Canadian Immigrant - May 2017

MAY 2017 | FREE

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ARRIVE. SUCCEED. INSPIRE.

MULTICULTURALISM

ON THE MENU

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for master chef Claudio Aprile + 3 other immigrant foodies

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CONTENTS 4

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FUSION

PROFILE: Italian-born singer tours Canada by bike NEWS: New employment strategy for newcomers, Canadian Immigration Summit and Asian Heritage Month

COVER STORY

Food fusion: multiculturalism is on the menu in Canada, thanks to immigrants who are shaping the culinary landscape of this country

14 RACISM

Is anti-immigrant sentiment on the rise in Canada?

8

18 CAREERS AND EDUCATION

Career, Education and Settlement Immigrant Fairs in Winnipeg and Toronto JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES: Navigating the gig economy CAREER COACH: The no. 1 interview question, and how to answer it

22 SETTLEMENT

TIPS FOR SETTLING IN FASTER: New column!

How to maintain a positive mindset Living in small-town Canada IMMIGRATION LAW: Conditions for employers of temporary workers

twitter.com/@canimmigrant

above Brazilian-born Sergio Pereira is the chef behind a healthy meal-delivery service in Vancouver.

23 30

IMMIGRANT SETTLEMENT GUIDE BACK PAGE

HUMOUR BY HEMETERIO NATION OF IMMIGRANTS

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May 2017

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FUSION

People. News. Information.

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 4 MAY 2017 Group Publishers Gautam Datt Sharma Sanjay Agnihotri Editor Margaret Jetelina mjetelina@metroland.com Senior Editor Baisakhi Roy broy@metroland.com Editorial Design Terry Lankstead, Anne Nawrocka Courtland Shakespeare Digital Media Developer Kamil Mytnik Sr. Ad Manager Ricky (Kawaljit) Bajaj rbajaj@metroland.com Tel: 905 273 8170 National Sales Manager Varun Munjal vmunjal@metroland.com Tel: 905 273 8169 Sales, Events & Marketing Coordinator Laura Jackman ljackman@metroland.com General Inquiries: info@canadianimmigrant.ca Circulation/Distribution Inquiries: ljackman@metroland.com ISSN 1910-4146

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Canadian Immigrant is a publication of Metroland Media Group, a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited.

Entire contents property of Canadian Immigrant.

canadianimmigrant.ca TORONTO 3145 Wolfedale Road, Mississauga Ontario, L5C 3A9 Tel: 905 273 8111, Fax: 905 277 9917

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above Italian-born Antonio Piretti is celebrating Canada’s 150th with a cycling/music tour from Vancouver to Halifax.

B

ack in his hometown of Bologna, Italy, Antonio Piretti “Toz” was a consultant wearing business suits and driving a Porsche. But looking for meaning beyond material things, Piretti picked up a guitar, started singing and never looked back. After coming to Toronto in 2009, “Toz” started busking at the local TTC station and began working seriously as an Indie rock singer/songwriter. Since then, he has released three albums, demos, singles and performed at more than 350 gigs across Canada, the United States and Europe, singing in both Italian and English. His fall 2015 Canadian tour, “Roommates of the Same Planet,” was followed by his European “Unconventional Tour,” across nine countries from May to December 2016.

This year, in celebration of Canada’s 150th, he’s embarking on a

profile

Antonio

Piretti

A song, a bike and dream

By Margaret Jetelina new kind of tour with a bike and a guitar called “From the Roots in the Right Direction.” Piretti set off on April 27 from Vancouver and plans to arrive in Halifax by July 5, by cycling 120 kilometres each day, for a total of 6,600 kilometres. He will be hosting concerts along the way in Calgary May 6, Regina May 13, Winnipeg May 20, Thunder Bay

May 27, Sault Ste. Marie June 3, Ottawa June 16, Montreal June 20, Moncton July 1 and Toronto July 20. He recently talked to Canadian Immigrant, pleased to be a media sponsor of his tour, about why he’s undertaking this great Canadian adventure.

What inspired you to do this?

I want to truly and naturally meet the people all over Canada and share some music with them for the country’s 150th anniversary. My inspiration derived from my belief that we should build our relationships on authenticity instead of digital realities.

Do you have a message to your music?

When I started to do music, it was a way for me to transmit messages that could have a positive impact facebook.com/canimmigrant

on other people. In that spirit, I have also founded the charitable organization Art Takes Action for Charity with my wife, Maybritt. The charity will be also a significant part of the tour because we will create art events, giving meaningful art a forum for exposure and musicians to perform.

Has the music business been welcoming to you in Canada?

Yes, definitely. My personal challenge was to make a living with my music. I was really trying my best to find gigs, contacts, connections, and I spent my first months going around looking for venues when one afternoon in August 2009 a guy gave me the best advice ever: audition for the TTC subway licence for musicians.

How long were you a busker at the subway?

My average playing time was about five hours per day for about two years. In that way, I was able to make a living with my music. Since then, I have developed my music further, have played all across Canada and Europe and recorded

several CDs and EPs. I can say that Canadians are very open-minded, so you have a creative environment and good opportunities to develop as an artist in Canada.

What do you hope to achieve from this cycling/music tour?

The core of the tour is my music and my messages that I would like to share with my fellow Canadians across the country. I want to raise awareness for the true way of communication and inspire people to follow their dreams: it’s about taking action, not only talking.

How can people get involved?

I am inviting everyone to follow my endeavour and to get involved.

You can follow the trip on my official website antoniopirettitoz.com and join us as a biker along the path, or as an artist or a guest at our art charity events (in Vancouver, Toronto and Halifax) or attend my solo music gigs as a fan. There are many ways to be a part of the tour and I am inviting everyone, because I believe that we all are one, stronger together as “roommates of the same planet.”

Soft Skills Training for

Newcomers with Alden Habacon How to succeed in getting that dream job

Workshop Dates Wednesday April 5, 2017 5:30pm-8:30pm Surrey City Centre

Soft Skills Training for Newcomers #1 Admission: $125.00

Saturday September 23, 2017 9:00am-1:00pm DIVERSEcity Community Campus

Soft Skills Training for Newcomers #2 Admission: $125.00

Saturday November 18, 2017 1:00pm-5:00pm KPU Cloverdale

Soft Skills Training for Newcomers #3 Admission: $125.00

Alden Habacon, Diversity and Inclusion Strategist

“Many newcomers to Canada struggle to adapt, integrate and succeed in the Canadian workplace, even if they arrive with high levels of education, technical skill and English. This is a common story. My promise is to deliver

interactive engagements that are inspirational, applicable, practical and immediate.”

- Alden Habacon

For more information or to register: Email: skillstraining@dcrs.ca or call 604.547.2010 DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society Employment Centre 1107-7330 137th St. Surrey, BC V3W 1A3 www.dcrs.ca/jobs

twitter.com/@canimmigrant

Updated: February 24 2017

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FUSION

news

New employment strategy for newcomers The federal government is introducing a new Targeted Employment Strategy for Newcomers to help internationally trained newcomers find jobs that match their skills and experience. Newcomers will benefit from three new measures: • improved pre-arrival supports to help them start the foreign credential recognition process before arriving in Canada • a loan program that will help them with the costs of having their foreign credentials recognized, such as licensing exams, training,

Immigration summit

On May 9-10, the Conference Board hosts its third annual Canadian Immigration Summit in Ottawa, bringing together hundreds of representatives from government, business, law, education and immigrant-serving agencies to learn, dialogue and network.

