Annual General Meeting - Deadline Approaching!

by Janka Farkasova, Executive Assistant

Skills for Change will be holding its 25th Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, November 7th, at Sala Caboto, 40 Playfair Avenue (Dufferin and Lawrence).

In keeping with our 25th Anniversary festivities, our theme this year is - CELEBRATING OUR PAST, SHAPING OUR FUTURE.

We hope you will join us as we proudly celebrate 25 years of helping immigrants and refugees integrate into Canadian society.

Please RSVP to Janka Farkasova at farkasova@skillsforchange.org by November 2, 2007.
 

Become a Member of Skills for Change

We invite you to become a member of Skills for Change.

As a member you play an important role in supporting our mission of providing learning and training opportunities for immigrants and refugees so that they can participate in the workplace and wider community.

For 25 years Skills for Change has provided an invaluable bridge, linking thousands of newcomers to Canada with employers across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.

Your benefits as a member of Skills for Change include:
 

Networking events Seminars and workshops 10% discount on a TechSkills course Discount on New Pioneers Awards (NPA) tickets Entered into yearly NPA raffle Invitation to Annual General Meeting and SfC events

Membership fees start at just $2 for SfC clients.

Download our Membership Application Form here.
 

Employer Networking And Recognition Breakfast

by Arlene Willis and Jane Cullingworth

On October 2, Skills for Change hosted an employer networking and recognition breakfast as part of the bigger celebration o the Skills for Change 25th Anniversary Open House.

It was a great opportunity to show appreciation to some of the organizations that have gone above and beyond to support SfC throughout the years.

This was a great opportunity for many of Toronto’s business leaders to network while enjoying a light breakfast. The guests were also able to experience presentations given by some of their peers and friends of Skills for Change.

Susan Rogers, Manager of Workplace Inclusiveness with Xerox Canada presented on the “Value of Engaging Immigrant Agencies in your Corporate Recruitment Strategy”. She presented a range of strategies that Xerox Canada is using to ensure that their recruitment taps into diverse communities – and emphasized that agencies such as Skills for Change are crucial partners in these efforts.

Dr. Alex Jadad, Chief Innovator and Founder of the Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, and New Pioneer Award recipient for Science and Technology in 2002, spoke on the topic of “Is Your Business Ready for the Demographic Tsunami?” His compelling presentation hit home Canada’s demographic reality - immigrants are central not only to addressing labour market needs but also key to driving innovation.

As a way to recognize the contributions of some of the business community partners Skills for Change presented the Business Community Partnership Award to four outstanding partners from the business community and public sector.

These award recipients are nominated by Skills for Change staff and are selected based on employers’ proactive approach to diverse hiring, the work experience placements and employment opportunities for SfC clients, high level of engagement with Skills for Change as an organization, and community involvement.

Awards were given to:

• C&D Graphic Services Inc.
• Durham District School Board
• Textronics Communications Ltd.
• Toronto District School Board

In attendance to receive their awards were Frank Duong, Art Director of C&D Graphic Services Inc., and Donny Fanjoy, the Secondary Recruitment Administrator at TDSB. The TDSB featured the award ceremony on their website.

Brian Reid, Manager Employee Relations/Hiring from Durham District School Board and Susanne Pacher, President of Textronics sent greetings and expressed their appreciation at receiving the award.

Guests were then able to take tours around the Skills for Change office as part of the bigger open house festivities, a great opportunity for them to experience Skills for Change in a larger context.
 

This House Is Open

by Michelle Edmunds

Often people say that Skills for Change has a warm family-like vibe. Streetcar drivers sometimes yell, “Next stop Skills for Change.” On October 2nd Skills for Change opened it doors to everyone.

Following the Employer Breakfast early that morning, Skills for Change presented an Open House to welcome friends, colleagues, and community partners to meet the staff, learn about the agency’s programs, network and share business ideas.

Every program at SfC participated in the event; even SfC’s 25th birthday was celebrated with a huge blue and white cake and staff belting Happy Birthday Skills for Change!

Sonal Singh, job developer with the CES program said she liked the energy of the event. “The staff worked together as a big team; the Open House was well organized and such a great concept bringing the public here to meet us.”

A Marketplace was set up on the third floor to offer visitors an educational tour about the job search, upgrading and informational programs that Skills for Change provides to Canada’s talented newcomer professionals.

Nearly 200 visitors strolled through the classrooms and Marketplace to grasp what the building on St. Clair with the funky colorful mural on its east wall is all about.
 

The 16th Annual New Pioneers Awards Selection Process Has Commenced!

by Samantha Koon

Over 40 volunteers from the community kicked off the 2008 New Pioneers Awards selection process on September 27 and have continued to meet and review the nominees over the month of October and November.

