Immigrate Takes on Canada’s Labour Shortage with New Immigration Platform Launch

Oct 25, 2023

Saskatoon 23 October — With its highly anticipated platform set to launch on October 25, Immigrate Software is poised to redefine how Canadian companies recruit global talent. At a recent event, Cofounders Keli Propp, CEO, and Dirk Propp, President, gave insight into the story of Immigrate’s game-changing solution in international hiring.


The Story That Started It All


According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), 73% of small business owners worked extra hours to compensate for staffing shortages in 2022 (1). In Saskatchewan, where Immigrate Software was founded, the CFIB found that 59% of business owners were affected by labour shortages.


Dirk Propp led a busy immigration consultancy in Saskatoon for 17 years, and saw the impact of short staffing within the local business community - along with a technology-enabled solution.


In 2017, Dirk and Keli Propp cofounded Immigrate Software, knowing that international mobility could build Canada’s economy amidst a wave of retirements and slowing population growth.


Immigrate’s managed services platform automates job advertisement posting in Canada first. If there are no suitable applicants, it connects Canadian employers with experienced workers from around the globe. Finally, Immigrate automates the kinds of applications employers need in order to bring their new hires to Canada.


“Employers were spending 40 hours on a single immigration application, but with automation and technology, we can get the process down to 3 hours. People used to file tax forms manually too, but in 2023 it just makes sense to let technology transform the process,” said Immigrate Cofounder and CEO Keli Propp.


As a proud female tech founder, Keli is driven by customer stories and her passion to solve real-world problems. "Every day, we make a difference for Canadian businesses and families ready to call Canada home," Keli says.


The Prairie Tech Company Transforming Immigration


It’s no accident that Immigrate has taken root in Saskatchewan’s tech scene, which has been called the “Silicon Prairie.” A member of the Saskatoon business community for years, founder Dirk Propp knew about the labour shortages employers in his network faced. He also saw amazing local talent to build Immigrate’s product. Their team has now grown to nearly 40 people.


Immigrate puts their own products to use when local talent isn’t available, bringing experienced professionals into the community. They see this type of mobility as a major boon to the economy.


“We want to grow our local economy. If local talent isn’t available for a certain role, let’s bring in someone world class, with amazing experience. When we welcome them to our community, we build a province with these incredible professionals that diversify our teams, economies, and networks,” said President and Co-founder Dirk Propp.


The Road Ahead


As the economy recovers from a global pandemic, it still struggles with a shrinking workforce. Dirk and Keli Propp say that the problem won’t go away soon, with increasing retirements that outpace new professionals entering the workforce.


Describing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their business, Immigrate client Will Brown commented, “We were missing over a third of our workforce and we had a huge gap. It was just an incredible situation that we were in. And the big question that we had is… where are we going to find 450 qualified candidates?”


With Immigrate’s support, Will was able to bridge the gap to keep business on track.


“As we launch the newest version of our technology, we’re building this solution that will grow the economy and solve challenges which hold businesses back. On top of that, we get to make immigration dreams come true. Coming to Canada is a life-changing opportunity for so many, and it’s amazing to be part of that,” said Keli Propp.



About Immigrate Software


Immigrate Software is revolutionizing the immigration process, making it seamless, efficient, and empowering for both businesses and individuals. This managed services platform brings together years of industry expertise, technological innovation, and a profound understanding of real-world immigration challenges to offer a comprehensive solution to Canadian businesses facing labor shortages.

Catching Up With Laika

By Miranda Miller • 28 Mar, 2024
At Immigrate, our team is passionate about making immigration dreams come true. Today, we're thrilled to introduce Sales Associate Laika Luslos, who exemplifies that attitude. Read on to find out what makes Laika so passionate about making the journey to Canada accessible! Can you please introduce yourself and what you do here at Immigrate? Laika: My name is Laika. I'm from the Philippines, and I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration and have completed a certificate in a teaching program for secondary education. I'm part of the team here at Immigrate as an immigration Sales Associate. I have a strong passion for music, and I enjoy spending quality time with my family. What is your role like on a day-to-day basis? Laika: My role involves connecting with clients who are interested in immigrating to Canada, understanding their needs and goals, addressing their questions and concerns, and helping them navigate the complexities of immigration procedures. My favorite part is witnessing the excitement and relief on clients' faces when they receive approvals for their immigration applications. It's incredibly rewarding to be part of their journey and help make their aspirations a reality. How do we help clients overcome barriers to starting their new life in Canada? Laika: We offer a wide range of personalized immigration guidance and support, like access to resources, assistance with navigating complex paperwork and legal documents, and help with language barriers or unfamiliarity with the Canadian immigration system. Our team is here to support every step of the way. What makes Immigrate different from other immigration providers? Laika: What sets Immigrate apart is our commitment to providing a high chance of success through personalized recommendations and advice. Our team goes above and beyond to ensure the success of our clients' immigration journey. Plus, having our own unique software platform minimizes the likelihood of mistakes and streamlines the process. What’s a goal you have for the future? Laika: Looking ahead, a future goal of mine is to continue growing within the field of immigration and learning in my role at Immigrate. I'm passionate about helping people achieve their goals and aspirations and I look forward to making a positive impact on even more clients’ lives in the future. And I am really excited about embarking on the journey to fulfill my own Canadian dream alongside my family, combining personal aspirations with professional growth.
A man is standing in a field with his arms crossed in front of a combine harvester.

New SINP Entrepreneur Category Changes in March 2024

By Dirk Propp • 28 Mar, 2024
This article is written by Immigrate President and Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, Dirk Propp (license #R417407). On March 14th, the Saskatchewan Government made changes to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) Entrepreneur Category, affecting many international entrepreneurs considering starting a business in the province. These new changes affect those in the Expression of Interest Pool for future draws. Many of the applicants already in the pool will need to look for different options, or be able to meet the new criteria. The most important changes are: New minimum language requirement: Applicants must have a CBL 5 in English. Previously no English was required. Mandatory exploratory visits: Visits are required for five calendar days, when applicants should conduct comprehensive research for their proposed business plan. This will mean that applicants will need to obtain a visitor visa to visit Saskatchewan. Extended operation: Applicants must operate the business for a minimum of 12 months on their work permit prior to removing conditions to get a nomination for permanent residence. Business purchases: Applicants cannot buy a business that a previous SINP applicant has started for at least five years after its inception. New ineligible businesses: More business types are not considered for investment. New definition of eligible business investments: This change affects which investments are eligible to meet the minimum investment criteria in the business plan and in operations to remove the conditions and obtain the nomination for permanent residents. Applicant requirements: This restricts applicants to live within 50km of their business, and extends the boundary of major cities to include urban communities. New interview requirements: There is now a mandatory interview which must take place within 90 days of the request by the province. In conclusion, these changes will give international business investors a better chance to build a successful business. For example, the language requirement will help with integration into English-speaking communities and likely a higher chance of success in business operations. These changes will also help rural businesses thrive in Saskatchewan. Secondly, these changes will limit the amount of applications and increase opportunities in certain countries where English is more prominent. The interview gives the officers the discretion to refuse any applicant based on their opinion, which may be frustrating for some applicants. However, it should also give successful applicants a higher chance of success if approved. This change removes Saskatchewan as one of the last provinces to not require English testing to become business immigrants in Canada. If you would like to know more about the changes or get help setting up an exploratory visit, completing your business plan and SINP application, and meeting all other requirements, please contact me directly through sales@immigrate.biz so we can see if this may be the right fit for you and your family to make Saskatchewan your new home.
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