Experts will share their perspectives on how Canada can address its current immigration issues. How can the talents of immigrants and refugees be effectively utilized in the labour market? How can the immigration system better meet the needs of business?

A session at the summit will also focus on the key lessons of Brexit and Trump, and how Canada can protect itself from anti-immigrant tides that are sweeping around the world.

Suggestions made by summit speakers and delegates on how to improve the immigration system will be compiled into a Conference Board report scheduled for release this summer to help contribute to the national dialogue.

Learn more about the conference at conferenceboard.ca/conf/immigration.

travel and skills upgrading • a new pilot project to test innovative approaches to help newcomers get Canadian work experience.

“Attracting the best and brightest from around the world benefits all Canadians, and is one of the Government of Canada’s top priorities,” says Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Ahmed Hussen.

Starting in 2017-2018, $27.5 million will be committed to the strategy over five years, and $5.5 million per year thereafter.

Mixed Asian heritage the focus of festivities May is Asian Heritage Month, and the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society (VAHMS) is celebrating its 21st annual explorASIAN festival with a focus on the growing community of Canadians

with mixed Asian heritage. Each year, the festival puts a spotlight on a different Pan-Asian community.

“We are very excited to be working with the mixed Asian heritage community because they literally

embody our vision to celebrate the hybridization of all arts and culture in Canada,” says Ken McAtee, president of VAHMS. “explorASIAN 2017 stands to be one of our most inclusive festivals yet.”

Bridge Delivery for International Medical Graduates

The May celebrations in Metro Vancouver will include many free family-friendly arts and cultural activities for people of all cultures and backgrounds. For a full list of May events, see explorasian.org.

info@ccnm.edu www.ccnm.edu

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May 2017

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Multiculturalism is on the menu in Canada, thanks to immigrants who are shaping the culinary landscape of this country. They enrich the Canadian palate with new flavours and business ideas, expressing the country’s diversity through food. From celebrated chef and visionary restaurateur Claudio Aprile, to Colombian craft brewing family, the Amayas, to Brazilian home-delivery chef Sergio Pereira, to Syrian chocolatiers the Hadhads, these immigrant foodies are serving up delicious inspiration.

COVER STORY

Celebrated chef MasterChef Canada star and Toronto restaurateur Claudio Aprile speaks about his culinary journey, including a brand-new restaurant this June, and why Canada is lucky to have a multicultural menu

By Baisakhi Roy

C

laudio Aprile speaks tenderly of his grandmother in his native Uruguay conjuring up delectable empanadas (stuffed pastry) and asados (grilling meat over coals) in the family kitchen. One of Canada’s most celebrated and visionary chefs fell in love with the art of cooking at the age of five and hasn’t looked back. “Those are my very first memories, cooking on an open grill — I remember telling my mother that I would become a chef when I grew up. I was very sure of what I wanted to do,” says Aprile.

The owner and creative force behind the growing Orderfire Restaurant Group, which includes Toronto’s acclaimed Origin brand restaurants, Aprile, who is also of Italian heritage, is known for his innovative use of experimental cooking techniques and his fondness for global cuisine. “We are so lucky here in Canada and especially in Toronto to have the opportunity to experience varied cultures, cuisines, methods of cooking and presentation. I love trying out new flavours, combining different flavours, creating an element of surprise each time for my guests,” he says. “There is so much to discover, it’s all very exciting.”

Throughout his 30-plus-year career, Aprile has enjoyed immense success and has never backed down from challenging himself. His first restaurant, Colborne Lane, known for beautifully crafted, precisely plated cuisine was wildly popular with the public and critics. In 2010, he completely switched gears to launch Origin, which offered fast, fresh and accessible food, delivered to guests sitting right across from the chef in the open kitchen. Toronto Life magazine and Now magazine voted Origin the no. 1 restaurant in Toronto.

Aprile attributes his success to his mother’s immigrant experience in Canada, emulating her work ethic and doggedness when running a successful restaurant business. “My mother came to Canada when I was four years old. She raised me as a single parent, working very hard as a seamstress not to mention being a non-English speaker in a foreign land. She took on every challenge head on because she wanted to give her children every opportunity that she did not have. I feel a sense of responsibility — of doing good and making her proud,” he says.

Aprile believes that there’s no greater unifier than food and the fact that Toronto is home to communities from all over the world makes it an advanced society. “This city has some amazing talent. Chefs and cooks from all over the world are bringing their flavours, their expertise and their techniques here and shaping the culinary landscape of this country,” he says. “For me, food is the greatest communication tool and also a source of magic. When one visits a place like Kensington Market with food from all over the world, it’s like being transported to a foreign land! What a wonderful and pleasurable experience to have right here in Toronto!”

Aprile’s culinary sensibility stems from travelling extensively and having worked at some of the most renowned kitchens around the globe. Bali Sugar in London, U.K., earned him outstanding reviews as a young executive chef, where he received local and international critical acclaim. Upon returning to Toronto in 2000, Aprile cemented that reputation at Senses in Toronto. “My culinary style has been shaped by the varied cultures and cuisines I have experienced in my career. My native culture or where I was

born does not restrict my creativity — which expands to cover every other exciting and new flavour that is out there,” he says.

Currently one of the judges on MasterChef Canada (which airs on Thursday nights on CTV), Aprile has the opportunity to sample such diverse cooking from talented home chefs in the televised competition.

He also shares the limelight with fellow immigrants, Welsh-born Michael Bonacini, co-owner of popular Toronto restaurants like Jump, and British-born Alvin Leung, owner of Michelin star restaurant Bo Innovation in Hong Kong. “My role [on the show] is to inspire home cooks, but I’m inspired and astonished by their talent, so the tables have been turned on me! The show is a huge success because of these talented cooks and their stories, their convictions — all of which has been beautifully captured in the show,” he enthuses.

Presently working on a new restaurant that opens its doors in June, Aprile’s advice to aspiring chefs and newcomers who want to break into the restaurant business is simple — be true to yourself. “Be proud of who you are and where you come from. You have a superpower — that of creating something unique. So when you come to Canada, every moment counts. Don’t take anything for granted, but work hard and be humble,” he says.

But he warns that the food business is not for the faint of heart; you have to know for sure this is exactly what you want to do because it can be a tough, all-consuming business. “Have one really great place and build it up with a good team. Build your connections with your staff and your guests because they are your extended family and they will help you on your exciting culinary adventure,” he signs off.

Colombian brewmasters The Amaya family opened the Andina Brewing Company this spring in Vancouver

By Nic Enright-Morin

T

he chance to move to a new country and start a business is a dream for many, but for the Amaya family from Colombia, the fairytale came true. About 20 years ago, two brothers, Andrés and Nicolás Amaya married two sisters, Rocio and Claudia and then immigrated to Canada.

