Canadian immigrant - April 2018

volume 15 issue 2 | 2018 c anadianimmigr ant.c a

arrive. succeed. inspire.

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Photographer Alia Youssef

What we can all learn from Generation Z

5 other immigrant women helping others find their voice

Canadian housing costs comparison

Canadian Immigrant Fair coming to Metro Vancouver, Toronto and Winnipeg

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PROFILE: Alexey Saltykov of InsurEye NEWS: Highlights of the Canadian Immigrant Fair QUOTABLE: RBC CEO Dave McKay CANADIANA: 8 facts about the Canadian landscape

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IMMIGRANT WOMEN OF INSPIRATION

Our fifth annual special picks six amazing individuals who use their talents and passion to empower other immigrant women out of silence — our 2018 Immigrant Women of Inspiration are: Marcie Ponte, Alia Youssef, Tracy Folorunsho-Barry, Georgette Zinaty, Vathsala Illesinghe and Wazi Dlamini-Kapenda

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16 MOTIVATION

What we can all learn from Generation Z to help us stay competitive and productive in our careers

20 HOUSING

LIVING

Canadian lifestyle 101: three immigrants share their favourite spring pastimes

SETTLEMENT

TIPS FOR SETTLING IN FASTER: Three ways to protect yourself against fraud

BACK PAGE

CANSPEAK: English language expressions HUMOUR BY HEMETERIO

WE ARE HIRING...

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What does it cost to live in Canada? A comparison of housing prices in different cities

23 CAREERS AND EDUCATION

International students flocking to Canada CAREER COACH: Filling employment gaps in your resumé JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES: Job scams to watch out for

www.translink.ca/careers

Cover photo by Shawn Hymers

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People. News. Information.

profile

Volume 15, Issue 2

2018

Group Publisher Sanjay Agnihotri Editor Margaret Jetelina mjetelina@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 Sales, Events & Marketing Coordinator Laura Jackman ljackman@metroland.com General Inquiries: info@canadianimmigrant.ca Circulation/Distribution Inquiries: ljackman@metroland.com ISSN 1910-4146 Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher

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Alexey

Saltykov Eye on the prize

By Margaret Jetelina

R

ussian-born Alexey Saltykov came to Canada via Germany with a job in hand as a management consultant in the insurance industry. His company asked if he wanted to transfer to Toronto, and he jumped at the opportunity.

Three years later, Saltykov saw a niche insurance need in Canada, and took another leap — this time an entrepreneurial one, starting up his own company, InsurEye. When did you launch InsurEye and what exactly is it?

InsurEye was launched in 2011 when I decided to leave the Boston Consulting Group and start my own business together with my best friend, Dmitry Mityagin. The basic premise of the company was that we wanted to become an independent source of information for all Canadians, offering them an honest perspective on financial products. We started with a tool that educated Canadians about insurance protection on their credit cards and added later home, auto and life insurance reviews, followed last year by mortgage and credit card reviews.

And you recently announced a new tool for people in the market for a condo?

Given the rapid growth of the condo market in many Canadian cities such as Toronto and Vancouver, we saw that it had become

above Russian-born Alexey Saltykov. difficult for Canadians to inform themselves about the condos they were about to buy.

It is a very large purchase considering that in the last quarter the average value of a condo sold in Toronto was more than $515,000.

People read tons of reviews when buying a phone for $500. Should not condo reviews be available for Canadians as well?

Why is such a tool important?

Builders and real estate agents try to beautify the properties they sell, but, in our mind, people should have access to real condo insights, those of condo owners and renters. Existing real estate tools, like MLS, will offer you prices and square footage, but will not inform you if a condo is managed well or if the building has some mechanical or plumbing issues.

That is why we decided to branch out with a new tool, CondoEssentials.com, and partner with a real estate expert in condos, Henry Karimi. For now, we offer reviews for condos in Toronto and in some other Ontario locations.

Is this mainly for buyers, or will renters find it useful as well?

CondoEssentials is both for purchasing condos and for rent-

als. The building, amenities, unit layouts, condo services, etc., stay the same whether you buy a condo or rent one. If people, after having explored condo reviews on our platform, decide that they like a particular condo, our real estate team is happy to help them with either purchasing or renting the unit. We also help Canadians with other topics related to condos such as getting condo insurance quotes.

Tell us three tips every newcomer should know about condos in Canada?

There are a few things to consider if you are buying a condo in Canada. I’d start with location — make sure that it is what you are looking for. Some condos are close to public transportation, others might require that you have a car.

Having a good school nearby is very important if you have kids. It is your future home; take the time to find a place you really like.

Newcomers should also know when purchasing a condo, there is also a maintenance fee that you will pay monthly. This goes toward security services, amenities, landscaping, garbage removal, etc.

Older condos might look more attractive from the price perspective, but they often come with a higher maintenance fee (often $1,000 per month). That will be a big expense in your monthly budget and will potentially make it harder to sell the condo in the future.

Also, it does not matter if you buy a condo or rent one, you still need insurance. Make sure that, if you have a roof over your head, you have insurance to cover it.

Get more tips from Alexey Saltykov on buying a condo and getting home insurance at canadianimmigrant.ca.

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 15 Issue 2 | 2018

news

FIL AN 2.00

2018 immigrant fairs Immigrants all have one thing in common: they need information after they arrive to help them in their immigration journey. That’s where the Canadian Immigrant Fair comes in.

The 2018 series of fairs kicks off on April 26, 2018, at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown in Burnaby, B.C. This free tradeshow and speakers’ series for newcomers is all about providing the information and inspiration people need as they look for jobs, go back to school and settle into their new

home. And, if you want a more professional headshot for your social media presence, associate sponsor Public Mobile will be offering a professional photo booth.

After the April 26 event, the Canadian Immigrant Fair will head to Toronto on June 7 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and Winnipeg on July 20 at the Radisson Winnipeg Downtown.

Register and learn more about the speakers and exhibitors at each fair at canadianimmigrant.ca/careerfair.

QUOTABLE

Canada is on the brink of a skills revolution …

As digital and machine technology advances, the next generation of Canadians will need to be more adaptive, creative and collaborative, adding and refining skills to keep pace with a world of work undergoing profound change.”

— Dave McKay, president and CEO, RBC, on the release of the report, Humans Wanted – How Canadian youth can thrive in the age of disruption.

Compare Visitors to Canada Insurance Quotes Liu saved 38% on Super Visa Travel Insurance for his mom’s visit.

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8 interesting facts about the Canadian landscape

Canadiana

1. Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world at 243,977 kilometres.

