronto Area. Most were originally from India, he said, noting that failing to find a local buyer a business owner may be wise to advertise in the Indian media in the GTA.
The full 37-page report can be found in English and French at www.fnetb.com/reports
Curry said he will present the report at a Northeastern Ontario Immigration Symposium in Sundridge April 26. He said he will also discuss a new Curry Consulting project with the Northern Policy Institute to develop new immigration streams for Northern Ontario.
“What struck me about the immigrant entrepreneur study was that almost all the business people were secondary migrants,” he said. “Northern Ontario receives only 300 immigrants a year directly from their home countries, when our population should demand six times that number. Immigrants in all categories are positive contributors to local economies and the north needs lots more of them. People may say they take jobs away from Canadians, but the proven reality is that they create jobs for Canadians.”
The April 26 immigration symposium, sponsored by the Central Almaguin Economic Development Association, the Labour Market Group and the North Bay & District Multicultural Centre is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. To attend you must register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/immigration-symposium-for-northeastern-ontario-tickets-31995981843