Nicolás had always held a passion for beer and for him, living in Vancouver, in the heart of the burgeoning craft brewery scene, something just clicked. “My brother and I always wanted to get into business together and so we were looking at a lot of opportunities, like Tim Hortons’ franchises and other things, but I’ve always been a beer fanatic,” he says. “One night we were chatting and the idea just came to me, with all the breweries that are opening, we should just open our own. My brother said, ‘We don’t know anything about it!’ And I said ‘Well, we can hire people to help us.

We can manage the business. We can do it.’ He thought it was an amazing idea and that’s basically how it started.”

So with the help of their wives, the brothers set about making their idea a reality.

However, as anyone who goes into business for themselves will tell you, a dream and the reality are two different things, and the Amaya family quickly discovered that there were many challenges to getting their idea off the ground.

One of their biggest challenges was the time frame it took. To create and open a brewery from scratch takes a lot of work and so the Amaya family, with the help of an expert team, worked long hours putting >>

left You might recognize restaurateur Claudio Aprile as one of the three immigrant star chefs of MasterChef Canada. twitter.com/@canimmigrant

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above The Andina Brewing Company has had a bright start this spring. inset Brothers and owners Nicolás and Andrés Amaya.

Photos courtesy of Andina Brewing Company << their business together in meticulous detail. They wrote a business plan and then found the perfect site for the brewery (a stunning, bright banana yellow building in trendy East Vancouver), where they could create their unique beers.

The overriding force that drove the vision for the Andina Brewing Company was to create a craft beer experience that combined the best of their two countries — a fusion experience that combined Colombian hospitality with Vancouver’s commitment to fine ingredients, the environment and sustainability.

Despite the long road to opening the doors of their microbrewery, the family all agree that the four-year wait was worth it. In particular, Claudia (Nicholás’ wife), the communications and marketing director for the company, says that the support they have received in Canada is something they are all incredibly grateful for.

“For me, one of the rewards is all the help we’ve received from the government and the banking institutions in setting up our own business. All the help and advice made us feel like we were not alone. Here in Canada you can design a business proposal and if you get the right people to consult and help you, you can make it happen.”

The brewery opened its doors on March 1 of this year and is already being warmly received by craft beer aficionados and the press, something they are all blown away by, says Nicolás. “Because we have just opened, we didn’t know what to expect and so we did have uncertainties. We knew that people were interested in what we were doing, but one of the biggest rewards is that we didn’t expect such a quick response from the public.

We’ve been full every weekend and we’ve even had to turn people away, which we never imagined would happen. And 99 per cent of the people who approach us tell us that we’re doing great and that the food is great, that the beer is unbelievable and they love the place.”

Their West Coast/Colombian fusion is certainly helping Andina beers gain a reputation for being of high quality and unique. “We use only the

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finest organic South American ingredients in our craft beer recipes. For example, the base malts that we use come from Chile. We’re the first brewery in Canada to use them and that is something that we’re proud of,” says Claudia.

Nicholás says it’s a dream come true to turn his passion for beer into a business venture and he says that one of the greatest things about the industry is the camaraderie and warmth in the craft brewing community. For him it’s a no-brainer why the industry continues to be a popular movement around the world. “Up until recently, people have been used to corporate beer, which is mass produced and made thousands of miles away. So when people get the chance to go to a brewery and try a beer that has just been brewed three weeks before, it’s so fresh. Also with craft beer there are so many different style of beers and flavours, people are just so excited — it’s a whole new world.”

Knife skills Brazilian-born chef Sergio Pereira is cooking up a storm in Canada as the chef behind a healthy mealdelivery service

By Noa Nichol

B

orn and raised in northeastern Brazil, Sergio Pereira grew up on a steady diet of fresh seafood. His appetite for all things culinary grew over the years and, as a young man, he decided to attend cooking school. Though his skill in the kitchen was natural from the get-go, one thing soon became clear: if he wanted to take his career in the hospitality industry any further, he would need to add English to his toolkit.

“I came to Canada 11 years ago with the idea to learn English and >> facebook.com/canimmigrant

ations stealing the show. When some of Carr’s clients asked him to provide healthy foods to help achieve their fitness goals, the idea to launch a meal-delivery company was born.

“My ability to cook combined with Patrick’s skills in nutrition helped us to create a range of delicious, healthy, low-carb, gluten-free, dairy-free foods — it was a natural fit,” Pereira explains. “There was a bit of a learning curve for me — sometimes I wanted to include some sauces and he would tell me no, it’s not healthy. I had to transform my recipes to suit the needs of our clientele, for example, to use coconut milk in place of cream, and avocado oil in place of other more common cooking oils. This has actually helped me to grow a lot in the kitchen, as I’ve learned that you can make very healthy food that tastes really good — it doesn’t have to be boring.”

As the buzz around their business, 2 Guys With Knives, grew, Pereira and Carr moved their operation to a larger commercial kitchen. Then, they landed a partnership with Vancouver-based sports nutrition and supplements chain the Body Energy Club. Earlier this year, they realized their dream of opening their own space, from which they continue to create nutritiously decadent meal options every week that are affordable, convenient and packed with nutrient density.

The five-year plan, Pereira says, is to expand across Canada.

“Coming to this country was one of the best decisions I ever made; I love it here,” he says. “If you go to Brazil, you get Brazilian food. In Italy, it’s Italian. In Canada, the cuisine is a reflection of its people — it’s diverse, it’s fusion.”

Peace by chocolate The sweet success of a Syrian refugee family in Nova Scotia above Co-owner of 2 Guys With Knives, Sergio Pereira says food in Canada is a reflection of its diverse people. below One of Pereira’s tasty and healthy dishes. << then go back to Brazil,” Pereira says. “It was a difficult decision for me, but my entire family and my two kids were very supportive. I was very lucky to have them behind me when I took this step, to come to a new country where I couldn’t even speak the language at first.”

The chef recalls his first days in Vancouver as being “pretty tough.” Besides taking English-language courses as well as extra culinary classes to add additional world cuisines — Asian, French, Italian — to his repertoire, Pereira picked up a job as a dishwasher in a restaurant in the city’s Kitsilano neighbourhood.

“I was working 12-hour days in the restaurant industry and I would attend my English class and the teacher would comment, ‘You look really tired. Is everything OK?’” he remembers. “I was so exhausted, and some days it was really, really hard to keep going. But I kept in mind this idea that if I persevered, I would be able to make my dreams come true. Canada is that kind of country, so I refused to give up.”

Pereira’s English came along quickly, aided by the fact that he was working alongside Canadians and Australians at his job. A month after he started working, his employer promoted him to first cook based on his incredible progress and his culinary background. Rather than rinsing pots and pans and mopping the floor, Pereira was chopping vegetables and simmering sauces as part of the prep team. His language skills continued to improve and, within a year, he became head chef.

“It was a big confidence boost,” he says, smiling. “I was still missing my family like crazy, but things were going better than I had expected. I was working 80 hours a week at a great job, and this was helping me to provide a better life for my kids.”

Pereira then met fellow Vancouverite Patrick Carr, a personal-training specialist and metabolic nutritionist. The two hit it off, striking up a friendship that soon turned to love. The couple soon became famous for hosting memorable dinner parties, with Pereira’s mouthwatering cre-

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By Baisakhi Roy

T

he Hadhads could never have expected that the crisis in their native Syria would see them journey to a picturesque small town in Nova Scotia called Antigonish. The family had long operated a chocolate factory in the Syrian capital of Damascus until it was destroyed by a missile in 2012. The Hadhads fled to Lebanon, where they stayed in a refugee camp for three years until leaving for Canada in December 2015.