2. Wasaga Beach in Ontario is the longest fresh water beach in the world. It is 14 kilometres along the shore of Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay. 3. The highest tides in the world occur in the Bay of Fundy, which separates New Brunswick from Nova Scotia.

4. Canada is home to three of the world’s biggest outdoor skating rinks: the Rideau Canal in Ottawa is probably the most famous, but it’s no longer the longest at 7.8 kilometres. Winnipeg, Manitoba, has a 9.3-kilometre rink along the Red and Assiniboine rivers, but it’s only two to three metres

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 15 Issue 2 | 2018

wide. More recently, the Lake Windermere Whiteway in B.C. can claim the longest skating path in the world at 30 kilometres.

5. From cold to hot, Canada has its own semi-arid desert landscape, in Osoyoos, B.C. 6. The highest mountain in Canada is Mount Logan, in the Yukon. It is 5,959 metres high and is the second-highest peak in North America.

7. Canada has a lot of trees, with about 40 per cent of the country covered with forests; indeed, 10 per cent of the world’s forest cover is in Canada.

8. Canada is home to 42 national parks, comprising 2.5 per cent of Canada’s total area.

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Raising their

voices

Our fifth annual ‘Immigrant Women of Inspiration’ special picks six amazing individuals who use their talents and passion to empower other immigrant women out of silence Canadian Immigrant presents our fifth annual “Immigrant Women of Inspiration” special, with a focus on a group of talented, passionate women with strong voices.

They all share a common inspiration — to help other immigrant women break out of silence and find their own voice.

It’s important work. While the issues that all women face in equality, pay equity, sexual harassment and violence have been front and centre this year, the reality is that immigrant women face additional challenges and barriers. They are more vulnerable, may not fully understand their rights

in Canada and often experience language barriers. That means, expressing themselves, seeking support and finding their place is that much more difficult.

Our six picks for this year’s “Immigrant Women of Inspiration” work to empower other immigrant women to have a voice through a variety of approaches, be it community service, advocacy, program development, research or art.

Here are the stories of Marcie Ponte, Alia Youssef, Tracy Folorunsho-Barry, Georgette Zinaty, Vathsala Illesinghe and Wazi Dlamini-Kapenda.

Stories by Margaret Jetelina and Nicola Enright-Morin

M

arcie Ponte vividly remembers her journey to Canada as a young girl with her mom to join her dad who was working on the railways in Vancouver. Coming from the exotic AzoreanPortuguese island of Santa Maria, they expected it to be cold in Canada, so her mother permed Ponte’s straight hair, thinking it would help keep her warm.

It’s a poignant memory for Ponte, who has since devoted her professional life to helping immigrant women like her mother adjust to Canada. Today, as executive director of Working Women Community Centre (WWCC) in Toronto, Ponte is well known as a pioneer of immigrant women’s empowerment.

“When I started out in the 1980s, there were very few of us working in the immigrant women’s movement,” she says, explaining their focus was giving immigrant women a voice among the broader women’s movement.

“At the time, immigrant women were not at the table. We felt left out and we wanted to be at that table.”

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The WWCC is one of the crowning achievements of those efforts, ensuring immigrant women’s voices would no longer be ignored. Over the past 18 years at its helm, Ponte has grown the agency from 12 staff to 136 with five locations across Toronto and providing services in more than 25 languages.

Ponte didn’t initially set out to work with immigrant women, actually. When she was still in elementary school, the Pontes, with their four children, moved to Kingston, Ontario, but, when her father died a few years later, they had to move in with her older brother in Toronto’s Leaside neighbourhood. He had three children of his own that Ponte’s mother helped care for.

“In all those years, I rarely saw my mother smile,” says Ponte, who struggled herself with feeling like she didn’t belong anywhere. After she turned 17, Ponte moved out on her own and pursued studies in community development at Centennial College, hoping to finally find her place. “Building community and having a sense of belonging is important,” she says.

tim to her patriarchal religion. This image always portrays a sad-lookingveiled-woman who is deemed in need of ‘saving.’”

Youssef wants to change those perceptions, and she is doing so through her photography.

You might already know about her compelling photographic series called The Sisters Project, which was featured in the Globe and Mail last year at the time when the niqab ban debate was trickling its way across the country from Quebec. Through these stunning portraits, Youssef features the faces of Muslim women, showcasing the diversity among them in what they wear, what they look like and what they do. They are of different ethnicities and ages. There are students, professionals and CEOs. Some women wear hijabs, some do not.

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, this portrait series speaks in volumes.

Born in London, but raised in Egypt, an eight-year-old Youssef and her family came to Canada only three years after 9/11, when Islamophobia started weighing heavy on the immigration debate. They landed in North Vancouver, and Youssef started school, facing a lot of misinformation from fellow students.

“A lot of kids asked me things like, ‘Did you live in a pyramid? A tent in the desert?’ It was clear to me that they had no idea about Middle Eastern

Marcie Ponte

Empowerment pioneer Photo by Saajid Motala She landed a work placement at St. Stephen’s Community House, a social service agency in the diverse neighbourhood of Kensington Market in Toronto. There, Ponte organized a cooking class for Portuguese women and invited her mother to take part. “She was laughing and cooking with the other women, sharing her story, talking about her struggles of coming to Canada,” Ponte says. “She was totally different in my eyes then.”

Something clicked for Ponte. “It was a turning point for me. There is something special about bringing women together, especially women who share similar experiences or a common bond. There is something truly empowering about that sharing of stories.”

Since then, Ponte has built her career on helping immigrant women find their voice. The programs and services Ponte champions at WWCC today include everything from settlement services, to language training, to career help, to community-based arts projects, to youth tutoring and mentoring. Under Ponte’s leadership, WWCC has also published two books — Making this City: Women Who Made a Difference and Tasting Diversity: A Celebration of Immigrant Women and their Cooking.

“We believe if every woman succeeds and achieves her goals, we all do well,” says Ponte, who has two daughters of her own. “That’s how we approach our work. It’s important to make spaces for women to grow, to utilize their skills, to make friends and to build community.”

— Margaret Jetelina

Y

oung photographer Alia Youssef struggles with the way Muslim women are portrayed in the media, saying: “These representations depict a voiceless, oppressed, demure, helpless woman who is a vic-

Alia Youssef

Advocacy through art

Photo by Shawn Hymers CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

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life or Arabic life. There were a lot of stereotypes and misconceptions,” she says. “I was usually the sole Muslim person in class, and I felt very judged.

