Day 1: How to Market in a Changing Environment
Presenter: Olena Weber RCIC
Date: 15 January 2025
Time: 2 pm - 5 pm
Location: In person only, downtown Vancouver
The Atrium Room
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Downtown Campus
555 Seymour Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 3H6
Outline:
Marketing & Selling in 2025
- Shifts in consumer behavior and decision-making in 2025.
- Using AI effectively in your marketing.
- Best marketing platforms for 2025 (or how to market your firm without dancing on TikTok).
Creating Content That Converts
- Two critical types of content you should be generating for effective marketing.
- How to convert with your content (or how to sell without selling).
Let’s Brainstorm! Open Q&A Session
Let’s get inspired together and brainstorm your marketing strategy for 2025!
Not eligible for CPD.
Day 2: THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING” - IMMIGRATION PRACTICE IN THE AFTERMATH OF 2024!
Including:
Coffee breaks
Lunch/networking
Moderator: Catherine Sas, KC, with multiple presenters
Date: 16 January 2025
Time: 9 am - 5:15 pm Pacific time
Location: in person - Downtown, Vancouver
The Atrium Room
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Downtown Campus
555 Seymour Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 3H6
Moderator: Catherine Sas KC
Type: in person, webinar and recording
Price: $195.00
CPD approval:
- CICC 7 CPD hours approved. Includes 90 minutes of professionalism. Recording valid until 16 January 2026.
- LSBC 7 hour/s - 7 CPD hours approved, recording valid until 31 December 2025 - Attendance to this course will provide you with 60 minutes of ethics and professional responsibility component for your BC Law Society reporting.
Includes 60 minutes of professionalism.
Law Societies of Alberta, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia
For members of these Law Societies, consider including this course as a CPD learning activity in your mandatory annual requirements.
The Times They Are A-Changin' by Bob Dylan
”Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin
And you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin” Bob Dylan
IMM Seminars presents:
“THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING” - IMMIGRATION PRACTICE IN THE AFTERMATH OF 2024!
Includes coffee breaks, lunch and networking.
Outline:
Introduction: Catherine Sas, KC
9:00am to 9:15am
Summary of the changes:
- Levels announcements - for both permanent and temporary - First time ever!
- Reduction in PRs by 21% and reduction to temporary by 5%
- Business program shut down in April - to end of 2026 for SE program
- Express Entry scores high and focus on targeted categories
- In-Canada Focus for persons in Canada - CEC + PNP
- Caps on foreign workers and international students
- Multiple changes to the student program- PGWPS, OSWPs, eligible DLIs
- PNP - general changes to program, Post Graduate program Changes
- TFW/LMIA changes - low skilled limits and restrictions for employers
- Refer to our Blog list 15/24 - blogs this year all about CHANGE
9:15am to 10:15am
Key Note Panel
Moderator: Catherine Sas KC
Panelists: Richard Kurland, LLB and Michael Greene, KC
- Review and discuss all the changes referred to in the Introduction
- Impetus for change?
- How does this affect how we advise clients?
- How will immigration practitioners react/contend with the changes?
- Do you see the program reductions equating to a reduction of clients?
- How do you advise clients of their prospects for both temporary and permanent status?
- What are the key changes you see in advising clients in the face of these changes?
- What do you see for the future of Canada’s immigration program?
- Other key observations?
- Questions
10:15am to 10:30am
Health Break
10:30am - 11:30am
The Winds of Change - Practice recommendations for Immigration Consultants
Moderator: Catherine Sas, KC
Panelists: Michael Greene, KC, Eoin Logan, LLB and Olena Weber, RCIC AND BUSINESS COACH
Immigration consultants are in the news! Discussion of the current negative publicity about immigration consultants as identified by Minister, Premiers, business sector, immigration lawyers and others.
Implications for the industry as a whole. What are the possible outcomes.
What can immigration professionals do to deal with immigration negligence and fraud?
How is it possible to effect change within the realm of immigration practitioners?
Questions.
11:30am to 12:30pm
International students: The new paths to permanent residence and other Considerations…..