Nine months later, they resumed their livelihoods as chocolatiers, calling their new Canadian business Peace by Chocolate. “The name itself has

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a very strong message,” says Tareq Hadhad, who runs the establishment with father, Issam. “The world now needs peace, and the world now needs chocolate.”

In Damascus, Issam Hadhad had shipped his delicacies to countries all over the Middle East. Tareq remembers how it all started in Antigonish. “The community had a potluck and my father made a batch of 100 chocolates. We got such wonderful feedback — they were gone in a matter of minutes,” he says.

The resourceful family revived their business out of their home kitchen in August 2016, their fi rst foray being the farmers’ markets in their town. “It was purely by word of mouth that we got the attention and from there the orders for our chocolates just stacked up. I remember Christmas and the holiday season was particularly stressful — we got 2,000 orders within four hours! Needless to say, we were overwhelmed, but also overjoyed,” he laughs.

The business has expanded considerably in the past year and now they have a busy online store up and running as well. Tareq credits the encouragement and love they got from their community for their resounding success.

“We didn’t face any serious challenges in Antigonish because of the way the community embraced us,” says Tareq. “In one year, we achieved so many huge things ... It was not an easy mission, but we succeeded.”

The family also had a memorable encounter with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his trip to Nova Scotia in November 2016 when he sampled their wares. “He [Trudeau] had been following the story for a while. He was so excited. When he came to visit, he knew our names, he hugged us ... It was a very, very special thing for us,” says Tareq.

A video of their encounter showing Trudeau embracing both men and calling the Hadhad family “an extraordinary example of the kind of strength and leadership and engagement that comes with bringing new people to Canada,” went viral and so did orders for Peace by Chocolate.

Tareq agrees with the prime minister’s assessment. “We came here

with nothing,” he says. “We are now in a very welcoming, warm-hearted country and we’re so proud to be inspiring others.”

His advice to other newcomers attempting to rebuild their lives in a new country is to make the most of every benefit and opportunity that comes their way. “Life is unpredictable — we can lose everything in a moment. One should never lose hope, always be positive in a negative world and work hard,” he says.

— With fi les from Toronto Star

right Tareq Hadhad is making his father Issam’s chocolates a Canadian success story.

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RACISM

Anti immigrant?

Is this sentiment on the rise in Canada, too?

How can we help fight it?

By Janet Nicol

W

ith the rise of anti-immigration attitudes in the United States and Europe, where does Canada stand? It’s an important question, given recent polls showing Canadians are less tolerant than we’d like to think.

A survey by VanCity Credit Union revealed 82 per cent of visible minorities in Vancouver said they have experienced some form of discrimination.

And 11 per cent said these experiences were traumatic enough to prompt thoughts of moving to a new location.

On the positive side, most people who responded believe multiculturalism has been “very good” or “good” for Canada. And we saw that very Canadian response in protests against the anti-immigrant policies being introduced in the United States.

Despite this overarching sense of what Canada stands for, rare incidents of hatred and xenophobia have shocked Canadians in the recent past, from the Quebec mosque shooting to the distribution of anti-immigrant flyers, to protests against a new Canadian Parliament motion (M-103) that denounces Islamophobia and forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination. (Pakistani-born MP Iqra Khalid introduced the

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motion in December as a response to rising anti-Muslim sentiment.)

Immigration to Canada is not going away, but as the diversity of our population grows and changes, intolerance and fear of change are inevitable accompaniments. So how can we help prevent hateful attitudes from spreading in these diverse times?

Debunking stereotypes Olga Shcherbyna, co-ordinator of the City of Surrey’s Surrey Local Immigration Partnership (LIP), believes debunking immigrant stereotypes is an important first step in combatting anti-immigrant sentiment. She has recently organized a poster campaign called “We Are Surrey” to do just that. The series of posters features real people from Surrey, mostly immigrants, to showcase who they are beyond their stereotypes.

“We are Ambitious” is the title of a poster featuring two women posing arm-in-arm and smiling into the camera. Rania is a dentist from Syria who loves hiking and Bryan Adams music, according to the caption, and Wafa is a business owner and hockey mom originally from Iraq. Rania, who has been living in Canada since she was a youth, is wearing a hijab, >> facebook.com/canimmigrant

above One of several posters from the Surrey LIP’s recent anti-racism campaign.

above Artur Wilczynski, Canada’s Ambassador to Norway, said it’s important for Canadians to speak out against xenophobia, at a recent racism forum in Vancouver.

>> while Wafa, who is a more recent newcomer, doesn’t wear one. “They are both Muslim women and we can relate and connect to them,” Shcherbyna says. “We see beyond the way they look.”

The series of posters includes other pairs of “ordinary” Surrey residents, of various ethnicities, genders, sexual orientation, skin tones and styles of dress — modern and traditional. Despite the physical differences, these people have a lot in common as neighbours, friends, coworkers and parents. “The posters are creating a lot of buzz on social media,” Shcherbyna says.

The campaign was originally inspired by LIP’s research showing public transit was among the most unsafe places for ethno-cultural residents. That’s why posters have been placed at bus shelters across Surrey, Shcherbyna explains. They are also being displayed in libraries, community centres, schools and other public places. Accompanying profi le stories of each person have also been written to further debunk stereotypes and are available on the Surrey LIP website.

“We are trying to fi nd opportunities to act on our survey fi ndings,” she says. “Our role is to provide the tools and resources for the community. We hope this knowledge will be transferred and there will be ripple effects.”

Fighting racism through public engagement The VanCity survey about discrimination was preceded by a forum on racism in February presented by B.C.-based immigrant settlement agency SUCCESS, which has been a leader in campaigning for inclusion and tolerance.

The packed forum called Safeguarding Our Communities, Upholding Our Shared Values: A Community Forum on Immigration and Racial Discrimination, addressed the impact of recent incidents of racial discrimination toward newcomers and the alarming trend of racially charged sentiments in the media.

A panel of experts participated in an informed conversation about racial discrimination in B.C.’s communities, their historic significance and how local communities might foster healing from racism.

Keynote speaker Artur Wilczynski, Canada’s Ambassador to Norway, shared his family’s story about how they survived the Holocaust and came to Canada. He noted, “I am a Polish, a Jewish, a Quebecois. Most important, I am a Canadian.”

He added: “Diplomacy doesn’t give you immunity from discrimination, but gives you a platform to speak against it. It is important for Canadians to speak out against various forms of discrimination and xenophobia. As

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above Ontario Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism Michael Coteau released a new anti-racism strategy.

an immigrant to this country and the son of Holocaust survivors I have been privileged to serve my country as an ambassador and senior official.

It is why I feel it is my obligation to work toward a more inclusive and respectful Canada.”

Building on the momentum from this event, SUCCESS will be launching a series of community roundtables at their offices across Metro Vancouver. These facilitated conversations will create a platform for community members to share and reflect on thoughts on diversity and inclusion while engaging them in discussions regarding cultural integration.