I would hide that part of myself so I wouldn’t be made to feel ‘othered.’”

Youssef started to express her feelings through art, first through traditional forms like painting, and, by age 14, photography. “Once I picked up the camera, it just clicked,” she says.

When Youssef was in Grade 10, she submitted a photographic art piece to a competition that showed a woman wearing a hijab. One photo showed her with tape across her mouth and the title “The way you see me.” A second photo showed her laughing with the title, “The way I see me.”

“Since then I haven’t stopped taking portraits,” Youssef says.

After high school, Youssef came out to Toronto to do a bachelor of fine arts in photography at Ryerson. The Sisters Project began as a thesis project. Today, the ongoing visual storytelling project — which now includes video as well and is shared on Instagram and her website (thesistersproject.ca) — captures each woman in a place that’s meaningful to them and includes a short biography in their own voices.

“I wanted to show the diversity of Muslim women and who we are.

Share their individual stories and really humanize us,” Youssef says.

And the women she has photographed have been as excited to take part in the project as she was to capture their stories. “Across the board, Mus-

lim women are feeling misrepresented. They want to look at media and see themselves,” says Youssef, who is also a Toronto-based commercial photographer, shooting for magazines, headshots, family photo shoots and, of course, portraits.

“Growing up I didn’t feel a connection to Muslim women and to the Muslim community in Canada. This project opened that up to me. It has been a life-changing experience,” she says.

Now, Youssef hopes to travel across the country this summer to capture the images of more Muslim women from different parts of Canada.

Meanwhile, you can catch her work at various exhibitions, including a film from the project at the Voices of Muslim Women Gala in Surrey, B.C., on April 22, and a solo exhibition for the project at the Ryerson Image Centre in Toronto this September.​And don’t forget to follow her on Instagram @aliayphotography.

— Margaret Jetelina

T

racy Folorunsho-Barry is a wellness coach, mother of five, university student, women’s advocate, speaker and upcoming author. She is also the founder of Gradual Rising of Women (GROW). Based out of Edmonton, Alberta, GROW hosts conversation cafés, events and programs that focus on immigrant women’s personal and professional development. It’s about networking, motivation and encouragement. It’s about sharing their stories.

I would see other immigrant women doing well and it got me wondering, ‘What are they doing that I’m not doing?’”

— Tracy Folorunsho-Barry

Tracy Folorunsho-Barry

Inspiring women to GROW

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“No one woman is exactly the same as the other. The best way to empower women is to let them speak for and about themselves in their own voices,” says Folorunsho-Barry. “That’s the spirit of GROW’s Speak Out Women Series — countrywide peer-to-peer conversation cafés where women speak about their challenges, successes and accomplishments.

Women can come along, listen and relate to how others have lived their life as an immigrant woman.”

Originally from Nigeria, Folorunsho-Barry moved to Canada when she was 17, and it was her own challenges as a newcomer that propelled her to empower other immigrant women to believe in themselves.

“I had to go through my own trials and tribulations and challenges. It was difficult. I was totally lost. I didn’t know where to start. I had five babies, I was stuck in the government system, I was living in social housing, I was on social assistance,” she says. “But I would see other immigrant women doing well and it got me wondering, ‘What are they doing that I’m not doing?’”

Folorunsho-Barry promised herself that, if “I can get myself out of this mess, I’m going to show other women how to help themselves, too — and that’s how I started.”

In addition to the events, Folorunsho-Barry is busy compiling a book of women’s stories shared through GROW — 150 stories to be exact — in a soon-to-be-released book called Project 150, begun in conjunction with Canada’s 150th birthday celebration.

“I decided to collect the untold stories of immigrant women in order to inspire other immigrant women in Canada,” she says.

More than just inspiration, Folorunsho-Barry recently announced a new micro-financing project through GROW to help women start their own businesses and succeed in Canada.

“I would say the secret to my success is coming from a country and background that wasn’t easy. I suffered a lot, my family suffered a lot and, when I lived in Africa, I saw a lot of people working hard, but with nothing to show for it,” she says.

“When I got to Canada and I saw how much opportunity there was, I decided to break that cycle, get a better education and be successful, so that I could help women like my mother and sisters, who had worked hard all their life. I just want to help other immigrant women and elevate them out of their poverty.”

For Folorunsho-Barry, helping immigrant women reach their full potential is central to her work. “In Canada, I’ve been given opportunities and I want to help other women have the same chances at me. All they need is the knowledge.”

— Nicola Enright-Morin

A

s far as Georgette Zinaty is concerned, perspective is everything.

“My philosophy in life is that your cup isn’t half full or half empty — really, it’s all full; I say the empty part is the untapped opportunity,” says Zinaty, executive director of development and alumni relations at the University of Toronto Scarborough.

You open doors, you help when you can — it’s the right thing to do and it makes us all better human beings.”

— Georgette Zinaty

An immigrant from Israel, Zinaty has faced plenty of struggles during her own journey, but she says that viewing them as challenges, rather than obstacles, has been instrumental to her success. It’s about having a positive mindset and finding your voice — key strengths she wants to instill in other newcomer women.

Zinaty has worked in promoting women’s leadership for her entire career and she is currently completing a doctorate, focusing on women, leadership, inclusion and diversity.

“My research over the past two decades has identified barriers to upward mobility for women in the workplace, and despite the changes in

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Georgette Zinaty

Tapping women’s potential

organizations to improve the work environments, the question as to why the gender gap in the most senior leadership roles remains open,” she explains.

While she continues to research the topic, Zinaty is already doing her part in making progress in women’s leadership. She has created numerous programs and events for women, most recently, a pilot program at the University of Toronto called the Women in Leadership Initiative.

Since its launch in September 2017, 26 young women, from very diverse backgrounds, including many newcomers, have taken part in the program. She purposefully designed the program to encourage participants to see their potential and find their own voice, so that when they encounter adversity they will know how to deal with it.

“I encourage women to think about when someone pushes back, or puts you down, how do you take that and use it as a teaching moment? How do you find your voice without being negative or pushing back in a bad way?

I ask them to think about how they can learn from that situation and turn it around to their advantage,” she says.

But Zinaty understands firsthand how a newcomer’s journey is not always easy, especially for women. “When I came to Canada, I had to find

my own way and, although I encountered roadblocks in my journey, it was my drive, outlook and positive perspective on life that helped me achieve great things,” she says. “But I recognize that not everybody has that, and some people have it harder than I did. I’m very privileged to be in my role at the university, and I feel like it’s my job to give back. You open doors, you help when you can — it’s the right thing to do and it makes us all better human beings.”

