SfCeNews Vol 06 No. 3 (March 2005)

Skills for Change

SfCeNews
March 31, 2005
Volume 6 Issue 3
Circulation 6,690 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 Gala
A Warm Welcome to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities
Language Upgrading Courses
Newcomers Find Work in Customer Service
ACC Holds Reception
Alternative Employment Options for Teachers
What do Employers Want? - Transferable or "Soft" Skills
How to Look for, Land and Keep a Job in the Canadian Workplace
Quality Assurance and Control Training
Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Certification
Special Guest Series

New Pioneers Awards Gala

The 2005 New Pioneers Awards was presented on Wednesday, March 9 at the Westin Harbour Castle. Attending guests were inspired by the stories of the six Award recipients.

Skills for Change presents the annual New Pioneers Awards to raise public awareness about the achievements made by immigrants and refugees. If you are interested in sponsoring this awards program or wish to nominate exceptional immigrants and refugees for next year's New Pioneers Awards, please contact Karobi Ray at 416-658-3101 ext. 231 or by email. More about the New Pioneers Awards here.

Award Winners
Chan Hon Goh (Arts) Arriving in Vancouver from Beijing in 1977, Chan Hon Goh had to learn English and adjust to a completely new culture. Her parents, who set up a ballet academy in Vancouver, did not want Chan to follow in their footsteps and become a dancer. Consequently, she trained as a concert pianist for 11 years. [More]	Photo credit: Bruce Zinger, courtesy of the National Ballet of Canada Article

Sabra Desai (Community Service) Raised in apartheid South Africa, Sabra Desai proved her mettle after arriving in Canada at the age of 20 and being told that a university education was not for her. This was Toronto in 1970. Unwilling to accept this decision, Sabra persisted in researching options and learned about the programs for mature students offered by the University of Toronto. [More]	Article

David N. Tavares (Entrepreneurship) David Tavares’ family came to Canada in 1966 to escape the political climate of Portugal. Nineteen-year-old David, who had been working for Portugal Telecom for a short time, recognized that in Canada his first and foremost challenge was to master the English language. After completing a three-month fulltime English course, David’s goal was to work for the largest Canadian telephone company. [More]	Article

Dimitrios G. Oreopoulos (Science and Technology) Dimitrios Oreopoulos was raised in Athens, Greece where he studied medicine and attained his MD degree and then completed his medical PhD degree in Belfast, Ireland. He arrived in Canada in 1969 to join the Toronto Western Hospital as a Senior Research Fellow and found he had to study and work intensively while struggling with English, a language he had only begun learning at thirty. [More]	Article

Eric Acuna (Skills for Change Graduate) Before arriving in Canada in 1997, Philippines born Eric Acuna had a promising career in his home country where, as a management and industrial engineering graduate, he worked as a Quality Control Manager for a large printing press in Manila. [More]	Article

