Premier’s Summit on Fairness for Newcomers logo

Overview

2024 event theme: 'Celebrating Trades and Professions in Alberta'
Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Location: Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre

Attendance for this event is by invitation only. Advanced registration is required, see your invitation for more details on how to register.

View the agenda and overview of the day's speakers.

Event highlights

  • Registration opens at 7:30 am.
  • Program begins at 8:30 am and ends at 4:30 pm.
  • Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided.
  • Networking sessions will include information on programs and services supporting newcomers.

Speakers

  • Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta

    Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta

    Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta since October 11, 2022, leads the United Conservative Party and represents Brooks-Medicine Hat in the Legislative Assembly. With a background in media and business, she is known for her focus on balancing free enterprise and individual freedom with government roles. Prior to re-entering politics, she served as the President of the Alberta Enterprise Group and as a radio host. Danielle holds degrees in Economics and English from the University of Calgary and lives in High River with her husband, David.

  • Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education

    Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education

    Rajan Sawhney was sworn in as Minister of Advanced Education on June 9, 2023. She previously served as the Minister of Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism, the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Community and Social Services. Prior to her service as an elected official, Mrs. Sawhney worked in the oil and gas industry for over 20 years in a variety of roles in economics and business development and served as the Vice President of Business Development for Fracture Modeling Inc. Born and raised in Calgary, Mrs. Sawhney is a proud mother of 4 and has been married to her husband, Gurpreet Sawhney, for 30 years. Mrs. Sawhney is also a University of Calgary alumna where she earned a degree in Economics and Political Science as well as an MBA. Rajan Sawhney was first elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary-North East on April 16, 2019 and was elected the Member for Calgary-North West on May 29, 2023.

  • Muhammed Yaseen, Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism

    Muhammad Yaseen, Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism

    Muhammad Yaseen is Alberta’s Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism, sworn in on June 9, 2023. Previously, he served as Parliamentary Secretary for Community Outreach and Associate Minister of Immigration. A professional engineer, Mr. Yaseen holds degrees in petroleum and civil engineering, as well as an MBA. He has dedicated years to volunteering with organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross and the Pakistan Canada Association. First elected in 2019, he was re-elected in 2023 as MLA for Calgary-North. In his personal time, he enjoys reading, walking and volunteering.

  • Monte McNaughton

    Monte McNaughton, Keynote Speaker

    Monte McNaughton is a former Member of Provincial Parliament and Minister of Infrastructure in Ontario. He was Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, before he left government to become Executive Vice-President at Woodbine Entertainment. During Monte’s time, Ontario saw a record number of people joining skilled trades, including an historic increase in females joining the trades. He brought forward groundbreaking Working for Workers Acts to empower and protect workers, recognize international credentials so newcomers can work in careers they have studied, and helped businesses to recruit talent to fill labour shortages. He also launched first-ever training programs to give people who have criminal records a second chance.

Panel discussions

  • Newcomer Experience Panel: Hear inspiring stories from newcomers who have built successful careers in Alberta.
  • Business Best Practices Panel: Gain insights into best practices for hiring, training, and supporting newcomers.
  • Skills Trades Union Panel: Learn about efforts to support newcomers in the skilled trades workforce.

Contact us

If you have questions about the Premier's Summit on Fairness for Newcomers, contact:

Email: [email protected]