While it’s important for leaders like Zinaty to show the way, she wants immigrant women to feel empowered to take matters into their own hands. “The advice I would give newcomer women is that you must create opportunities for yourself. If you get shot down, dust yourself off, regroup your perspective on life and try something different, because if you keep doing the same thing, you’re going to keep on getting the same results,” she says. “Find a handful of good people you can rely on — you don’t need a massive network — work hard, and have good ethics and integrity — that will all get you far in life.”

— Nicola Enright-Morin

F

or Vathsala Illesinghe, researching violence against women is the driving force behind her life’s work. While working as a doctor in Colombo, Sri Lanka, then later in research and advocacy, Illesinghe fought to get violence against women addressed in the health sector, pushed back against the stigma of speaking out, and went on to publish some of the most-cited work on violence against women in Sri Lanka.

After moving to Canada in 2013, however, she quickly found that her previous experiences didn’t hold much weight here. A couple of months into her journey as a Canadian, Illesinghe found herself sitting in her basement apartment, clutching her three-week-old newborn son in her arms, with no job prospects. She realized she was losing self-esteem, and that she was essentially in the same position emotionally as many of the women she had fought so hard in her career to help.

The scariest thing for me is when these women don’t see a way out of their situation.”

— Vathsala Illesinghe

Vathsala Illesinghe A voice against violence

Photo by Clifton Li​

“I quickly realized that if I wanted to make my previous work experience relevant, I needed to go back to school. So I ​went ​back to school for a PhD in social sciences, making quite a significant career shift​,” she says.

It was clearly a good decision; in 2017, Illesinghe received one of 15 Pierre Elliott Trudeau doctoral scholarships. She is the first-ever Ryerson University student to receive this prestigious three-year scholarship, and its funding will support her research, community engagement and knowledge dissemination. Specifically, Illesinghe is focused on “understanding immigrant women’s vulnerability to violence and how immigration policies shape that experience.”

She says: “I’m planning to collect data both in Sri Lanka and Canada, and look not only at people’s experiences, but also at the cross-border implementation of immigration policy in a country of origin.”

According to her research, in Canada, as in many countries across the world, one in three women experience abuse by intimate partners during their lifetime, but immigrant and refugee women face additional, specific risks because of their immigration status.

“The scariest thing for me is when these women don’t see a way out of their situation. It’s the personal stories that resonate with you the most and they inspire me to keep going with my work,” she says.

“In an ideal world, I would like to see women being treated as equal to men, and when they apply to become immigrants, I would like to see the​ir education, skills and the type of work ​that they have done pre-migration being recognized as equally important as men’s.”

Speaking to immigrant women directly, she says: “If I could share one piece of experience, I would say don’t adjust to your new reality in a way that closes doors on yourself. Learn about your new country and learn the language because they can help navigate the challenges ​of resettlement, but ​it is also important to find relevance for your previous life experiences CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

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and work. What you have done before and where you come from are​ important; it is because of those experiences that you ​should be valued, not despite them.”

— Nicola Enright-Morin

I

f you were at the Women’s March in Vancouver in January, you might have heard Wazi Dlamini-Kapenda speak at the protest to the enthusiastic crowd on women’s rights and the need to unsilence women’s voices. Dlamini-Kapenda has, in fact, been speaking out on behalf of women ever since immigrating to Canada in 1995.

Born in Swaziland, Dlamini-Kapenda was a trained epidemiologist doing HIV/AIDS work in Africa, when she and her one-year-old son came to Toronto to join her Congo-born husband, who was accepted as a refugee to Canada. “To tell you the truth, I never thought of moving away from my country,” she says. “For me, that was a hard decision because my country had invested so much in me [and my education].”

Dlamini-Kapenda even had a scholarship waiting to further her studies and go to medical school, but getting married and having children changed her path, as it does for many women. “But I have no regrets,” she says.

After arriving in Vancouver, Dlamini-Kapenda’s first job was with immigrant settlement agency MOSAIC to run a series of workshops for new immigrant women on integrating into Canadian society. “I had arrived in August and got the job in September! I enjoyed it so much and made a lot of friendships with those women,” she says.

Dlamini-Kapenda was also running some health workshops in the community, when she got a call out to take part in a grassroots initiative to research different women’s program in Mexico.

I like to see the mothers that we work with blossoming and coming out of their shells.

We see their children so happy and excited about learning.”

— Wazi Dlamini-Kapenda

“I had just had my daughter and didn’t want to travel with a baby, but Debbie Bell [the organizer of the trip] told me ‘Wazi, just bring your baby with you.’ So, there I was, with a four-month-old baby with this group of women in Mexico.”

In Mexico they discovered an interesting program called HIPPY — Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters — which supported moms of preschoolers through home visits to help develop mothers’ parenting skills and create community connections. Dlamini-Kapenda didn’t know it then, but the HIPPY program would become the cornerstone of her career.

Bell led the establishment of the program in Vancouver in 1999, and asked Dlamini-Kapenda to serve as the first co-ordinator of the HIPPY program in Canada. “I was fascinated by working with women and children and seeing where this was all going to go,” says Dlamini-Kapenda.

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Wazi Dlamini-Kapenda

Empowering immigrant mothers

After six years in this role, Dlamini-Kapenda’s career took her back to her epidemiologist roots, but it wasn’t long before she returned to HIPPY Canada as its national training co-ordinator. “Once you’re a HIPPY you’re always a HIPPY,” she says with a laugh.

Today, Dlamini-Kapenda heads up HIPPY’s multicultural program across Canada. From her base at the Mothers Matter Centre in Vancouver, she helps oversee 17 programs in six provinces. “The Multicultural HIPPY program was developed to support the mother — mainly newcomer and refugee mothers as well as low-income mothers — as the first and most important teacher of her child. The program encourages them to be fully involved in their communities,” she says.

“For me, the reason I feel so excited to work in this position is that, as women and mothers, we want basically one thing — the best for our children,” say Dlamini-Kapenda, whose own children are now young adults pursuing post-secondary education. “I like to see the mothers that we work with blossoming and coming out of their shells. We see their children so happy and excited about learning. And we see the home visitors themselves [many of whom started as participants in the program] growing professionally. For me, this is the greatest reward.”

— Margaret Jetelina

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motivation

What we can all learn from

Generation Z To help us stay competitive and productive in our careers

By Kaitlin Jingco

I

n recent years, there’s been a lot of talk about the millennials in the workplace — and it’s not always been positive. Now, there’s a shift in that discussion as the millennials, Generation Xers and baby boomers have a new generation to consider — and compete with — Generation Z. Gen Zs are already making inroads into the labour market and definitely making some waves with their entrepreneurial values, innovative ideas, and technology and social media skillsets.

