How they were picked

It took more than throwing a company potluck to make this year's list of 40 Best Employers for New Canadians. Winners are addressing the practical challenges that new Canadians face when seeking employment. Employers are increasingly reaching out directly to new Canadians as well as connecting with them through organizations such as the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) and ACCES Employment.

The editors at Mediacorp Canada, a Toronto-based publishing firm, select the winners based on five criteria: 1.) They offer programs designed to assist employees who are recent immigrants; 2.) They have reduced employment barriers, such as by recognizing foreign educational credentials and experience; 3.) They assist employees with having their foreign professional or educational credentials recognized in Canada; 4.) They offer programs such as internal coaching or mentoring; 5.) Their managers and employees receive training in cross-cultural issues or inclusiveness.

The Best Employers for New Canadians competition is managed by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers in partnership with ALLIES, a joint initiative of the Maytree Foundation and the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation.

--DIANE JERMYN

Read more in a full story: Top employers helping immigrants overcome experience conundrum