There is a selection committee for each of the six awards categories; the committee's role is to decide the most appropriate newcomer to receive the award. The New Pioneers Awards is a community-driven event; it publicly recognizes the outstanding contribution made by immigrants and refugees in six areas of accomplishment in: Arts, Community Service, Entrepreneurship, Science and Technology, Youth and Skills for Change Graduate.

The nominees are reviewed by the selection committee and short-listed candidates are interviewed. The selection teams then submit their choice to the Skills for Change Board of Directors for approval.

We look forward to the final selection of award winners to be announced in the coming weeks!
 

Engineering Your Future (EYF) – Paving A Road To Employment

by Rashid Osman

When internationally-trained professionals immigrate to Canada many will have difficulty finding work in the engineering field. In 2000, 72 % of skilled workers who arrived in Canada self-identified as engineers.

Often, engineering newcomers to Canada learn too late that the engineering profession is regulated. “You can not call yourself an “engineer" without being licensed says Rashid Osman, Program Coordinator of the Engineering Your Future (EYF) Program. There are 75,000 licensed engineers in Ontario, but less than 15,000 are practicing.

Internationally-trained engineers face many barriers when entering the Canadian workplace. These barriers range from challenges with language and communication skills, to academic or professional credentials not recognized; lack of networking knowledge and limited connections. And the most significant barrier: no Canadian work experience.

EYF serve many engineers who are working more than one survival job just to meet the basic needs of their families. They don’t have the flexibility to attend an engineering employment preparation training program.

You need worry no more with the Engineering Your Future Program.

The Engineering Your Future Program was developed and launched by Skills for Change in May 2007, and is generously funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Government of Ontario. SfC has a successful 25-year track record of helping address systemic barriers facing internationally trained professionals, by developing and delivering occupation-specific –client based programs and services. Over one-thousand internationally-trained engineers have completed SfC’s engineering STIC Program (Sector-Specific Terminology and Information Counselling) over the years.

EYF is a client based, no-fee program specifically designed to support the training and employment needs of internationally-trained engineers. EYF is comprised of eight training modules; giving clients the flexibility to select and complete only those training modules they require. Clients also have the opportunity to be matched with a mentor, and receive tailored support in finding work.

In October 2007 the EYF program successfully assisted six clients into paid jobs in their area of expertise.
 

Skills for Change Is Hiring

▪ Interim Mentoring Administrator - closing date November 8
▪ Employer Outreach Specialist - closing date November 9

Mentoring Partnerships At Skill for Change

by Lourdes Zelaya

The mentoring program continues to facilitate strong partnerships between highly motivated individuals who want to work in their specialized fields, and volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to assist newcomers.

The success of the program has allowed Skills for Change to further expand into specific training programs: Engineering your Future, Teach in Ontario, Newcomer Professionals at Work, and most recently a pilot project geared towards LINC participants where focus is placed on language enhancement and proficiency to enable effective integration into the labour market and wider community.

One of our key partnerships is with TRIEC (The Toronto Immigration Employment Council).  Through the Mentoring Partnership and TRIEC. Skills for change works with other community agencies to provide mentoring apportunities for Internationally-trained professionals.  This program is offered through Newcomer Professionals at Work (NPW).

Skills for Change recently hosted an event with The Toronto Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. As part of the event, mentoring was showcased as one of the services that can assist newcomers to overcome the barrier of “No Canadian work experience” barrier. As a result of this event, a partnership was established between The Toronto Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Skills for Change where networking with potential mentors and mentees’ was established.

From this event we have realized that there are substantial benefits that are not only gained by the clients but as well, build strong partnerships that can be established between companies, volunteers, and internationally trained professionals.
 

Job Fair And Training Expo

On September 25 and 26, SfC participated in the Job Fair and Training Expo at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Our Intake Cousellors provided information about programs and services that are offered at Skills for Change to those who visited our booth. Most of the clients were Internationally-trained professionals who wanted to upgrade their employability skills in order to find employment.

Counsellors were able to assist the clients by providing preliminary counselling to each individual and also to provide guidance and referrals about how and where to improve their skills and find employment.

Over 600 clients visited our booth and more than 400 expressed their interest in participating in our employment preparation programs by leaving their contact information with staff at the event.
 

SfC Team Stepped Up For The United Way

by Rosaline Graham

In the early morning of Sunday October 21, 16 dedicated Skills for Change staff and friends challenged the CN Tower to raise funds for the United Way.

The team collected over $1,300 via pledges!

Congratulations to six-year old James Erwood in particular for going above and beyond by raising $300. Smiling faces drenched with sweat personified the effort for this worthy cause.