Changing the system In Ontario, the provincial government is looking at the deeper roots of racism that are entrenched in systems and institutions — in other words, the systemic racism in institutions and historical practices that create or maintain racial inequity. After consultations held in the province last year, Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism Michael Coteau released a three-year anti-racism strategic plan, with strategies to break down barriers for racialized people across the province, including Black, indigenous and immigrant communities.

The government heard from people that despite efforts to promote inclusion and equity, histories of slavery, colonization and institutions of our past continue to shape the present and create a further gap between racialized people and others. With growing diversity — the report notes that by 2031, racialized people will account for an estimated 40 per cent of Ontario’s population — the time is now to address this embedded racism.

“During our consultations, I heard a Black father speak about how his four-year old boy had already experienced racism,” says Minister Coteau, an immigrant from the U.K. “I’m a fi rm believer that Ontario is a place of diversity and inclusion. I also know, just as well as that father and son do, that racism is real, and that government must actively work to eliminate it.”

Strategies in the forward-looking plan include investing in community outreach and empowering members of the impacted communities to be involved as partners.

Coteau adds: “This plan is our commitment to change how we do things.

It’s our pledge to Black youth who come into contact with the law, indigenous youth who are overrepresented in children’s aid societies and other racialized communities who experience disproportionate outcomes. I am dedicated to leading this work, and I look forward to shaping a stronger future for all.” facebook.com/canimmigrant

CAREERS & EDUCATION

Learn, engage and connect …

At the upcoming free Career, Education and Settlement Immigrant Fairs in Winnipeg and Toronto

C

anadian Immigrant’s signature Career, Education and Settlement Immigrant Fair is coming to two cities over the next month:

Winnipeg: May 24, Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Radisson Downtown Winnipeg Hotel (11th floor, 288 Portage Ave.)

Toronto: June 3, Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at

the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (255 Front St. W.)

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE FAIR The free event will feature diverse exhibitors, including employers, education institutes and social service agencies, as well as interactive activities like

a Resumé Clinic where you can get free, one-on-one advice on your job search.

The fair offers newcomers to Canada information and inspiration, the opportunity to network and meet potential employers, and the motivation to keep moving forward in their Canadian journey.

WINNIPEG PROGRAM Some of the program highlights at the second annual Winnipeg fair include speeches on: • finding your place in Canada by Perla Javate • career tips for skilled immigrants by Tikaram Adhikari • startup strategies for starting a small business by Anandakumar Palanichamy • following your passion by

Taya Rtichsheva.

See more details and preregister at canadianimmigrant. ca/careerfair/winnipeg.

TORONTO HIGHLIGHTS The seventh annual Toronto fair is bringing back its annual Speed Mentoring activity by ACCES Employment, plus a dynamic speakers’ program, including: • the case for self-employment for immigrants by Majid Kazmi • personal branding and networking workshop by Chandran Fernando and Alicia Sarran • interactive social media bootcamp by Murali Murthy • becoming a CPA in Canada.

See more details and pre-register at canadianimmigrant.ca/ careerfair/toronto.

Ready to Discover Your Direction?

Corporate, Retail & Distribution Opportunities Visit our Canadian Immigrant Career Fair Booths in: Winnipeg on May 24, 2017 at the Radison Hotel, Downtown Winnipeg Toronto on June 3, 2017 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre Halifax on September 8, 2017 at the World Trade and Convention Centre Calgary on October 28, 2017 at the Telus Convention Centre Edmonton on October 30, 2017 at the Shaw Conference Centre

Connect with us on The North West Company northwest.ca/careers

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2016-12-12 9:57 AM

CAREERS & EDUCATION J O B S E A R C H S T R AT E G I E S

The gig economy (Part 1)

M

A new way to look at career opportunities

any of us grew up with the idea that a career is for life: you go to university or college, learn a profession or occupation, get a job in a good company and with some effort, time and luck, you’ll get promoted up the career ladder until it’s time to retire.

Until about a decade ago, that was the usual pattern. You would change jobs once or twice, but anything more than that may even seem suspicious, unless you were moving to another country. Careers and jobs were very stable.

Today, this is not necessarily the case. While a majority of traditional jobs and careers continue to follow that pattern, the gig economy is increasingly changing the way we see careers, jobs and even formal studies.

In this new series of articles about the gig economy, I will be

sharing what I have recently researched and learned about this trend, how it affects jobseekers and how to make the best out of its uncertain promises.

But fi rst things fi rst: what is the

gig economy?

What’s the gig?

The gig economy is made up of freelance, part-time, contract and temporary jobs. While these have always existed, what was once six per cent of the total workforce is now 43 per cent and growing.

For employers, the gig economy allows them to save money, become more efficient and access highly skilled workers only when they need them. They save on vacation pay, insurance and other employee benefits and, in some cases, rent and supplies.

For workers, the gig economy can be really challenging; they are always on the lookout for a new “gig” or contract/project, and face unsteady income, no benefits, no pension and the chance to be taken advantage of.

There is, however, a bright side to it: if planned well, the gig economy can lead to real life-work balance, enabling workers to take time off between gigs, reassess their concept of success and quality of life, use diverse skillsets instead of

just one, connect with interesting new people and projects, and participate in a more sustainable and strong local economy.

According to author Diane Mulcahy in her book The Gig Economy, there are 10 rules to succeed in this freelance environment: 1. Define your success.

2. Diversify.

3. Create your own security.

4. Connect without networking.

5. Face fear by reducing risk.

6. Take time off between gigs.

7. Be mindful about time.

8. Be financially flexible.

9. Think access, not ownership.

10. Save for a traditional retirement … but don’t plan on having one.

Over the next few months, I will be writing more about these rules and how they apply to real people, especially to newcomers, and what their options are to navigate this new world and not perish.

Argentinian-born Silvia Di Blasio is a certified career counsellor and life coach with a passion for sustainability, food security and resilient communities. She works as a case manager helping immigrants to get back to their pre-landing occupations at the Career Paths Program at ISSofBC.

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CAREERS & EDUCATION CAREER COACH

‘Tell us about yourself’

J

Five tips to expertly answer the no. 1 interview question

ob interviews tend to be nervewracking, as most of us aren’t accustomed to talking eloquently about our skills, strengths and weaknesses, especially while sitting across from a panel of strangers.. And even if your communications skills are stellar, the first question can unnerve just about everyone — and that question almost always is, “Tell us about yourself.” Candidates often overlook the importance of this question and fail to take the time to prepare for and formulate the right response.

Remember that the question isn’t an invitation to tell your life story.

The interviewer just wants to know why you’re interested in this position and what makes you qualified.

They want to determine whether your skillset and personality are right for the company culture. This is the opportunity to show off your passion for your work and demonstrate how you are the perfect fit for the company.

While there is no one-size-fitsall approach, the following five tips can help you articulate your response to “tell us about yourself” in the most effective manner.

and qualities you have that make you a good fit for the position.

3

Research well

Research is key to answering the opening question well. Before every interview, research the company and the job description so that you can speak intelligently about why it appeals to you. The hiring manager wants to see that you are genuinely enthusiastic about the opportunity and that you took the initiative to learn about the company and the role.

4

Consider the personality fit

All said and done, you need to do a bit of a background check to see if the job is a good personality fit. You need to consider whether the job would really work out in the long term if it’s not a good match for your personality and work style.

