Skills for Change



SfCeNews
November 30, 2004
Volume 5  Issue 11
Circulation 6,697 Subscribers

Skills for Change (SfC) is a non-profit agency based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Our mandate is to provide learning and training opportunities for immigrants and refugees so that they can participate in the workplace and wider community.

In this edition...

New Pioneers Awards Ticket Sales
 'Teach in Ontario' Press Conference
SfC is Hiring
Construction and Maintenance Electricians
Labour Market Information Workshops
Annual General Meeting and Open House
SfC Career Information Expo
Holiday Hours
Making His Dream Come True
SfC Receives Award
2004 United Way Workplace Campaign
Looking for Donations of  Computer Hardware
Evening and Saturday ESL Classes - Spaces Still Available
Special Guest Series

 New Pioneers Awards Ticket Sales

Skills for Change

INVITES YOU TO THE

Wednesday, March 9, 2005

"Celebrating those who have gone first
and so prepared the way for others"

Westin Harbour Castle
1 Harbour Square, Toronto, Ontario

Reception: 6 p.m.
Dinner and Awards Ceremony: 7 p.m.
 

Ticket Sales Individual tickets and corporate tables are now on sale. Click here to order through our secure on-line service, or here to download a ticket order form. Program Advertising The New Pioneers Awards Program is distributed at the event and later used as a promotional tool and presented to corporations, local businesses, government departments, community agencies and individuals. Book your advertising space by February 1, 2005.  Click here to download an advertising form. Sponsors

Lead Sponsor

Award Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Corporate Donor

Media Sponsors

Read more about the New Pioneers Awards here.
 

 'Teach in Ontario' Press Conference

On November 24, The Honourable Mary Anne Chambers, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, visited Skills for Change to launch the Teach in Ontario – Bridge to Employment for Internationally Trained Teachers Project.

This new initiative serves Internationally Trained Teachers who are certified as teachers outside of Canada and want to pursue the same career within the Ontario public school system.

Teach in Ontario is funded by the Government of Ontario and provided by LASI/World Skills, Ontario College of Teachers, Ontario Teachers Federation and Skills for Change.

The first session of the Teach in Ontario program at SfC started on October 25, 2004 with 23 teachers. These teachers meet the high demand areas required in Ontario public school system including French, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Studies and Technological Studies.

As a project partner, Skills for Change acts as one of two Consultation Centres in Toronto. These centres provide ITTs with support services such as in-depth, individual consultation, language upgrading and the preparation needed applicants to write the Ontario Teacher Qualifying test.
 

 SfC is Hiring

Facilitator/Counsellor (Part-time) - Job Search Workshop
 
Program description: To assist in providing newcomers to Canada with orientation and introduction to basic work search techniques and monitor their post-workshop achievement.

Closing date:  December 7, 2004
 

Construction and Maintenance Electricians

Are you an Internationally-trained Electrician seeking to obtain your certification, upgrade your knowledge and find a job in your trade?  Then join our Bridge to Success for Trades Program.

Next 12-week course starts December 13.
 

Labour Market Information Workshops

Come and learn how to research available jobs in your field.  All workshops are free and are held Tuesdays from 1 to 3 p.m.  Workshops will be held on each of these dates:  December 6 and 13.

UPDATE:
This workshop has been moved to Tuesday, December 7 at 1 p.m. and Friday, December 17 at 10 am. Pre-registration is required. Please call 416 516-4689 for the latest information.
 

Annual General Meeting and Open House

On Wednesday, November 3, colleagues and the general public were welcomed to Skills for Change for an Open House featuring facilities tours, program information and refreshments.

At 6:00 p.m., approximately 30 guests were invited to a light dinner while being entertained by the violin virtuoso of Pamela Hinman, a Graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Music.

“Opening Doors to Employment: Innovation, Embracing Risk and Strategic Partnerships” was the theme of this year’s Annual General Meeting.