Many companies already recognize the importance of attracting this young group of workers. TD Bank, recently selected as one of Canada’s

16

CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 15 Issue 2 | 2018

Top 100 Employers for Young People, is one of them.

“It’s a feather in our cap for sure,” says Asud Anderson, head of campus recruitment and early talent at TD. “[Attracting top young people] is exactly what my team’s mandate is.”

With the way the workforce is changing, considering the growing role of new technologies, social media, as well as the introduction of new realms like crypto currencies, Anderson explains, Gen Zs have a skillset and a perspective unlike any other generation, as they were born and raised in the digital world.

“From the youngest ages, they already understand way more than we do,” he says. “[Their] ability to learn is 10 times faster than past generations.” And many companies are actively seeking out these youth, rather than relying on the traditional candidate-seeks-employment route that we’ve grown used to, he adds.

5 things to know about Gen Z

Who are Gen Zs, really?

With a lack of Canadian information on this new and in-demand cohort, n-gen, a Toronto-based organization that trains industry leaders to manage multigenerational workforces, conducted a national survey to better understand who Gen Zs are.

According to n-gen, Gen Zs were born between 1996 and 2012, predominantly to Gen X parents. While the new employees have a reputation for being tech savvy, Giselle Kovary, president and co-founder of n-gen, says this group is much more than that.

“First and foremost, they’re incredibly optimistic,” Kovary says. “They believe they’re going to be better off than their parents, even though lots of data would suggest that would not be the case.”

She adds that another finding is that Gen Zs value loyalty very highly, suggesting they may be interested in staying at a company more long-term than the millennials who came before them.

Other key results of the survey show that, in line with the ever-changing mobile world this group was raised in, Gen Zs are also going to be notably flexible, highly educated, lifelong learners and innovative at solving problems. But, similar to all of the generations who came before them, they will want to feel that they are contributing to a team.

“I think Gen Zs are going to take the work ethic of the baby boomers, the independence of their Gen X parents, and the creativity and fluidity of the millennials,” says Kovary.

Impact on the workforce

Want to stay competitive with Gen Z? Here are five trends you should understand: 1. PHIGITAL — The line between the physical and digital worlds for Gen Z hasn’t just been blurred; it’s been completely eliminated.

2. FOMO (fear of missing out) — Gen Zs suffer from an intense fear of missing out on anything. They stay on top of all trends — and worry they’re not moving ahead fast enough.

3. WE-CONOMISTS — From Uber to Airbnb, Gen Zs have only known a world with a shared economy. They push to break down internal and external silos like never before.

4. SCREENAGERS — Gen Zs are the first true “mobile natives,” constantly connected to social media, adapting well to changing technology and continuous information overload.

5. DIY — Gen Z is the ultimate YouTube-driven do-it-yourself generation. Its fierce, independent nature will spur more autonomy and more collaborative cultures.

— Murali Murthy

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motivation their effect on the workforce has not really been determined yet. However, experts predict their impact will be significant, and they have suggestions for older generations, including internationally trained professionals in Canada, as to how they can learn from the soon-to-be young professionals.

“Take the time to learn about this incoming generation and what separates them from their older counterparts,” says Murali Murthy, bestselling author of You Are Hired!, columnist and career coach. “And then start crafting your competitive edge for the workforce of tomorrow.”

Of course, you have to be tech savvy, he says, but he encourages individuals to be more mobile. He explains that older generations often wait until they’re at home on the computer to answer questions or find information, while Gen Zs will already have the answer, as they use their phones to problem solve instantly, regardless of where they are.

While many associate Gen Zs with having their eyes glued to their phones, Murthy says research shows that the young cohort actually values face-to-face communication very highly, whether in real life or video chat. He says that new immigrants should try their best to be collaborative, as, despite the digital growth, face-to-face interactions can be very effective.

Anderson agrees. He says that when his team looks to recruit new talent, they’re not relying on traditional cover letter and resumé applica-

GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO

Power of a multi-generational workforce While it’s important that jobseeking immigrants learn what they can from Gen Zs, Sonia Morgan, head of talent at Capitol One Canada, says immigrants shouldn’t focus solely on emulating these youth. Instead, she says her company — which was also recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for Young People — finds that a multi-generational workforce is ideal as it brings balance to the workplace.

“Each generation can learn from the other and together they become a very powerful force,” she says. “We lay a large emphasis on diversity and inclusion ... We encourage our people to be themselves and to bring their CDI-BC-EVT-Black Press_3.7917X4.8125.pdf 1 2018-03-20 11:54 hearts and minds to work.”

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tions. Instead, they’re seeking talent at events and festivals that attract the type of people they’re trying to hire. For example, if TD is looking to hire a computer pro, they’ll head to Toronto’s Techfest.

“You find that the people who really love what they do or what they want to do are at these events,” says Anderson. Therefore, he recommends that newcomers to Canada get out and join clubs, participate in activities, and attend events that are in line with their employment interests. It’s there that they may encounter potential employers — while simultaneously building new connections and learning new skills.

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housing

What does it cost to live in Canada?

A comparison of housing prices in different cities

By Kaitlin Jingco

T

here are many factors to consider when moving into a new home, one of the most important being cost. To give you an idea of what you can expect to pay for a home in

Greater Toronto Area

Canada, we’ve laid out the average monthly rent and mortgage prices of homes in the biggest cities in Canada, with data from the Canadian Real Estate Association.

Metro Vancouver

When it comes to buying a home, Toronto prices have declined compared to the last year or so; the Ontario government implemented reforms to cool 2016’s huge price increases. However, the city is still one of the most expensive in Canada, with the second highest rent and buying prices in the country.

As the only city with average house prices meeting the seven-digit mark, Vancouver tops the list as Canada’s most expensive city. While Vancouver homes are, on average, about $250,000 more than Toronto homes, rent prices for one-bedrooms are comparable between the two cities.

Renting:

$2,000 monthly for a one-bedroom apartment $3,150 monthly for a two-bedroom apartment

$1,970 monthly for a one-bedroom apartment $2,500 monthly for a two-bedroom apartment

Buying: $751,700 average price, with monthly mortgage payments of $3,725.78

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 15 Issue 2 | 2018

Renting:

Buying: $1,071,800 average price, with monthly mortgage payments of $5,317.29

Winnipeg, Manitoba Moving away from Ontario and British Columbia, homes become much more affordable. In Winnipeg, Manitoba, you’ll find the lowest-priced houses on our list, with the average home costing less than $300,000.