Edona Besnick Çaku (Youth) Edona Çaku and her family arrived in Canada in the fall of 2000 from Albania. Fifteen-year old Edona soon adjusted to a new culture, language and school setting and within months achieved an A+ average at the York Memorial Collegiate Institute. [More]	Article
Award Sponsors
Lead Sponsor CIBC Award Sponsors Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Certified General Accountants of Ontario Manulife Financial Sun Life Financial TD Bank Financial Group Xerox Gold Sponsors Deloitte Ministry of Citizenship Silver Sponsors Scotiabank Teranet Inc. Corporate Donor Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Staples Business Depot
Silent Auction
Thank you to these individuals, companies and organizations who donated goods or services to our Silent Auction: 97.3fm EZRock Alternative Link Annonymous Art Gallery of Ontario Astley Gilbert Reproductions Bookclub-in-a-Box Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Branfusion (Kernals) Brian Ashton, Toronto City Councilor Brooklea Golf and Country Club BTF Canada Corporation Canadian Newcomer Magazine Inc. Carol Osler Casa Loma Toronto Cecilia Segura Christine's Fitness & Personal Training Cineplex Odeon City of Toronto, Museums & Heritage Services Citytv Councilor Joe Mihevc David Miller, Mayor Deloitte and Touche LLP Dufflet Pastries Ellington's Music & Café Ester Myer's Yoga Studio Eve Adams, Councilor, Mississauga Finch Centre Jewellers Greyhound Canada Habourfont Centre Hannaford Street Festival Band Healing Hands Massage Therapy Clinic High Fields Country Inn & Spa Il Fornello Johnvince Foods Inc. Josten's LCBO M&F Linen Bazaar Magnotta Mainline Services Inc. Manulife Financial Mariposa Cruise Line MassageMasterCard Canada Michael Prue, MPP, Beaches-East York National Ballet of Canada Nienkamper Olga-Grupp-Boland Ontario Place Ontario Science Centre Opera Atelier Paramount Canada's Wonderland Planet Hollywood Planters Canada Inc. & Elio Garofalo PNPhotography Radiant Fine Jewellers, Vaughan Mills Riverdale Pilates Royal Ontario Museum Rubbermaid Scotiabank Skills for Change - TechSkills Soulpepper Theatre Company Stage West Sun Life Financial Sutherland-Chan Clinic Tafelmusik The Fifth The Hon. M. Bryant The King West Club The Nathaniel Dett Chorale The Toronto Board of Trade The Westin Harbour Castle The York Academy of Martial Arts Tim Hortons Toronto and Region Conservation Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Symphony Orchestra Toronto Zoo Tundra Books Via Rail Canada Inc. Vipond Canada Xerox Canada

A Warm Welcome to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities

Honourable Minister Mary Anne Chambers, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities

A group of 19 internationally-trained construction and maintenance electricians gave the Honourable Minister Mary Anne Chambers of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities a warm welcome at their recent graduation ceremony. The Minister took time out from her busy schedule to personally hand out the certificates of completion to the graduates and to give words of encouragement to the newcomer- tradespeople.

Held March 21, 2005, the graduation marks a milestone in the government-funded bridging program aimed at helping industrial, construction and maintenance electricians, and industrial mechanics trained outside Canada. Graduates from the previous classes also attended the event.

Bridge to Success for Trades is an 18-month pilot bridging project by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and delivered by Skills for Change. Partnering organizations include the Electro Mechanical School and the Canadian Union of Skilled Workers.

Others in attendance include personnel from MTCU, representative from the office of MPP Michael Bryant, members of the Trades Advisory Committee, members of SfC Board of Directors, SfC staff and representatives from the media.

Language Upgrading Courses

Are you an Internationally Trained Teacher (ITT) who wants to improve your level of English in order to teach in the Ontario Public School System?

Skills for Change through the Teach in Ontario Project is offering Language Upgrading Courses that are specifically designed for the ITT whose goal is to become a teacher in Ontario.

These courses are designed based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) levels 7 to 10 with a focus on the Ontario Schools Curriculum. Each course targets primarily those language skills needed to function confidently and proficiently as a Canadian teacher.

Daytime Sessions (M-F, 9a - 4p)
· April 4 - May 27
· May 30 - July 29

Evening Sessions (M-Th, 5:30p - 9:30p; Saturday, 9a - 4p)
· April 11 - June 4
· June 6 - July 30

Additional details here.

Newcomers Find Work in Customer Service

by Shabnum Budhwani

Last month the fifteenth group graduated from the EPRS program.
Click photo for a larger view

Since 2000, the Employment Preparation for Retail Services (EPRS) program has given newcomers a unique opportunity to find work in customer service. EPRS is a partnership between Hudson's Bay Company, Toronto Catholic District School Board and Skills for Change.

The 15-week program provides training in corporate terminology, conflict resolution, selling techniques and product knowledge. The program concludes with a six-week co-op placement at a Bay store.

Sixty-nine percent of the graduates find employment within three months of completing the program. After 6 months the success rate climbs to over 76%.

ACC Holds Reception

Click photo for a larger view

Skills for Change hosted United Way's African Canadian Committee (ACC) on February 9. Then ACC held an appreciation reception in our boardroom for sponsors and volunteers who contributed to the success of the group's first fundraising event last December.

Alternative Employment Options for Teachers

by Dorene Weston

There are several institutions and companies which hire teachers who are not certified. These include:

· private elementary schools (also called independent schools)
· private secondary schools (also called independent schools)
· private career colleges
· community colleges
· universities
· boards of education

More...