Following the business portion of the meeting, Peggy Edwards, SfC Executive Director, introduced the theme, what this philosophy means to Skills for Change and members of the SfC Board of Directors:
 

Gerald A. Fitzgerald (SfC Chair) MHS Inc. Howard Trotman NorKom Technologies Sandra Hewitt Laura Secord Yatendra Shah LVMH Watch & Jewellery Gail Johnson Toronto Community Housing Corporation Barbara Nawrocki Family Responsibility Office Dave Lovelock CLTA Edwina McGroddy Institute of Chartered Accounts of Ontario Frederick Chann Charterhouse Management Corporation Gordon Crann Redway & Butler LLP, Barristers & Solicitors Jonathan Roberts Chartered Accountant and Principal of Zzeem

 SfC Career Information Expo Great Success

by Michelle Edmunds

Mercy Peter, Praveen Patel (President, HiTech Institute) and Sachin Deshpande

On November 1, Skills for Change opened its doors and introduced the Toronto labour market to new Canadians.

In recent months, scores of job fairs were being presented across the GTA, and many of SfC’s clients sought jobs at these fairs but few received any prospects.

Skills for Change saw this as a good opportunity to educate immigrants and newcomers about the Canadian workforce.

The building on St. Clair Ave. was host to a variety of guests from sector-specific companies, community colleges, and professional associations who offered their expertise and time by sharing labour market information and job possibilities.

David Eckler of AREA Architects, whose company had an information booth at the Expo, said that he got loads of candidates and doled out a lot of sector information. “This expo showed a strong need for a variety of vehicles to be implemented that will help immigrants integrate into their professions,” he said.

The professional associations that participated in the Expo kept busy by answering questions and recruiting new members.

Darshak Vaishnav, an employee at the Council for Access to Professional Engineering (CAPE) signed up more than 15 people for the Association. “I met so many experienced and articulate professionals at the Expo, and because of no Canadian experience – they aren’t getting jobs -- many employers are simply disregarding newcomers.”

Vaishnav said that in Ontario the supply of workers is greater than the demand, and that the Expo was a success for CAPE, and also that it helped many job hunters understand what it means to get Canadian work experience in a specific profession.

The Expo was not only about career information: Almost half of the visitors at the Expo attended workshops presented by Skills for Change staff, on topics such as: networking, Canadian experience, interview skills, and ESL, to help job seekers stay inspired through the job search process.

Nelson Briceno, of the Dufferin Employment Resource Centre, had a roomful of participants in his Networking session, and was thrilled when he received a thank you note from a very satisfied visitor who said that the workshop helped to raise his optimism.

Gabriella Pasztohy, a recent immigrant and job seeker, said that the Expo boosted her confidence. “I now feel that I am more equipped with the right knowledge and information on how to get a job, rather then when I was searching by myself.”

Skills for Change has determined that the Career Information Expo was a worthwhile event. The organizers of the event are planning and looking forward to another Expo in Spring, 2005.
 

Thank you to this years participants: Accountemps Association of International Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario Area Architects Bell Global Media Bridge to Success for Trades Canadian Union of Skilled Workers Care Support Toronto Certified General Accountants of Ontario CIBC Mellon Coalition for Access to Professional Engineering (CAPE) Dufferin Mall Employment Resource Centre Electromechanical School Inc. George Brown College HiTech Institute Humber College Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology International Pharmacy Graduate Program, University of Toronto Manpower Medisys Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities Ontario College of Teachers RBC Seneca College Skills for Change Programs & Services Shoppers Drug Mart TD Bank Financial Group Teach in Ontario (Internationally-trained Teachers) TechSkills Computer Training Toronto & Region Conservation Authority Toronto Fire Services University Health Network UPS World Education Services

 Holiday Hours

 Making His Dream Come True

by Michelle Edmunds

Some people will travel just about anywhere to make their dreams come true.