5

1

2

“I have always admired your company’s products and I was really impressed with the recent CBC interview with your CEO. The job description also emphasizes communication skills and leadership — two of my greatest strengths. I really feel that it’s a role and organization in which I could excel.”

The best way to answer interview questions about yourself is to be honest. You are who you are and nothing can change that. Trying to present yourself as someone you’re not is not the best idea in the long run. And, anyway, employers can often tell when a candidate’s answers are insincere, so just be genuine with your reply.

Ensure that the skills match

Prepare your response, keeping the company and the specific job in mind. You don’t want to end up saying something that is not a requirement for the job. Therefore, be sure to review both the job listing and your resumé before the interview. Think of skills, experiences

twitter.com/@canimmigrant

“I take the time to continue learning even if it’s not a direct requirement of the job. I find that many times, my professional growth is based on what I study, both directly and indirectly related to work.”

“I consistently set firm goals for myself. I am determined to do well in my job and have a successful career, as well as to make the company I work for more competitive.”

Make the most of it To sum up, “Tell us about yourself” will come up in just about every job interview.

Don’t waste the opportunity by simply diving into a long recitation of your resumé.

Instead, try a concise, enthusiastic response that summarizes your big-picture fit for the job. While it may seem that your answer should be all about you and what you’re looking for, a great answer goes a step beyond that and establishes your ability to empower the organization in the position. Go ahead, tell them about yourself — with a flourish.

Murali Murthy is an acclaimed public speaker, life coach and best-selling author of the ACE Books — The ACE Principle, The ACE Awakening and The ACE Abundance. He is also chairperson of CAMP Networking Canada. Learn more at aceworldfoundation.com.

Finish with a power statement

The most obvious strategy is also one of the least utilized: ending with a powerful finish to the most common interview question. The interviewer hears the same answer over and over again, so nothing will make them sit up faster and listen to you than a surprising answer.

And that means you’ve got a significant advantage over all the other candidates who could give perfectly satisfactory, but often perfectly boring answers.

Here are a few sample power statements:

Honesty really is the best policy

strong leadership and vision, and this is one that recognizes and rewards performers.”

“One of the reasons why I chose to apply is I have always wanted to work for a successful company with canadianimmigrant.ca

May 2017

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SETTLEMENT T IP S F OR SE T T L ING IN FA S T E R

It takes a village

I

New columnist Ivy Chiu offers up advice for new immigrants

was in elementary school when my family moved to Vancouver from Hong Kong. As a kid, I remember wanting to feel like I belonged to my new community and to integrate with Canadian culture, although much of what surrounded me was unfamiliar. What I couldn’t articulate at that young age was the ambivalence between my wish to belong as well as to retain my identity. Perhaps this is a feeling that’s familiar for many newcomers — yet it is possible to achieve both.

For instance, contributing to my community played a key role in helping me adapt to life in Canada.

My family introduced ourselves to neighbours who quickly became friends, and as we volunteered for organizations whose causes we believed in, our sense of community grew as well.

As we approach Canada’s 150th birthday, I feel a great sense of

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pride in the things that make Canada special — including the diversity our country represents and our welcome offered to newcomers. Here are a few suggestions that newcomers might find helpful in adapting to life in Canada.

1

Join a newcomer association

Most communities have associations specifically geared toward newcomers, offering a variety of resources such as job search assistance and language training. It’s a great way to meet other new Canadians who are going through a similar experience.

2

Try new things

Be open to new activities such as skating, skiing or hiking. In the summer, perhaps try camping in the Canadian wilderness, and take advantage of all of the national

parks offering free entry as part of Canada’s 150th celebrations.

3

Volunteer

4

Connect with your roots

Not only is it good for the soul, volunteering is also a great way to develop deeper connections to your new community.

Whether it’s through community associations, maintaining familiar traditions, or cooking with the flavours and spices you enjoyed back home, finding ways to stay connected with the familiar will help balance out the significant change that comes with moving to a new country.

5

Take the first step

It’s not easy being the new person — whether that’s being new to a country, job or school. While it may seem daunting to take the first step by introducing yourself — you’ll be amazed at how welcoming people can be.

One way I have seen this welcoming attitude is through RBC’s “Make 150 Count” initiative where participants are doing everything from welcoming Syrian refugees to Canada to organizing Canadian-themed activities for newcomers. These simple gestures are reminders that small things go a long way to making someone feel welcome.

Ivy Chiu is the senior director, cultural markets, with RBC. Share with her how you will be celebrating Canada’s 150th. Tweet her @RBC, with the hashtag #make150count.

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Immigrant SETTLEMENT GUIDE For getting your listing included, please call Ricky Bajaj at 416-856-6304 or Johnny Zhang at 416-803-3931

2017

Agency

General Services and Specialty Programs

Languages

Brampton Multicultural Centre (BMC)

Not for profit, registered charity providing multilingual and culturally appropriate programs and services for free to help clients enhance their community engagement and social capital while integrating into the Canadian society. Programs: Programs and services include Settlement support , employment readiness workshops, enhancing immigrant community connections through schools and libraries, advocacy and solution-focused counselling, interpretation and translation, volunteer and placement opportunities, mental health support services, seniors and women abuse and engagement services. A unique portfolio of youth programming is also available such as: Youth leadership development, life skills coaching, client-centred counselling, paid internships at various workplaces, gang prevention workshops, one-on-one intervention meetings based on individualized work plans.

Email: services@bmccentre.org www.bmccentre.org

• • • • • •

TCET provides Language, Employment, & Settlement programs that empower people in fulfilling their potential. Our LINC Home Study program provides Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) via distance education. The self-paced curriculum is offered either online or by correspondence. The program includes a weekly lesson via phone or VOIP with a certified instructor.

Email: help@linchomestudy.ca www.linchomestudy.ca

• English • Some services available in French and other languages

197 County Court Blvd.

Suite 303 Brampton ON L6W 4P6 Phone: 905-790-8482 Fax: 905-874-6100

Centre for Education & Training (TCET) Head Office: 90 Burnhamthorpe Road W, Suite 210, Mississauga, ON L5B 3C3

English • Arabic Farsi • French Gujarati • Hindi Punjabi • Spanish Tamil • Urdu Tagalog (Filipino)

Locations across the Greater Toronto Area and virtual services across Ontario & Canada Phone: 905-949-0049, Toll free at 1-800-668-1179, Email: Info@tcet.com, www.tcet.com Centre for Education & Training Language Assessment Centre York-Simcoe-Durham 420 Highway 7 East Suite 204 B Richmond Hill ON L4B 3K2 Toll free: 1-855-330-8655 Job Skills Employment & Business Programs & Supports Locations in Markham, Brampton, Keswick and Newmarket Phone: 1-866-592-6278 Multinational Small & Medium Business Community Center (MSMBCC) 211 Consumers Road, Suite 300, North York, M2J 4G8 Phone: 647-343-8288 The National Association of Humanity Science and Technology (NAHST) 4675 Steeles Ave. E Unit 2D22 Toronto On M1V 4S5 Or: 3-2375 Brimley Rd. Unit 351 Toronto ON M1S 3L6 Welcome Centre Immigrant Services 7 Locations in York & Durham Regions 1-877-761-1155

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Completing a language assessment is the first step to accessing English language classes in your community. Language Assessment Centres provide no cost English language assessments and referrals to classes for eligible immigrants seeking language training.