Renting: $900 monthly for a one-bedroom apartment $1,170 monthly for a two-bedroom apartment

Buying: $297,929 on average, with monthly mortgage payments of $1,478.05

Calgary, Alberta Finding itself in the middle of the pack, Calgary, Alberta’s home prices have consistently stayed around $430,000 over the past few years. Moving away from the city, prices in Alberta are typically below the $400,000 mark.

Renting: $1,080 monthly for a one-bedroom apartment, $1,320 monthly for a twobedroom apartment

Buying: $428,500 on average, with monthly mortgage payments of $2,125.83

Edmonton, Alberta Cheaper than its southern neighbour Calgary, Edmonton has seen slight increases in its buying and renting rates in recent years. Despite the rises, prices in Alberta’s capital city are lower than the province’s total average.

Renting: $900 monthly for a one-bedroom apartment $1,180 monthly for a two-bedroom apartment

Buying: $374,361 on average, with monthly mortgage payments of $1,857.24

Halifax, Nova Scotia Heading into the Maritimes, you’ll find the lowest-priced homes in the country, with New Brunswick being the cheapest with average prices of just $169,023. Nova Scotia’s prices are higher, but of the major Canadian cities, mortgages and rent prices in this province’s capital are toward the lower end.

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Renting: $900 monthly for a one-bedroom apartment $1,170 monthly for a two-bedroom apartment

Buying: $315,723 on average, with monthly mortgage payments of $1,566.33 CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

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careers & education

Students are welcome

Why are international students flocking to Canada?

C

anada has experienced a huge surge in its international student population in recent years. International students contribute more than $15 billion to our economy each year, which supports 170,000 Canadian jobs. On first inclination, one might think that the anti-foreigner sentiments in other countries have contributed to this surge, but this is an oversimplification.

The latest federal government data shows that Canada had just fewer than 500,000 international students at the end of 2017. To put things into context, Canada’s international student population has nearly tripled over the past decade.

In 2014, the federal government set a goal of having 450,000 international students in the country by 2022.

Canada has achieved this target five years earlier and now ranks fourth behind the U.S., U.K. and China.

Canada’s rising intake corresponds with sky-rocketing demand for international education.

Increased wealth in emerging markets has led to many citizens from the likes of Asia, Africa and the Middle East looking abroad to complete their studies.

Now, why are students coming here?

True, Canada’s reputation as an open and welcoming society does help. In fact, it’s the second main reason international students come here, according to the annual survey conducted by the Canadian Bureau for International Education.

Canada also offers one of the world’s most competitive packages to international students. Many international students are eligible to work here part time to subsidize their expenses and gain work experience.

Upon completion of their stud-

By Kareem El-Assal

with the rest of the world.

From students to immigrants

ies, many go on to obtain postgraduate work permits, which allows them to apply their education in the Canadian labour market.

International students are offered a suite of immigration pathways to encourage them to build a new life here. This makes perfect sense.

They are statistically proven to be among the best candidates for immigration due to their high levels of language proficiency, good quality education that is automatically recognized by Canadian employers, and their experience working and living in Canada — which speeds up the integration process.

That said, the main reason international students choose Canada is for the high quality of education offered by our colleges and universities. Moreover, international student tuition, which may seem expensive when compared with what Canadians pay, is globally competitive. The weak Canadian dollar also helps as it makes our institutions even more affordable than those that charge tuition in U.S. dollars, British pounds and Euros.

A skeptic may argue that Canadian institutions are pursuing international students because they are a huge source of revenue.

While revenue from international students is important, there is more to the story. Often, tuition paid by international students is meant to cover their full costs for participating at our institu-

tions. Canada’s youth population is shrinking and so institutions need to recruit abroad to ensure they remain educationally and financially viable — which is to the benefit of Canadian students. And welcoming bright minds to Canada enriches the learning experience at our campuses, provides students and faculty with international perspectives, and strengthens our economic and social ties

So, where do we go from here?

According to the Conference Board of Canada’s research, more could be done to build awareness among international students about Canada’s immigration pathways. Our country has more than 50 immigration streams, which can make navigating the system daunting for international students.

Finally, with more international students becoming immigrants, we need to identify how we can deliver cost-effective settlement supports to them to facilitate a seamless integration process. The research is clear: the earlier the settlement intervention, the more likely that an immigrant will thrive in Canada.

Kareem El-Assal is the senior research associate, immigration, with the Conference Board of Canada.

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 15 Issue 2 | 2018

C

6 intelligent ways to cover cracks in your resumé

oncerned about the employment gaps on your resumé?

Maybe you are brand new to the country, maybe you decided to go back to school, maybe you had a health challenge or maybe you took time out to be a parent — now you have an obvious hole in your employment history.

It’s OK to have gaps in your employment history and employers are frequently used to seeing them.

But, at the same time, it’s important to acknowledge gaps in employment history upfront, in a resumé or on your LinkedIn profile.

Recruiters don’t really want to hear specifics on your personal challenges. They are mainly concerned about what you have been up to. You want to show that you’ve been busy and how your experience will help you be a valuable employee.

At all times, make sure you demonstrate career progression, not stagnation. In fact, many employers will admire your honesty and

the activities you were doing during the gap periods.

As a career coach, I’ve interviewed my fair share of candidates, and if there’s one piece of advice I can give you, it’s this: with a little planning, you can answer a potentially sensitive interview question about the reason for the employment gap with a winning personal branding statement.

1

Newly landed immigrant

If you are new in the country and jobless, there’s a simple, threestep method to explain this at your next interview: State briefly. Reassure quickly. Redirect adeptly.

Describe the situation very briefly.

Then reassure what steps you are taking to cover the gap. And redirect them to the most current activity you are involved in.

An ideal response: “From the time I landed, I knew that I would need to stay busy until I found a job. So I continued to

careers & education

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

keep up-to-date in my field, by volunteering for a cause I was passionate about (and/or) by enrolling in a course that would aid my career. I really found my passion in helping others, which is why I’m so excited about this opportunity to work for your company.”

2

Job loss

It’s fairly commonplace these days, so there is no need to feel embarrassed about being laid off.

Just remember not to badmouth your past organization or boss. Instead, focus your response on all the positive things you achieved while you were there.

