If you’re planning to move to Canada and want to live in a peaceful, rural town, Claresholm in southern Alberta has just made things easier for you. The town is part of a new immigration program called the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP). Under this program, Claresholm has listed the specific jobs and sectors it wants to bring in new workers for 2025.
What is the RCIP and how does it work?
The RCIP is an employer-driven immigration program, which means that to apply for permanent residence (PR) through this route, you must have a job offer from an employer in the community. But not just any job offer will do—it must be from a designated employer, and it should be in one of the priority sectors and occupations listed by the community.
So first, an employer has to get approved or “designated” by the community. Then, if they offer you a job in one of the listed occupations, and you meet the basic eligibility criteria, you can apply for PR through this pilot.
Where is Claresholm and who is included in its boundary?
Claresholm is located in southern Alberta. The RCIP boundary for Claresholm also includes nearby areas like Granum and Stavely, which are within 25 kilometres of the town.
How many people can get PR through Claresholm in 2025?
In 2025, Claresholm has been given 30 total slots. They will issue three slots per month, and if there are unused slots, they will be given out toward the end of the year.
There’s also a limit of five total slots for the Sales and Service industry, so if you’re applying under this category, make sure to act early.
Priority Sectors and Occupations in Claresholm
Claresholm is allowed to pick five key sectors it wants to focus on. Here’s a table showing which jobs are being prioritized under each sector. If your job is listed here, and you get an offer from a designated employer, you can apply under this pilot:
| Sector | Occupation Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | Specialized Livestock Workers and Farm Machinery Operators | 84120 |
| Health Care | Cooks | 63200 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses | 32101 | |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 | |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 | |
| Law & Education | Administrative Officers | 13100 |
| Early childhood educators and assistants | 42202 | |
| Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants | 43100 | |
| Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 72600 | |
| Manufacturing & Utilities | Administrative Assistants | 13110 |
| Aerospace Engineers | 21390 | |
| Aircraft Assemblers and Aircraft Assembly Inspectors | 93200 | |
| Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors | 22313 | |
| Aircraft Mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 | |
| Carpenters | 72310 | |
| Concrete Finishers | 73100 | |
| Construction Trades Helpers and labourers | 75110 | |
| Crane Operators | 72500 | |
| Engineering Managers | 20010 | |
| Ironworkers | 72105 | |
| Labourers in food and beverage processing | 95106 | |
| Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing | 94140 | |
| Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale | 65202 | |
| Sales & Services | Chefs | 62200 |
| Food Service Supervisors | 62020 |
What does this mean for people who want to apply?
To use this pathway, you must:
- Get a job offer from a designated employer in Claresholm or nearby areas like Granum or Stavely.
- The job must be in one of the listed occupations under the priority sectors.
- You also need to meet other eligibility criteria like language skills, education, work experience, and proof of funds.
It’s important to note that only employers within these sectors can be designated. So even if you have a job offer, it won’t count unless it’s from a designated employer in a listed occupation.
About the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
The RCIP was launched by the Canadian government in 2025 as a five-year program. It’s designed to help smaller towns and rural communities fill labour shortages and grow their local economies.
Canada often tests out programs like this and, if they work well, they could become permanent immigration options in the future.
Claresholm is just one of 14 communities participating in the RCIP. Other towns like Timmins, Brandon, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, North Bay, and North Okanagan-Shuswap have also released their priority sectors and jobs. The rest of the participating communities are expected to announce their lists soon.
1. Do I need a job offer to apply under the Claresholm RCIP?
Yes. You must have a job offer from a designated employer in Claresholm or the nearby region, and it must match one of the listed occupations.
2. What if my job is not on the list?
Unfortunately, if your job isn’t listed under Claresholm’s priority occupations, you can’t apply under this specific pilot. But other communities may have different lists, so you should explore those too.
3. How many people will be selected in 2025?
Claresholm will select 30 candidates throughout the year, with 3 people selected per month. Sales and Service roles are limited to only 5 candidates for the entire year.
4. Can I apply if I’m already in Canada on a work permit?
Yes, if you’re already working in Claresholm or nearby and your job matches a listed occupation, and your employer is designated, you can apply.
5. Is Claresholm a good place to live?
Claresholm offers a peaceful, small-town lifestyle in southern Alberta. It’s ideal for those looking to settle in a quieter part of Canada with a supportive local community.
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