We would like to thank our sponsors who made this day a great success! A BIG THANKS goes out to: Anna, Arlene, Corina, Frank, George, James, Janka, Kanchan, Lourdes, Marcel, Marie, Paula, Ryan, Simon, Stephen and the team captain, Rosaline. Mark your calendar for next year’s CN Tower climb!
 

United Way Fundraising Campaign

by Kanchan Lakhotia

Skills for Change has been raising funds for the United Way for many years. This year the campaign started in September and staff is participating with great enthusiasm. There are several projects organized during this period from September to November.

Bake Sales
This is one of the most exciting and great revenue generating projects. Every Wednesday, each staff team together with volunteers and placement students organizes their own bake sales. These are not traditional bake sales. At SfC, home made authentic ethnic food is sold which includes breakfast, lunch and sometimes evening tea and take home dinner also.

Food is always displayed and served in a very professional manner. Every team generates innovative ideas and comes up with unique ways to increase sales leading to a very healthy competition. In the true spirit of SfC, this is a great demonstration of team spirit and commitment of everyone goes out of their way to make this event a huge success.

Other than Bake Sales, several other projects were successfully organized and helped to meet our 2007 goal. A trip to Casino Rama, Flea Market, The CN Tower Climb and an on-going Movie Rental are a few of them.

50/50 Entrepreneurial Day
United Way Fundraising Committee members are inviting individuals to sell their products and services on November 14th at our location on St. Clair. 50% of their revenue will go to the United Way. This is a great opportunity for new immigrants to market their talents; explore business opportunities, network and make some money. Interested candidate should contact Kanchan at 416-658-3101 ext. 211 or Golnaz at ext. 260
 

A Tearful Tribute To Our Colleague, Jennifer Holder

by Shabnum Budhwani

She loved mangoes, South Africa and her students…….

In this crazy and ever changing world we are all so busy trying to find permanent jobs, create lasting impressions, find long term solutions to everything that we sometimes forget that life itself is temporary. It is a rat race and unfortunately sometimes the finish line is much too close.

Fifty-four years is no time to die, yet there are some questions to which there are no answers. It is with utmost sadness that we share the news of the passing away of our dear colleague, a great teacher and a wonderful human being Jennifer Holder.

Jennifer succumbed to cancer on October 14 after putting up a brave fight till the very end.

Jennifer started her relationship with Skills for Change back in 2000 and will always be remembered by those who worked with her as being kind, caring and above all someone who did everything she could to support her students.

Teaching was her passion and she left this world doing what she loved best, till the very end, educating people, motivating them to reach their potential and encouraging them to believe in themselves.

Alas her time on this planet was much too short, and the only consolation we can find is that sometimes it is not how long you live that matters, but how you have lived. Jennifer will always be fondly remembered for a long time to come by both the staff and clients of Skills for Change.

In parting we would just like to say “Goodbye dear friend, may you rest in peace………….”
 

We Need Your Support To Serve Newcomers At Skills for Change!
A special mailing will be coming to you as we look for your support in mid-November

by Arlene Willis

Over the past 25 years, Skills for Change has successfully trained over thousands of newcomers and assisted professionals to get into their professional fields.

Thanks to the generous support of people like you, we have been able to design and deliver employment-focused programs that address the needs of newcomers. However, we need your help to continue this good work.

In mid-November, you will receive a special mailing from us asking for your support. Your gift will help to improve our equipment and core facilities, so that we can continue to develop training programs that bring newcomers and employers together.

This is a great opportunity for you to contribute to Skills for Change and newcomers. Please take the time to complete the donation card and give generously so that we can continue making Diversity at Work … work!

If you would like to make a gift but have not received a mailing from us, please contact us at 416-658-3101 extension 223.
 

About Skills for Change

Established in 1982, Skills for Change (SfC) is a registered, non-profit agency providing "learning and training opportunities for immigrants and refugees so that they can participate in the workplace and wider community."

It is located at 791 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario M6C 1B7.

We can be reached by phone (416.658.3101), fax (416.658.6292) or email.
 

About SfCeNews

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About our Programs and Services

Our Programs and Services calendar can be downloaded here in pdf format.  To view a complete list of our programs and services, click here.

Alternatively, go directly to the program/service home page of your choice:

Bridge to Success for Trades
Career Transitions (CT)
Clerical Employment Services (CES)
Employment Preparation for Retail Services (EPRS)
Employment Resource Centre (ERC)
ESL Courses
Engineering Your Future (EYF)
Human Resource Services
Job Search Workshop (JSW)
Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)
Mentoring for Employment
New Pioneers Awards (NPA)
Newcomer Professionals at Work (NPW)
Sector-specific Information Sessions
Settlement Services for Newcomers
Teach In Ontario
TechSkills