An ideal response: “The company merged with another organization/the head office and had to implement some budget cuts and, as a result I was asked to leave with a few others. However, I’m proud of what I achieved during my time there, something which can be reinforced by my previous manager, who’s one of my references.”

3

Resignation

Just be honest with why you chose to resign. If you took on any paid or volunteer work during this time, concentrate your response on the additional personal and professional skills that

you have gained.

An ideal response: “I spent a number of years working at the company where — as you can see from my references — I was very successful. But I had reached a stage in my career where I wanted to focus on my personal growth. So I took the time off to enrol in a new course. Now I feel more than ready to jump back into my career with renewed energy and I feel this role is the ideal way to do that.”

4

Back to school

So you went back to school.

This is perhaps the easiest one to explain. Particularly if what you did is relevant to your chosen career. Even if not, it’s easy to put a positive spin on something that requires a certain level of intelligence and hard work.

An ideal response: “I wanted to expand my career options by completing some training/ getting a qualification in my field.

Now that I’ve achieved my educational goals, I’m looking forward to using my qualifications to benefit the company I work for. This role is the perfect way for me to do that because …”

5

Personal health challenges

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careers & education

range of skills, which you now have in abundance. If you had time to keep your skills and industry knowledge up to date during this time, make sure you mention this.

End the discussion by telling the interviewer that you’re excited to recommit yourself to your career.

An ideal response:

“After a lot of thought, I decided that my top priority was my child/ elderly parent/sick spouse. However, I made sure to keep my professional skills up to date during that time. Now I’m in a position to refocus on my career and I’m looking forward to utilizing all the additional soft skills I’ve learned.”

“I went through a tough time health wise due to a car accident and I took some time out to concentrate on getting better, so I could get back to work as quickly as possible.

I’m pleased that I overcame that challenge because it’s made me a stronger person, but now I’m fully recovered and ready to focus on the next stage of my career.”

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a straightforward explanation that you’re comfortable sharing.

Mention how proud you are that you were able to overcome your health problems and then move the conversation swiftly into the present day by discussing the relevant skills you have to offer the new company.

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Family matters

Remember, caring for the sick or elderly and raising a family are tough jobs that require a huge

An ideal response:

Final tip: be honest There’s always a way to put a positive spin on a gap — no matter how big or small — so just be honest and upfront — and come off as the ideal candidate for the job.

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

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 15 Issue 2 | 2018

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careers & education j o b s e a r c h s t r at e g i e s

Hiring scams

How to avoid fraudulent career opportunities when jobhunting

Y

ou are new to Canada and eager to start working as soon as possible. You start applying for jobs and are sending out so many resumés that you lost track of where and for what you applied. Suddenly, you get the magical email: it says they have reviewed your resumé and are happy to start working with you next week, after some paperwork is done.

They send you a cheque to cover some expenses and your hours in advance, so you can start working from home on an important project for them. The email provides very detailed information on what you will need to do: deposit their cheque, buy a few items you’ll need to work from home and send the company a small amount back so they have a way to continue paying you in the future.

You are all excited, it sounds like a dream job: work from home with decent pay. You deposit the cheque with no warnings from your bank’s teller, what could go wrong?

Except that … the company doesn’t exist, the website is fake, and as soon as they cash your transfer, their cheque will bounce back and your bank will ask you to cover for the withdrawal.

You may find it strange, but this happened to four of my newcomer clients! This modus operandi for the “work from home” job has been going on for a few years now.

Hiring scam tactics Other tactics include calling people for interviews in odd buildings; offering jobs that require a lot from you, but rarely pay; asking you to pay for mandatory training; promising commission once you have sold a usually unachievable amount of investments, credit cards, insurance, etc.).

Scams are increasing and affecting almost everybody, but immigrant job seekers, seniors and women seem to be easier targets.

If you have been the victim of one, you probably know how bad it can be: from feeling betrayed,

to wasting time, to losing money — no one wants to be in that place. Unfortunately, scammers are becoming increasingly skilled in taking advantage of those who are new and don’t yet know “the ropes.”

How to spot a scam A scam is any fraudulent and/ or misleading claim that takes advantage of your expectations to take something from you, usually money, or your personal information, time and skills, without giving anything valuable in return.

Here are seven tips on how to spot a scam.

1. It is usually too good to be true.

2. Most of these jobs are advertised as “work from home,” “selfemployed” or “sales/marketing.”

3. They don’t interview you or the interview is very brief; they don’t seem to be very concerned about experience or skills.

4. The company doesn’t have a fully functional website, or the website doesn’t clearly state what they do and where they are.

5. They ask for money or supplies to do your job (even if they send you a cheque, you are still asked to send them money).

6. They tell you there is a (paid) mandatory training or licence to do this job and you need to pay them for this.

7. They don’t offer to pay for your expenses but you use your car, gas or public transit to visit potential clients; use your own phone to call.

jobs you apply for: where, what and when.

2. Always research the companies prior to applying to any job and make sure they are legitimate businesses (they should have functional websites, social media, real people to contact, an address, a description of what they do, mission and vision statements, etc.).

3. Never provide confidential or

personal information to anyone who emails or calls you; real employers will do this in a formal way after the interview, not before.

4. Eliminate your address from your resumé: leave only name, city, phone and a functional email, preferably dedicated to job search only (not your personal email).

5. If interviewed and offered a job, ask for details about contract, schedule, supervisor, team and expectations about you. If a job is on commission, ask who covers for transportation, phone calls and supplies.

6. If in doubt, check with your employment counsellor, case manager or settlement worker.

Argentinian-born Silvia Di Blasio is a certified career counsellor. With a passion for sustainability, food security and resilient communities, she shares her time and skills through diverse projects including writing, blogging, facilitating workshops, coaching and consulting.

How to protect yourself from scams Now, here are six ways to protect yourself from scams.

1. Have a tracking system for the CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |

WESTJET AIRLINES: 22 AERIAL PLACE NE CALGARY, AB T2E 3J1 T. 403 444 2460

27

E. CREATIVESERVICES@WESTJET.COM

1 page layout / Provided photos

living

Canadian lifestyle 101

W

Making the most of the great outdoors now that warmer weather is here

hen you think of Canada, its natural beauty is what first comes to mind, from the wet Pacific Coast to the magnificent Rockies to Ontario cottage country to the diverse Atlantic shores. And much of the Canadian lifestyle centres around enjoying this landscape, especially as spring brings with it warmer weather. Three immigrants and longtime contributors to Canadian Immigrant share how they make the most of the Canadian outdoors.

above Svetlana Lazareva with her family enjoying an afternoon out kayaking.

above Karen Southall Watts at Trout Lake in Vancouver.