Language Assessments services are available on a scheduled and pre-booked basis. If you live in York region, Simcoe County and Durham Region please call 1-855-330-8655 to schedule an appointment.

Email: ysla@tcet.com www.tcet.com/assessments Facebook: www.facebook.com/Language.Assessment.Centre.YSD/# Twitter: twitter.com/LAC_YSD

• English

Find out how to: get the skills you need to find work, including: work experience, resume help, interview techniques, entrepreneurial options and more. We offer: Job Search Workshops Program, Job Find Club for Internationally Trained Individuals, Bridge to HR, Practice Firm, Self-Employment Pathways for Newcomer and Employment Ontario Employment Services.

Email: info@jobskills.org www.jobskills.org

• English Interpreters are available

Help small and medium business from starting business with business plans for success: business registration; business planning; corporate problem solving; corporate culture tutoring; legal, politics and social requirements service and fund assistant application from government. Specialty program: business guide in Canada and Asia countries;enterprise assistant program; free tax services for new comers and seniors; Seniors program for social networking and conversational Café and special events to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation..

Email: info@sbsccanada.org www.sbsccanada.org

• English • Chinese

Community services for cultural and recreational activities, including classic poetry recitation events and Chinese traditional music concerts, with funds collected from its own members; supports for seniors groups for cultural and recreational activities; promotions for cultural exchange with the main stream society and many minorities’ cultural groups.

Email: thomas@nahst.org www.nahst.org

• English • Mandarin • Cantonese

Settlement Services assist immigrants to integrate and become established and contributing members of Canadian society. English Language Classes are instructor-led, and supported by a computer lab.

Job-specific, advanced-level Enhanced Language Training available. Supports to assist in developing the skills needed to find work: resume/cover letter preparation, interview readiness and information about accreditation, workplace practices, Canadian employer expectations. Other services available.

Languages of service: English, interpreters are available Email: info@welcomecentre.ca www.welcomecentre.ca

• English Interpreters are available

canadianimmigrant.ca

May 2017

23

SETTLEMENT

Looking on the bright side A positive mindset is crucial for new immigrants as they struggle through settlement challenges

By Dilnawaz Qamar

S

am Gill (name changed for privacy) and her husband, Jon, and two children met me at my office on the 29th day of their landing in Canada. They were stressed about fitting into their new country and their lack of employment. They found themselves alone in the city and complained of lack of social support. They were also anxious about getting their children admitted in school. Our first meeting was mostly spent listening to their concerns and worries. The husband was frustrated that they applied for immigration via the federal skilled worker class and are experts in their fields, and yet their credentials are not recognized here.

The husband was an architect back home and the wife was a medical doctor. At times, the couple seriously considered going back home.

As an immigrant reading this, you probably understand what they were going through, as Canada has many similar stories. During that first meeting, I gathered that they hadn’t talked about their experience to anyone yet, so being able to share their challenges with me was important. And when I shared my own immigration challenges with them, they knew they were not alone. But instead of dwelling on the bad stuff, my goal was to change the seemingly negative situation to a positive learning experience.

Following are some of the ways new immigrants can develop a positive mindset, which is crucial for success in new country.

You are not alone Immigration is a stressful experience so bouts of blues are common, but don’t get discouraged. You are not the only ones going through this.

Share your experiences with others and you will come to know that every immigrant has tough times when they start a new life in a new country.

These mood swings and low feelings won’t last forever, otherwise most immigrants would go back to their home countries. It is just a matter of time, right connections and right decisions.

It’s about attitude I often say to my clients that if you wear dark glasses, everything around will be dark and gloomy, but if you change to clear glasses, everything will look bright. This realization is the turning point in many people’s lives.

When we try to look at a situation from a different perspective, we tend to become optimistic and motivated. Changing our attitude changes our life.

Seeing the glass half full or empty depends on you.

Stop whining Benjamin Franklin puts it this way: “Constant complaint is the poorest

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May 2017

sort of pay for all the comfort we enjoy.” I know life is not easy for new immigrants and sometimes things seem unfair, but a spirit of discontentment takes us nowhere. We often complain because complaining is easier than finding out what is right and good.

After one month in Canada, my husband expressed that he felt life had become stagnant and nothing was working. I suggested to him to rewind his clock to the day we landed. We didn’t know anything and depended on others for everything! After one month, at least we knew how to go to the grocery store, church and library independently. These small achievements need to be celebrated. And each month, you’ll achieve more and more.

Contentment is within us Contentment comes from the heart. There is an old fable of a king who was always dissatisfied and sad. Annoyed by his continuous distress, he called wise men for suggestions. The wise men suggested he wear the shirt of a contented man and he will be happy. The king immediately sent out his men to fi nd a contented man. After one year of searching, they found one and the king ordered them to bring him his shirt only to be informed that the contented man had no shirt. Our contentment, therefore, is independent of material things, what we have, who surrounds us and our environment. The true source of happiness and contentment is within ourselves.

Develop an attitude of gratitude I have another client who is going through tough times in her life; she is a single mother and has two young children with special needs. She is overwhelmed and prays nightly for guidance. I suggested that she keep a “Journal of Gratitude” by her bed and after praying write three things from her day that made her thankful. After starting it, she reported back that she is more positive than before and feels that her burden is more bearable as there are others who are faced with bigger problems.

The initial months after landing in a new country are stressful, but if you develop an attitude of thankfulness and gratitude, you will focus more on what you are blessed with — a new country, a land of opportunities and a way to progress. William Secker, a clergyman and religious writer, wrote, “A grateful mind is both a great and happy mind.

Pakistan-born Dilnawaz Qamar is a mental health counsellor with Brampton Multicultural Community Centre. She can be reached at dilnawazasghar@gmail.com. facebook.com/canimmigrant

SETTLEMENT

Small-town Canada While most immigrants choose to live in the big cities, life in outlying areas can prove to be surprisingly positive, despite the initial downsides

By Kaitlin Jingco

S

itting in her large suburban home in Courtice, Ontario, my mom, Maria Jingco, tells me how lucky she is — she loves her family, her job, her country and the small town that she lives in. “I have it all,” she often says.

It’s a reality that my Philippineborn mom only dreamed of when she first came to Canada in 1981.

In hopes of creating a better life for herself, she opted to leave the Philippines to move to Pickering, Ontario, to live with her sister, who was 33 and had her own family. “We didn’t grow up together,” my mom says, “and there was an age gap, so we weren’t close.”

If feeling awkward in her new household wasn’t overwhelming enough, the fact that she was plopped in the middle of a small-town high school as one of just a handful of racialized people made the transition process much more difficult.

Today, Pickering has a population of close to 100,000 people, with more than 35 per cent identifying themselves as visible minorities, but when my mom came in 1981, the population of Pickering was almost two-thirds smaller, and the demographics were much different. With her broken English and no other Filipinos or immigrants to relate to, it was a culturally shocking and lonely experience.

City vs. country Mehrunnisa Ahmad Ali, a professor at Ryerson University whose expertise includes immigration and integration of immigrant families, says it’s much more common for immigrants to settle in bigger cities with more diverse demographics to avoid this lonely scenario.

