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In 1988, Sashar Zarif immigrated to Canada from Turkey as a Stateless Refugee of the United Nations. With the assistance of his parents he had escaped from Iran through the mountains and sought asylum in Turkey. After three years in a refugee camp in Turkey, he arrived in Canada alone. One of the most difficult things about immigrating to Canada was not seeing either of his parents for 13 years. [Arts Award]

Helen Tewolde epitomizes the story of second-generation Canadian achievers and trailblazers born to immigrant parents. During the civil war with Ethiopia, Helen’s parents fled Eritrea. They brought their family to Canada, where civil liberties were secure and their children could obtain a strong education. [Community Service Award]

In 1996, Bernardo Riveros came to Canada from Colombia as an international student. Having fallen in love with this country and its people, he decided to immigrate and in 1998 became a permanent resident. With a background in the film industry, Bernardo began to look for work but quickly encountered a major barrier: lack of Canadian experience.  [Entrepreneur Award]

Born and educated in China, Professor Jianhong Wu has lived in Canada since 1998. An extraordinarily talented mathematician and internationally recognized scientific leader, both in pure mathematics and applied mathematics, Professor Wu has (despite his youth) already made a large number of important contributions to mathematics and its applications. [Science & Technology Award]

After landing in Canada in 2000, Afshin Ebtekar began studying English and collecting detailed information regarding the job market and job search techniques. Afshin soon learned about Skills for Change and applied for its Sector-specific Terminology, Information and Counselling (STIC) program for internationally educated engineers.  [Skills for Change Graduate Award]

When Ellen Xi Yang arrived in Toronto in 2003, her strength of character, resourcefulness and courage enabled her to overcome three significant barriers to settling in Canada: learning a new language, adapting to a new school, and integrating into Canadian culture. The difficult first step was speaking English – a language very different from the Mandarin she had spoken for 13 years - with fluency and confidence. [Youth Award]

Part 1
The Hon. Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, makes major Toronto Global ISAP funding announcement at Skills for Change. Includes comments by Skills for Change Executive Director, Jane Cullingworth, Bahadhur Madhani, YMCA Board of Directors Chair and Marcie Ponte, Working Women's Centre Executive Director.

Part 2
Alberto Segura, a Skills for Change Engineering Your Future graduate, Abdullah Kausar, a Skills for Change Engineering Your Future graduate, and Rudy Purwanto of YWCA of Greater Toronto also speak at the press conference.

Stranger in a Strange Land
Looking back 25 years - Toronto Office Skills Project to Skills for Change

Happy Birthday Skills for Change
Fast paced 25th. anniversary birthday wishes from clients, staff and friends of Skills for Change.

Dr. Alex Jadad, Chief Innovator and Founder, Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, speaks on the subject "Is Your Business Ready for the Demographic Tsunami?"

Susan Rogers, Manager, Workplace Inclusiveness - Xerox Canada, speaks on the subject the "Value of Engaging Immigrant Agencies in your Corporate Strategy."

Srna Stambuk, Job Search Workshop (JSW Program Facilitator/Counsellor, interviews graduates of the Job Search Workshop (JSW) program.  They describe their experiences searching for work and share some job search tips. The video premiered at the 3rd Annual JSW Networking event held September 13, 2007

Dr. K.W. Michael Siu epitomizes the immigrant success story. In 1977, he and his wife arrived in Canada where he earned his Ph.D. at Dalhousie University. Today, Dr. Siu is a Professor of Chemistry and the Associate Vice-President of Research, Science and Technology at York University. [Science and Technology Award]

When Beverley Halls came to Canada from Trinidad, she had a lot to adjust to. Life as a newcomer was complex. In addition to the new climate and foods, there was a new culture to conform to. These drastic changes caused a lot of distress, but Ms. Halls rose to the challenges. [Community Service Award]

Ever since he got his first “real job” as an Engineer in Canada, Juan Orozco has given back to the community. At SfC, he tells other internationally-trained engineers about how he obtained his first engineering job and how he successfully faced the interview for PEO Experience Requirements Committee. [Skills for Change Graduate Award]