“I love to escape in the wilderness, become part of the nature, take a deep breath and let everything go. I particularly enjoy cottaging, a favourite Canadian spring-summer-fall activity. Almost 10 years ago, my family found a cottage near Manitoulin Island and we now make a point of going there for a week or two each year. It takes about five hours of driving to get there, but the experiences we get are priceless — nature walks, boating, kayaking, riding quads, stargazing and swinging in a hammock, just to mention a few.”

— Svetlana Lazareva, Toronto

“One of my favourite pastimes has always been walking. Vancouver, my new hometown, is full of great places to walk — busy shopping areas, bustling neighbourhoods and beautiful parks. After a stressful work week, I recently took a stroll near Trout Lake to enjoy some sunshine, an activity that always cheers me up.”

— Karen Southall Watts, Vancouver

above Gautam Nath and his parents-in-law, Cyril and Asha Nathan, on Toronto Islands.

above Vineeta Nath leads the way on a rental houseboat.

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 15 Issue 2 | 2018

“Spring is one of the best seasons in Canada, coming out of the cold and the snow, and we do our best to take in the fresh air and the outdoor life. We like to rent a houseboat on the Trent-Severn Waterway and spend two full days exploring the waters and navigating our way from lock to lock. Closer to home, we’ll pack a picnic lunch, take the whole family to the Toronto Islands and rent a quad — a nice Sunday pastime.”

— Gautam and Vineeta Nath, Toronto

settlement T i ps f o r S e tt l i n g i n F a st e r

Safety first

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Three ways to protect yourself against fraud

ithin the busy times after immigrating, you’ll likely be setting up banking information for employment and creating new accounts for items such as cellphones, cable services and home internet.

Before you know it, you’ve set up automatic payments and given out personal information to a number of different companies. While doing this, it’s important to remember that fraud can happen anywhere at any time, and the signs may be quite different from what you’d expect.

Here are three common types of fraud and how to stay protected against them.

Job scams As you begin your job search in Canada, be aware of opportunities that seem too good to be true.

Chances are that they might be. Job scams may include scenarios that

ask you to transfer money in advance prior to starting work or to provide extensive personal information before meeting face-to-face for an interview.

How to protect yourself: Do your research on the companies and ensure any potential employer is legitimate. You can confirm this through employment agencies in your neighbourhood.

Phishing Phishing is a common online scam designed to trick you into disclosing your personal or financial information for the purpose of financial fraud or identity theft.

You may receive an email from a source appearing to be legitimate.

Typically, they will give a reason to convince you that you must provide information immediately. Common themes include alerting you to a security breach on a personal ac-

count, announcing you are contest winner or advising you that a long distance relative has left you a large sum of money from an inheritance.

How to protect yourself: You can never be too safe. Check the email address online to see if this is a common scam experienced by others. If something looks suspicious, do not open it and delete it right away. Take security precautions to protect your personal information and do not share it with anyone or store it on your computer.

SMiShing Similar to phishing scams, SMiShing is when you receive a text message to your mobile phone

containing a website link that if clicked, can grant a fraudster access to your personal information.

How to protect yourself: If a text message is from an unknown sender or they claim to be from a reputable source, do not click on the link; delete the message. If fraudsters get access to your device or personal information, you may be at risk of being compromised.

Financial institutions and other service providers will not ask for your personal information through text or email.

An added layer of protection can help prevent fraud. Remember to use different passwords for different accounts.

Ivy Chiu is the senior director, cultural markets, at RBC. Once a newcomer herself, Chiu is interested in helping newcomers integrate to life in Canada. Are you new to Canada or know someone who is? Visit rbc.com/newcomers for more advice.

Are you a Francophone immigrant?

Take advantage of our free settlement services offered in French for successful integration in British Columbia!

One-on-One Consultations Administrative Help Employment

Information Workshops Housing Networking Integration Francophone Activities Connection Four offices to serve you better in Vancouver, New Westminster, Fraser Valley and Victoria

7 LOCATIONS IN DURHAM & YORK REGIONS!

A program offered by

Call us toll free at 1-877-630-0316 info@vivreencb.ca vivreencb.ca

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canspeak...

Words, expressions and sayings Sports fan? Then you may already know the meaning behind these sports idioms that are often applied in the real world and workplace, too.

Slam dunk Basketball was actually invented in Canada, and a slam dunk is the modern player’s ideal shot — a guaranteed two points. Figurately, a “slam dunk” means a certain success.

Jump the gun From track and field, this idiom implies you’ve started something prematurely, just like a sprinter who starts before the starting signal goes off. You’ve “jumped the gun!”

Hook, line and sinker If you’re a fisher, you know the origins of this idiom. In the real world, it implies that you believe a lie or scam totally and completely. You fell for his lie “hook, line and sinker.”

See more words at canadianimmigrant.ca under “Work & Education > Language.”

Newcomer Services Are you a newcomer looking for work or starting a business?

Let Job Skills guide you to success with these Programs & Services

GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO

WITH VANCOUVER CAREER COLLEGE

Employment Ontario Employment Services for adults and youth Self-Employment Pathways for Newcomers Job Find Club- Enhanced

OFFERING PRACTICAL CAREER TRAINING IN:

Simpact - Practice Firm - Hands on work experience in a virtual setting Job Search Workshops and Employment Supports at Welcome Centre Immigrant Services in York Region NEW - Bridge to Healthcare Alternatives - Providing alternative career paths to newcomers with international healthcare experience NEW - Food Service Preparation Program - Providing training and certification to help newcomer women find work in the food services industry ... and much more!

www.JobSkills.org | 1-866-592-6278 | info@JobSkills.org Locations throughout the GTA! Services provided at no cost to eligible individuals.

Job Skills receives funding from the Government of Canada, provincial and municipal governments, United Way - Toronto & York Region and Ontario Trillium Foundation

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CANADIAN IMMIGRANT Volume 15 Issue 2 | 2018

TECHNICAL DESIGN BUSINESS TEACHING EDUCATION HEALTHCARE LEGAL TRADES TECHNOLOGY Go from the classroom to the work force faster. Apply now!

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LEARNING THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE Explore the possibilities with Continuing Education at George Brown College Meet Precious, Marylin, Angela, Carl, Rita and Lee-Anne – just a few of the people who have achieved success with the help of our Continuing Education courses. The skills, connections and confidence they gained made it possible for them to achieve their goals. Read their stories on our website, and see the difference you can make in your own life with George Brown College.

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