Thank you for your interest in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) in the West Kootenay region.
West Kootenay RCIP Updates
January 6, 2026: We continue to experience a very high volume of inquiries. At this time we are prioritizing processing community recommendation applications that were received between July and September 2025 as well as Employer Designations. If you have already reached out through the contact form, there is no need to send a follow-up message, your communication has been received. Thank you for your patience and please note it may take up to two months for you to receive a response.
November 27, 2025: Our intake for 2025 is closed. We expect to reopen in spring 2026. Before reopening, we will process all pending employer designation applications. In 2026, designated employers will receive an email update with the reopening date, application process details, and any changes to how the pilot will be delivered. Updates will also be posted on the West Kootenay RCIP website in the new year.
West Kootenay RCIP – Key Numbers
The West Kootenay Region was recognized as an area that would benefit from the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and entered into a partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in early 2025. The West Kootenay region uses this pilot to strengthen local economies and support workforce development.
For more information on the benefits of immigration, please go to Immigration Matters.
Our Region
The West Kootenay is a welcoming region of over 90,000 people. Visitors come to the Kootenays in every season to experience the majestic mountains, abundant wildlife, and many beautiful lakes and rivers.
Business is alive and well in the Kootenays. Primary economic drivers are resource extraction and forestry, with agriculture, tourism, and vigorous entrepreneurial activity across many other sectors also making a considerable contribution to local economies.
Previous Successes: The West Kootenay Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot
Many lives changed forever thanks to the West Kootenay Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.
This pilot helped over 1200 newcomers apply for their Canadian permanent residency. Additionally, over 250 West Kootenay employers used the pilot to support existing employees or hire skilled foreign workers to support their workforce needs… Read more
-
Fexey: A new beginning filled with community generosity and a drive to succeed
Shortly after Fexey Xavier’s first child was born in 2017, her desire to leave India was solidified. Her career as a registered nurse in the province of Kerala didn’t offer enough compensation for her family to live comfortably, and the economy troubled her. She says, “Nursing salaries are less there compared to Canada. If my
-
Vyacheslav and Oksana: The kickstarter to a long-awaited family reunion
Vyacheslav and Oksana Apostolyuk decided to move to Canada from Ukraine for many reasons. For one, the couple’s combined salaries were not enough to support their family of four. “It was a hard decision, especially because Oksana had a very good career at the university. But we didn’t see any future for us and our
-
Lars and Simon: A garden party of new experiences and shared knowledge
During Simon and Lars’ adventures around the world, they often envisioned a quieter life for themselves outside of Hamburg, Germany. “We were getting tired of city life. We’d travel to places we liked and start dreaming that we’d retire there one day,” Simon reflects. In 2017, the couple travelled to British Columbia and were overwhelmed