“It’s not just a matter of diversity that helps them integrate,” Ali says of settlers in larger cities, “but it’s also having contacts with people who speak their language and are familiar with their culture, which they’re less likely to find in small towns. So, if [immigrants] can find opportunities to move to the city, they are more likely to choose that option.”

My dad, Joe, is a case in point. He moved with his parents and sister from the Philippines to the Toronto area in 1981, and remembers his immigration process as much easier. “There wasn’t really all that much hardship because my family was all here,” he says. And, through connections to other Filipinos who came before him, “I started working after a week,” he adds.

“This is the challenge,” says Dr. Tony Barozzino, a pediatrician and chair of Caring for Kids New to Canada. “It’s helpful to have people [with familiar] backgrounds to support you. If you’re in a situation where you don’t have that, it can be isolating. It can be difficult in terms of your mental health.”

He adds that due to changes in climate, customs, food and access to care, immigration can also take a significant toll on one’s physical health.

“I was so overwhelmed,” my mom says. “All I could think was: this isn’t twitter.com/@canimmigrant

going to work out and I don’t like it!”

Moving beyond your circle Luckily, with time and perseverance, things began to turn around.

Following the recommendations of the school guidance counsellor, my mom began to get involved in clubs and got to know her classmates. By the time she went to Durham College to study nursing, “I had a real good group of friends,” she says.

While there were still no other immigrants in her class, my mom was able to bond with her Canadian-born friends over their studies.

Ali points out that while big, diverse cities may be attractive to newcomers, small towns “open up opportunities for immigrants as well as people living there already to get to know each other, which is less likely in cities where they hang out with people whose language and culture they’re already familiar with.”

For my mom, she says that had she moved to Toronto instead of Pickering, it may have been easier in the short term. “I probably would have congregated with [other Filipinos],” she says. But when people do that, she adds, “You don’t grow … I think it’s a shame if you don’t see outside of your circle; I think you’d lose out.”

Small-town living There are other benefits that newcomers can experience when opting for rural or suburban areas over cities. Gilles Bisson, the MPP of Northern Ontario’s Timmins-James Bay riding, says that small towns like the ones he represents also offer more economical living options.

“For example, if you’re trying to start up a small business or trying to buy an existing business, it’s far less expensive to do that in Northern Ontario than it is to do it in Toronto or Hamilton,” he says.

Additionally, smaller towns can offer diverse job opportunities such as forestry and farming positions, and housing is often much more affordable — one of the factors that led my parents to settle in Courtice, Ontario, later down the road.

To make small towns more appealing for new Canadians, however, Bisson, Ali and Barozzino all say that more services and policies need to be put in place to support today’s newcomers. Cumulatively, they suggest more language courses, social community clubs and web resources to provide information when additional services aren’t feasible.

On a more human level, they all say that in order for immigration in small towns to be successful, immigrants need to really get to know the new customs, surroundings and neighbours. And the existing residents need to wholeheartedly welcome the newcomers.

“As Canadians, diversity and kindness are who we are — regardless of whether you’re in a small town or a big city,” my mom says. “That’s what Canada is all about.” canadianimmigrant.ca

May 2017

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SETTLEMENT I M M I G R AT I O N L AW

Strict conditions What employers of temporary foreign workers need to know

B

ack in 2013, Canada’s temporary foreign worker program was rocked by well-publicized stories of abuse. As a result, the Government of Canada introduced a comprehensive compliance regime for employers of foreign workers, and promised to ban companies from being able to hire temporary migrants for two years if they breached the new conditions. In 2015, Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations were further amended to introduce an administrative monetary penalty regime, which would also fine employers for non-compliance.

The number of Canadian employers who have either been banned or fined for non-compliance is currently quite small, although both Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Department of Employment and Social Development (ESDC), which manage Canada’s foreign worker programs, have indicated that the number is likely to grow in the near future, especially considering new rules announced with Budget 2017 to better protect vulnerable workers and to encourage employers to do more to hire Canadians first.. On March 23, 2017, the Federal Court of Canada released its first publicized decision on an ESDC decision to ban a company from hiring foreign workers for two years. The decision, Farms v. Canada (ESDC), provides much-needed guidance to both companies and to the government on how foreign worker compliance regime should be interpreted.

Conditions for hiring foreign workers Employers of foreign workers must agree to comply with numerous conditions outlined in Canadian immigration legislation. The most significant one is the requirement to provide foreign workers with wages and working conditions that are substantially the same as — but not less favourable than — those set out in their offers of employment. Essentially, this means that employers must strictly follow their employment contracts with regards to wages, working hours, duties and benefits.

Other requirements employers must follow include complying with all federal and provincial laws that regulate employment and making reasonable efforts to provide workplaces that are free from abuse. In cases where employers made certain labour market promises (such as job creation or skills transfer to Canadians) to receive permission to employ foreign workers, they must fulfi ll those commitments.

Canadian employers of foreign workers can also be subject to both inspections and audits by government officers, and must provide any documentation relevant to their compliance on demand. In fact, the government announced it will be increasing onsite inspections of workplaces that employ foreign workers.

Non-compliance with any conditions will only be justified in certain circumstances, including changes in federal or provincial law, new measures by the employer in response to dramatic changes in economic conditions, or errors that were either made in good faith or as the result of administrative error (if the employer subsequently made sufficient efforts to provide compensation to foreign employees).

Since 2015, the consequences of non-justified non-compliance are administrative monetary penalties and bans on hiring foreign workers.

Conditions have strict interpretations In Farms v. Canada, the Federal Court held that the justification provisions mentioned above must be interpreted strictly so the Canadian government can prevent the abuse of foreign workers. The often tenuous circumstances of their employment can lack the normal safeguards >>

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<< preventing abuse otherwise available to most Canadian workers.The court further found that a good faith justification only works where the non-compliance conduct can be seen to benefit the foreign worker and is in the worker’s interest. As well, where a labour market impact assessment application form or a contract employing foreign workers lists conditions and terms of employment, an employer will be unable to claim a good faith lack of knowledge of any conditions or requirements.

Even where non-compliance may factually be justified, employers will not be able to claim that a breach was justified if they do not document any modifications to employment contracts. In Farms v. Canada, for example, the employer deducted pay from its foreign worker employees’ first paystubs in order to provide them with cash advances, and even produced a letter from a former employee that confirmed that he had received the cash payment. However, the Federal Court determined that such proof was not sufficient, and that employers had to keep records of changes, and obtain written consent from their employees as it occurred.

Not enough guidance for employers?

At the same time that the Federal Court upheld ESDC’s decision to ban the employer from hiring foreign workers for two years, it also chastised ESDC for not providing clear guidance on its website as to what employers had to do to demonstrate compliance with certain conditions, and specifically noted that small businesses may not know what is required.

The most important thing they should recognize, however, is the need to strictly follow the contractual obligations in their employment agreements with foreign workers. Given the decision in Farms v. Canada, it is important that any ambiguities be interpreted strictly and in favour of the foreign workers.

Steven Meurrens is an immigration lawyer with Larlee Rosenberg in Vancouver. Contact him at 604-681-9887, by email at steven.meurrens@larlee.com, or visit his blog at smeurrens.com.

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