Summary of Meetings
Number of Meetings Held:19
September 29, 2021
Registration Count: averaged 25 attendees
Meeting Title/Topic: Overseas Lawyers Group Monthly Meeting
Synopsis: Met monthly to discuss developments in immigration and citizenship law and policy, shares practice tips, and discusses challenging case scenarios. 9 meetings were held between Sept 2021 & Jun 2022 with an average 25 attendees per meeting. Meetings held online, on the last Thursday of each month (Except Sept 29th and no December meeting)
October 19, 2021
Registration Count: 62
Guest Speaker: Deb Zehr, Executive Director, Immigration Programs Branch, David Whibley, Director, Skills Immigration, Michael Kim, Director, Entrepreneur Immigration
Meeting Title/Topic: BC PNP Annual Update
Synopsis: The Section hosted their annual BC PNP program update. The session reviewed general program updates, procedural updates due to COVID, and best practices for lawyers assisting clients with applications in the current environment.
November 02, 2021
Registration Count: 50
Guest Speaker: Danine Leduc, Assistant Deputy Minister with the Ministry of Labour
Meeting Title/Topic: Review of the BC Temporary Foreign Worker Registry
Synopsis: Overview of the BC Temporary Foreign Worker Registry enrollment and renewal processes, as well as reviewing usage statistics and compliance activities.
December 06, 2021
Registration Count: 23
Meeting Title/Topic: Annual Fall Launch
Synopsis: Annual social with guests from federal and provincial governments, the Immigration Bar, and other members of the local Immigration legal community.
December 09, 2021
Registration Count: 19
Guest Speaker: Delia Jane Ramsbotham, Sunrise Family Services Society
Meeting Title/Topic: International Adoptions
Synopsis: Overview of the adoption process, including roles of the federal and provincial governments, as well as foreign governments, laws, and international treaties.
January 18, 2022
Registration Count: 46
Guest Speaker: Sam Hyman, Burns Fitzpatrick LLP
Meeting Title/Topic: Customs Law for Immigration Lawyers
Synopsis: High level overview on customs issues faced by people at the border including settlers effects, temporary import for students, workers, visitors, and returning Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
February 14, 2022
Registration Count: 73
Guest Speaker: Various Keynote: Dr. Harald Bauder, Professor, X University
Meeting Title/Topic: Immigration Law Conference 2022: Reconnecting and Reimagining
Synopsis: One-day, 8 hour CPD event covering the latest in practice and policy. Industry experts presented on best practices along with challenges of this complex area of law. Topics range from hot topics in litigation to a citizenship primer to a review of Economic Class permanent residence routes.
March 03, 2022
Registration Count: 19
Guest Speaker: Douglas A. Cowgill, Partner, Cross Border Visas
Meeting Title/Topic: US Immigration Law Update
Synopsis: Update on work permit applications to the US and current US travel restrictions
April 05, 2022
Registration Count: 60
Guest Speaker: Representatives from the BC PNP
Meeting Title/Topic: BC PNP Updates
Synopsis: Addressed recent program changes that were rolled out in March 2022
June 28, 2022
Registration Count: 21
Guest Speaker: Douglas Cannon and Trudy Smith of Elgin, Cannon & Associates Moderator: Cindy Switzer
Meeting Title/Topic: Cessation of Refugee Protection
Synopsis: Douglas Cannon and Trudy Smith of Elgin, Cannon & Associates provided an introduction to the cessation of refugee protection.