The SÉO, a key partner for employers, businesses and institutions in Northern Ontario

Sudbury, December 4, 2025

As the Magnetic North forum draws to a close tomorrow, the Société Économique de l’Ontario (SÉO) reaffirmed its central role as a key, on-the-ground partner supporting employers and Northern communities in driving economic development.

“Economic development cannot be built in isolation,” said Catherine B. Bachand, Chief Executive Officer of SÉO, during her keynote address to participants gathered for lunch at Science North in Sudbury. “It is built through collaboration, aligned efforts, and concrete action on the ground. And that is exactly what SÉO delivers, day in and day out, alongside employers, businesses, municipalities, and communities across Northern Ontario.”

For more than 25 years, the SÉO has played an active role in strengthening the economic vitality of Ontario’s francophone and bilingual communities. Today, Ontario’s francophone economy represents more than 12% of the province’s GDP. It is a powerful economic engine whose continued growth now depends more than ever on immigration and talent attraction. In Northern Ontario—where labour shortages are among the most severe in the province—the ability to act quickly and effectively has become a strategic priority.

Against this backdrop, Recrute Nord—one of SÉO’s flagship initiatives—was launched in 2024 to deliver a concrete response to the SÉOs workforce challenges. The program serves as a bridge between Northern employers and francophone and bilingual talent from abroad. In just one year, more than 20 employers have been supported, and 40 workers, many of whom are already on the job, have been recruited to fill critical in-demand positions.

“RecruteNord exists for one simple reason: to help employers fill their positions while fostering lasting integration for individuals within our communities,” added Ms. Bachand. “Behind every recruitment is a life project, a family, a business finding stability, and a region growing stronger.”

This practical, on-the-ground expertise will be highlighted during Friday’s 9 a.m. panel, featuring Stéphanie Cotnoir, Program Coordinator for Recrute Nord, who will present SÉO’s hands-on experience in workforce attraction, integration, and retention.

Beyond recruitment, SÉO’s work is rooted in an integrated service ecosystem that also supports employability, entrepreneurship, and community development. In 2024–2025 alone, more than 1,100 individuals were supported in employability programs, over 2,400 entrepreneurs received assistance, and hundreds of employers benefited from direct support in addressing their workforce needs. CarriElles, CarriElles Santé, and RecruteNord are among the SÉO’s flagship programs, working in a complementary fashion to strengthen access to employment, talent retention, and regional vitality.

The SÉO’s presence at Magnetic North is part of its broader action on the ground, both in Canada and internationally. Each year, the SÉO represents Northern Ontario municipalities at Destination Canada, the Government of Canada’s largest international francophone recruitment forum. This event connects employers directly with francophone and bilingual candidates who wish to work and settle in Canada, providing access to highly qualified talent pools in several sectors facing acute labour shortages.

At the regional level, the SÉO is also a founding partner of the Greater Sudbury Francophone Job Fair, a major annual event that connects employers with francophone and bilingual talent and supports workforce attraction, integration, and retention across Northern Ontario.

Active on the ground and ready to act, the SÉO invites employers and partners throughout the North to join forces now to develop concrete, sustainable solutions to their workforce needs.

For further information:

François Legault

Communications

613-336-3066 ● flegault@seo-ont.ca