What do Employers Want? - Transferable or "Soft" Skills

by Libby Ackermann

More and more employers today are demanding transferable or "soft" skills. What are transferable or soft skills and why do employers find them so important?

You don't have to go to school to acquire transferable skills. They are often basic skills like the ability to:

· understand and communicate clearly
· think and solve problems
· find and use information

More...

How to Look for, Land and Keep a Job in the Canadian Workplace

by Dave Lovelock

As someone going to start a new career in Canada you may feel nervous, excited, terrified, anxious, powerless… or all of these. These feelings are common to everyone! This presentation will give you some helpful tips that will make it easier for you to look for a job, land a job and of course keep and grow in a job in Canada.

More...

Quality Assurance and Control Training

Become a Quality Improvement Associate, Certified Mechanical Inspector, Certified Quality Technician, Certified Auditor, or Certified Quality Engineer.

Attend an Orientation and Assessment session on April 2. More details here.

Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Certification

Are you an Internationally-trained Mechanic (Millwright) seeking to obtain your certification, upgrade your knowledge and find a job in your trade? If yes, join the Bridge to Success for Trades Program.

Course starts April 4. Click here for more information.

Programs and Services Updates

View our Programs and Services Calendar on line here.

n Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada
On March 11, 2005 the LINC classes were taken to The Toronto Reference Library on a field trip. They were given a presentation and tour of the facilities including the ESL section and the Business section.

On March 18, 2005 classes visited the Royal Ontario Museum. Even though the facility is under renovation, many of the exhibits are still going strong. Several students paid the extra $1.00 and were admitted to the special exhibit “Feathered Dinosaurs”. The trip occurred during the March Break and many of the students brought their children with them. It was a very educational and enjoyable day.

Lyba Spring, a Toronto Public Health Nurse, presented materials on health issues to our students. They were able to ask many questions and were given materials to read and use.

LINC classes resume Monday, April 28.

Students are accepted in the following levels, LINC 3, LINC 4, LINC 4-5 (Pronunciation and Conversation), and LINC 5. A Childminding Program for children ages 18 months to 5 years old is available.

To register, please call the receptionist at Skills for Change at 416 658-3101 ext. 0 or if you need a language assessment please call YMCA at 416 925-5462 to make an appointment for an assessment.

n TechSkills
An Income Tax Preparation course started last February 23. Thirteen participants registered for this new course which ran for six Wednesdays. Another session will start as early as November to prepare students for next years tax season.

Successful Quality Assurance and Control graduates. Congratulations to Daryous Edalathami and Godwin Isama for having passed the ASQ Certification exams for Quality Engineer in December 2004, and to Satyanayayana Gorinta, Mukesh Jain, and Botoaca Sorin Victor, for the Quality Technician certification given last March 8, 2005.

Special Guest Series

Workshops
Pre-registration is required, please call 416-516-4689 to reserve a seat

April 4, 2005 @ 1:00 p.m.
Joan Kent, Culture Link

New to Canada?

Job Search Tips for Internationally-Trained Engineers Pre-register at Reception

April 11, 2005 @ 2:00 p.m.
Silva Mardirossian, Working Skills Centre

Job Ready Skills Training for Newcomer Women

April 12, 2005 @ 1:00 p.m.
Dala Kais, Thinking Performance

Networking Your Way to a Job

April 18, 2005 @ 1:00 p.m.
Kanchan Lakhotia, Clerical Employment Services
Info Session Helping Newcomers find work in customer service, administrative, retail, clerical accounting

April 20, 2005 @ 1:00 p.m.
Eileen Paulsen

Learn about ESL & LINC classes offered by the Toronto Catholic District School Board

April 26, 2005 @ 1:00 p.m.
Dala Kais, Thinking Performance

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

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.

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Skills for Change

791 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6C 1B8

A United Way member agency

Skills for Change is a
registered non-profit organization

Charitable registration #121471858RR0001

Telephone 416 658-3101 · Fax 416 658-6292

Email sfc@skillsforchange.org · Web www.skillsforchange.org

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