Ali Sina Ardakani, a mechanical engineer and former Employment Assistance Services (EAS) client, is singing a happy tune these days: he has been hired by a large chemical engineering firm located in Winnipeg.

Sina’s specialty is water and waste-water treatment systems. He would have preferred to stay in Toronto and work in his field, but there are no employment opportunities in his area of expertise.

Winnipeg, despite its cold winters and short summers, is beckoning him to come and grab some valuable Canadian work experience.

He also says that Canada is a great place to live and that he has enjoyed learning about Canada’s culture and its residents.

“People in this country are so worldly – they are friendly, very understanding and respectful.”

Sina joined the EAS program at Skills for Change six months ago. He says that the workshops and counselling he received from EAS staff helped him to get his dream job.

“I felt that somebody supported me -- that I wasn’t alone. I learned how to prepare my resume and overcome my fear of cold calling employers.”

Although Sina loves his new country - there is a trade-off.

“My parents and brothers are living in Iran, and I miss them, but I am happy that as a Canadian citizen I won’t have to worry about my freedom anymore.”

For more success stories, click here...

 SfC Receives Award

On November 16, 2004, Skills for Change attended an agency appreciation event for agencies working with Toronto Social Services.

SfC was honoured to receive a certificate for our work with clients from Toronto Social Services, namely ITAB and FOAP.

Congratulations to the staff team at SfC for your efforts in earning this recognition certificate.
 

 2004 United Way Workplace Campaign

Skills for Change staff, students and their family members walked, climbed, gambled, barbequed, bought, sold, donated and raised around $9,000 for the United Way fund raising campaign 2004.

We had 100% staff participation in donating for the good cause in pledges. Skills for Change clients participated in every activity that was held inside as well as outside the organization.

The United Way campaign committee would like to thank and appreciate the staff, students and their family members for their whole hearted support for this year’s successful campaign.

Without you there would be no other way!

 Looking for Donations of  Computer Hardware

 Evening and Saturday ESL Classes - Spaces Still Available

 Special Guest Series

Job Search Tips for Engineers

Joan Kent, Culture Link
December 6, 2004 at 1:00 p.m.

Learn how the Clerical Employment Services (CES) program helps Newcomers find work in customer service, administrative, retail or clerical accounting
Kanchan Lakhotia, Skills for Change
December 10, 2004 at 10:00 a.m.

Q & A on Canadian Legal Immigration

Ruby Decena
December 15, 2004 at 1:00 p.m.

Salary Negotiations for Internationally Educated Professionals
Ali Hadidi
Tuesday January 11, 2005 at 1:00 pm

Pre-register by phone 416 516-4689 or in person

More Info? www.derc.ca 
Contact Us:
t: 416 516-4689 e: erc@skillsforchange.org
 

 TechSkills Course Calendar

To register, call 416 658-3101 ext. 302 or 218, or,
register on-line with your Visa or MasterCard

Download application form in pdf format
 

 Programs and Services Updates

View our Programs and Services Calendar on line here

n TechSkills
Congratulations to the following individuals who passed the recent ASQ certification exams through TechSkills. They were participants in the Skills for Change QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CONTROL TRAINING program: Simon Farreras, Patricio de los Santos and Francis Yamfwa.
 

 Acronym Soup

Confused? Don't be. Here's a list of our agency acronyms, what they mean and (where applicable) a link to the program web page.
 

CES	Clerical Employment Services
CIS	Cultural Interpreting Service
EAS	Employment Assistance Services
EPRS	Employment for Retail Services
ERC	Employment Resource Centre
FOAP	Finance & Office Assistant Program
IAT	Intake, Assessment and Training
ITAB	Internationally Trained Accountants and Bookkeepers
JSC	Job Search Centre
JSW	Job Search Workshop
LINC	Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada
ONIP	Ontario Network for Internationally-training Professionals Online
NPA	New Pioneers Awards
STIC	Sector Terminology Information & Counselling

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