As an Ahmadi Muslim, Sadia Rafiquddin is determined to increase people’s understanding and tolerance of the Ahmadiyya community. She loves Canada for the freedom and opportunity which she otherwise would have been denied as an Ahmadi Muslim woman in Pakistan. “If there is one thing I treasure most after my family, it's my Canadian citizenship and education.” [Youth Award]

Bridging academic scholarship and performance, Hari Krishnan is an internationally recognized master of the South Indian courtly dance known as Bharatanatyam, and is also renowned for his experimental work across the world. Mr. Krishnan was presented with the 2007 New Pioneers Arts Award. [Arts Award]

At the age of 22, Bruce Poon Tip moved to Toronto to start G.A.P Adventures, a one-person operation offering a few tours to South America. He believed that, like himself, many others would want to experience “real world” travel. As a start-up company he faced challenges due to his age. Undaunted, he forged on with his dream. [Entrepreneurship Award]

Diversity at Work
What does diversity at work mean to your organization?

This Diversity at Work video showcases how leading corporations in Canada define and support diversity in their own workplace. It's a testimony to how corporate Canada is successfully collaborating with Skills for Change to make diversity at work…work!

Welcome, job seekers, to the ERC. Take part in our workshops, get your resumes critiqued, sign up for a customized mock interview. We have free computer access, an extensive job search library and a knowledgeable staff at your service.

"We need to tap into the wonderful experience of our foreign-trained teachers ", says The Hon. Kathleen Wynne, Ontario Minister of Education speaking at the graduation ceremony of Internationally Educated Teachers from the Teach in Ontario program.

Shabnum Budhwani, Coordinator of the Teach in Ontario Program at Skills for Change, comments "Knowledge has the power to change the world, and it cannot be allowed to go waste."

Lorette Handal, a graduate of the Teach in Ontario French program says "We have everything it takes to be good teachers here in Ontario, our new home"

A dedicated and untiring volunteer since the inception of the Teach in Ontario program in 2004, Greg has always been around without fail, teaching, coaching and motivating the program participants. His background as a Principal brings great value to the program.

The Hon. Mike Colle, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, is guest speaker at SfC's Annual General Meeting. Video features excerpts from his address.

Natalia Sardyha, a Mentee with SfC's Mentoring for Employment program, thanks her Mentor, Olga Gagarina. Video features excerpts from her address.

The Hon. Mike Colle, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announces that the Ontario Government will continue their sponsorship support of the New Pioneers Awards Gala for 2007. Video features excerpts from his announcement.

Starting November 2006, OMNI TV will begin airing 12 30-second Public Service Announcements (PSA). Skills for Change thanks OMNI for its funding, and producer George Kruzik of Canex International for his great work. To view brief excerpts from all twelve PSAs, click here, or select a language: English Urdu Ukranian Arabic Russian Cantonese Romanian Tagalog Farsi Spanish Mandarin Hindi

A 37-year-old farmer who immigrated to Canada from Sicily in 1954 laid the foundation for what has become Canada’s largest privately owned communications company. Even though Gaetano Gagliano spoke no English, he had the strength of conviction to fuel his vision of growing a successful business. He is a true pioneer! [Entrepreneurship Award]

Kim Hoan Trinh was one of the many Vietnamese refugees who arrived in Canada by boat in the early eighties. Fortunately the Toronto Office Skills Training Project (now SfC) was launched around this time and Kim Hoang was one of the four participants to join the very first group in 1983. [Skills for Change Graduate Award]

Carl James came from Antigua, the Caribbean, in 1973 to pursue post secondary studies in Canada. Today he is well known as a public educator who promotes equity, anti-racist education and the healthy development of youth. [Community Service Award]

After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering in India, Sridhar Krishnan came to Canada to pursue graduate studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Within five years he had made his mark as an outstanding research student and acquired a Ph.D. [Science and Technology Award]

Sharangabo Ntare Patrick survived the genocide in Rwanda. Sharangabo’s dream became receiving the education that so many others of his generation were denied the right. In 1999, when Sharangabo was seventeen years old, he arrived in Canada as a convention refugee. [Youth Award]

Natalie Wood arrived in Canada from Trinidad in 1984 to study at the University of Toronto and graduated with a degree in psychology in 1988. While working in the field of social work, Natalie began to pursue her long-time dream of becoming an artist. [Arts Award]