Panelist: Fred Li, RCIC-IRB and Aditya Akre - Campus Director LaSalle College, Vancouver
Moderator: Catherine Sas, KC
Summary of changes to the student program
Changes and the impact for immigration professionals
How can international students achieve permanent residence?
a) Given reduced levels and higher Express Entry CRS and PNP scores
b) Proscribed limits for study visas per province - how does BC compare?
c) Changes to PGWP eligibility and OSWP options
d) Recommend learning French
e) Defer applying for a PGWP
f) Obtain foreign work experience
g) Pursue graduate studies in Canada
h) Modify student (and parental) expectations - best strategies for PR and
should permanent residence the ultimate goal?
12:30pm to 1:15pm
LUNCH BREAK
1:15pm to 2:15pm
“What’s blowing in the wind?” PNP Changes
Panelists: Joshua Slayen, JD and Tiffany Chi, RCIC-IRB
Moderator: Catherine Sas, KC
Summarize changes in BC: Joshua
Summarize changes in Alberta: Tiffany
- What are the changes and when are/were they implemented?
- Review of various targeted streams and processing times
- Any changes to OINP, Atlantic Program?
- Questions
2:15pm to 3:15pm
“What’s a Canadian Employer to Do?” Temporary Foreign Worker Update
Panelists: Victor Ing JD, Tiffany Chi, RCIC-IRB
Moderator: Catherine Sas KC
Summary of changes to the TFW program
- Impact to both employers and practitioners
- Discussion of fraud in the TFW program
- Vulnerable person work permits - advice to clients both employers and employees
- Alternatives to the TFW
- Reduction of TFW/Work permit levels
3:15pm to 3:30pm
HEALTH BREAK
3:30pm to 4:15pm
Parlez Vous Francais? Understanding the Francophone program for working, studying and immigrating to Canada
Panelist: Laura Schemitsch, JD
Moderator: Catherine Sas, KC
Review of the various Francophone programs:
a) Francophone mobility program
b) Francophone minority communities student pilot
c) Express Entry for French speaking skilled workers
d) Review of the Immigration levels plan for 2025-2027 and
increased targets for Francophones outside of Quebec
10-15 minutes for questions
4:15pm to 5:15pm
SINK OR SWIM: 60 Tips for Practice in the Face of Change
Panelists :
Catherine Sas, KC
Richard Kurland, LLB
Michael Greene, KC
Tiffany Chi, RCIC-IRB
Fred Li, RCIC-IRB
Olena Weber, RCIC and BUSINESS COACH
CICC Essential Competency mapping
RCIC
Foundational Knowledge
1.3 Interprets Canadian immigration and refugee legislation, regulations and policies.
1.3.3 Differentiates the functions and powers of the various federal departments and agencies which have a role in immigration and citizenship matters.
1.5 Synthesizes and applies case law to various immigration and citizenship cases.
1.5.2 Identifies the leading cases that impact Canadian immigration, refugee and citizenship.
Legal Research and Informatics
Business Management and Leadership
4.7 Reviews business practices and performances to ensure efficient and quality service.
Professionalism
6.1 Demonstrates and maintains competence in practice
6.1.2 Stays current and complies with legislations, regulation, professional standards, policies and guidelines.
Moderator:
Catherine Sas KC
Catherine has been providing a full range of immigration legal services for over 30 years and is recognized as a leading immigration practitioner by Lexpert and Best Lawyers in Canada. Catherine has been voted Best Immigration Lawyer in the Georgia Straight’s “Best of Vancouver” for the many years.
Catherine is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association, and International Bar Association. Catherine is the past National Chair of the Immigration Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association and a past Co-Chair of the Immigration and Citizenship Committee of the International Bar Association. She is also registered as a Foreign Legal Consultant with the State Bar of California which enables her to better serve her American clientele in the film and television and digital media industries.
Catherine has been part of Team Canada and Team British Columbia trade missions to countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, China, Hong Kong, and the United States. She has participated in Continuing Legal Education seminars, appeared at parliamentary committees on immigration issues, and spoken at international conferences and symposiums. Catherine has worked extensively with clientele from around the world and travels frequently internationally to assist her clients with their Canadian immigration goals.
While speakers and topics are confirmed at the time of publication, sometimes things happen which are beyond the control of Imm Seminars. If that happens substitutions or cancellations to speaker/s and/or topic/s may be necessary. In those cases, Imm Seminars will advise all registrants by email as soon as possible. We will also update the Imm Seminars website. We appreciate your cooperation in these cases.
