Loewen Featured in CBC Documentary

November 17, 2004

STEINBACH, MB – CBC camera and crew were filming at the Steinbach campus on Tuesday, November 9 for a documentary scheduled to air later in 2004. Loewen will be featured as one of the largest businesses in Manitoba that has successfully integrated immigrants into the workforce.

John Ferris, VP Human Resources, will be featured in the documentary as well as Heinrich Bergmann, who works in manufacturing and is a recent immigrant from Germany.

Ferris spoke of the benefits of having a diverse workforce at Loewen. Some of the available programs that Loewen provides to benefit immigrants are:

• ESL program
• Transition program
• Providing translators for departmental meetings
• Subsidized training
• Shop floor buddy program

“Recent immigrants to this area have good experience. It improves the diversity of our region to have this group of talented people share their knowledge with Loewen and the broader community. At the end of the day it is more than just about the job, these people add to our economy and strengthen the social fabric of this area,” said John.

CBC Reporter, Paul Withers, is hoping to use Manitoba’s Nominee Program as an example of what may work for Nova Scotia. Currently Nova Scotia is experiencing a shortage of employees and they are hoping that the Nominee Program that has been successful in Manitoba will work in the Maritime province.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) is an immigration program established under the Canada-Manitoba Immigration Agreement. It recognizes that the province has specific immigration priorities and economic, cultural and social needs. The program allows the Province of Manitoba to receive applications from potential immigrants. The province then nominates those who are best suited to contribute to the province's economy and who intend to live and work in Manitoba, for Permanent Resident Status in Canada.

The documentary will air on CBC Nova Scotia and CBC Newsworld on November 22 or 23.

For luxury homeowners - and the designers, architects and builders they employ - Loewen is the wood window and door brand that delivers an unrivaled combination of experience, artisanship and innovative design in an extensive line of Douglas Fir products.

A privately held Canadian corporation founded in 1905, Loewen has distribution around the world with a focus on the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom and Latin America.