Canadian Immigrant - September 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014 I FREE

UPFRONT

ARRIVE. SUCCEED. INSPIRE.

Navigating

neighbourhoods

Publications mail agreement number 40065097

Brazilian-born entrepreneurs Mauro Repacci and Gustavo Burckhardt help newcomers pick their perfect little piece of Canada

WORKING FOR THE GREATER GOOD:

NON-PROFIT CAREERS Celebrating 10 Years!

4 ELEVATOR PITCH STEPS TO AN EFFECTIVE

September 2014

Canadian Immigrant

3

Every

ENGINEERING

*

project starts with a plan.

So should your career in CANADA. If you are a graduate of an engineering program outside of Canada and your career plans include becoming an engineer in this country, visit this website today for advice on how to prepare before coming to Canada, compare your education to a Canadian education, obtain a professional engineering licence, and much more.

Start planning for an engineering career in Canada today!

NEWCOMERS.ENGINEERSCANADA.CA

INGÉNIERIE

Tout projet d’ commence par un plan.

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Votre carrière au Canada le devrait aussi.

Si vous êtes diplômé d’un programme de génie de l’étranger et que vous envisagez de devenir ingénieur au Canada, visitez ce site Web dès aujourd’hui. Vous y trouverez des conseils sur la façon de vous préparer avant de venir au Canada, de comparer votre formation à celle offerte au Canada, d’obtenir un permis d’exercice du génie et bien plus.

Commencez à planifier une carrière d’ingénieur au Canada dès aujourd’hui.

NOUVEAUX.INGENIEURSCANADA.CA

* The term ENGINEERING is an official mark owned by Engineers Canada.

* Le terme INGÉNIERIE est une marque officielle détenue par Ingénieurs Canada.

a.

UPFRONT

REGULARS 6 | OUR TAKE/YOUR TAKE 8 | FUSION ›› PROFILE: Holistic coach Audrey McDonough ›› NEWS: Micro-loan program ›› CANSPEAK: English sayings explained

19 | WELCOME TO CANADA

›› Tips for newcomers on settlement, finances and more

A PLACE TO CALL HOME Mauro Repacci and Gustavo Burckhardt, Brazilian-born founders of a neighbourhoodlocating website, are making the move to Canada easier for newcomers

Photo and cover photo by Riccardo Cellere

CONTENTS

12| COVER STORY

34 | SETTLEMENT

›› LIFE LESSONS: Leap of faith ›› ABCs of starting kindergarten

36 | WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT ›› Tips for careers in health care

38 | BACK PAGE

›› TOP TIPS: Advice from some of our Top 25

24 | ›› ›› ›› ››

Good jobs in the non-profit sector CAREER COACH: 30-second elevator pitch JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES: Building resilience SKILLS FOR SUCCESS: Dealing with rejection

Helping new immigrants connect Try our conversation clubs, Canadian fitness and citizenship courses, and much more!

T: 604.685.8066 (Vancouver and Burnaby) T: 604.316.3576 (Chilliwack) E: connections@gv.ymca.ca

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Celebrating 10 Years!

September 2014

Canadian Immigrant

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UPFRONT

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 9 SEPTEMBER 2014 Group Publisher Gautam Datt Sharma Director – Business Development Sanjay Agnihotri Editor Margaret Jetelina mjetelina@metroland.com Senior Editor Baisakhi Roy broy@metroland.com Creative Director & Editorial Design Safi Nomani snomani@metroland.com Digital Media Developer Kamil Mytnik Advertising Sales Sr. Ad Manager (B.C. and Alberta) Alla Gordeeva alla@canadianimmigrant.ca Tel: 778 558 3397 Sr. Ad Manager (Toronto) 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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Toronto Circulation 50,000 copies Vancouver Circulation 30,000 copies Calgary Circulation 3,000 copies Canadian Immigrant is published monthly and distributed free throughout Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto. Canadian Immigrant welcomes submissions, but is not responsible for unsolicited material. Canadian Immigrant is a publication of Metroland Media Group, a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited.

Entire contents property of Canadian Immigrant.

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canadianimmigrant.ca

our take Finding a home

It’s a part of the human condition to want a place to belong. For immigrants who leave one home in search of a new one, it can be an exciting but frightening experience. When leaving a place that is familiar for something foreign, it takes time to really feel at home again, so it’s important to choose your new location wisely — not just country and city, but right down to the neighbourhood and street!

Two brave Brazilians, Mauro Repacci and Gustavo Burckhardt, who each found their new home in Montreal, want to help other newcomers do the same, so they developed a website to help you find the perfect little piece of Canada to call your own.

(Read about their journeys and tips on finding the right neighbourhood starting on page 12.)

This issue, we also have plenty of career advice, on everything from preparing that perfect 30-second elevator pitch to dealing with rejection to finding careers in the non-profit world.

Hopefully, you are starting to feel like you belong in Canada, in both your homelife and career.

Margaret Jetelina Editor, Canadian Immigrant

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your take Diversity with inclusivity in Toronto

I have been a resident of Toronto since 1978. In the 1970s, a “visible minority” group was, in fact, “invisible.” However, over the past 36 years, I have been witnessing an interesting sociocultural change in Toronto. The arrivals of many newcomers from Africa, Asia, Caribbean and South America have made our city become home for more “visible” ethnocultural community members. By the early 1980s, traditionally non-European/non-white immigrants were becoming more “visible.” Thus, concepts such as multiculturalism, visible minorities and recently diversity have been on the sociopolitical radar.

I believe many of my contemporaries were very instrumental in working with our diverse and different institutions and agencies to understand, accept, respect and promote such “visibilities.” The City of Toronto uniquely reflects the presence of different peoples from diverse and different backgrounds. Yet its perception and practical presentation of itself as the city of diverse peoples has been continually challenged, to include the concept of inclusivity/inclusion in its policies and practices. It seems that, many of us define “diversity” differently. That includes new arrivals of political refugees from my country of origin, Ethiopia, Africa, since the late 1970s.

Those days, there were very few of us residing in different corridors of the city. Now, we find that there are many workplaces whereby the majority of the frontline employees or students are from non-European ancestry. Yet many of them are unable to be supervised, taught, or managed by a person who shares similar ancestral, racial, gender, sexual and cultural orientations that are reflective of their backgrounds.

I have personal, professional and even an emotional affiliation to this city. I believe in the progressive, activist and welcoming mindset of our city. Most of us have been, and will continue to be, the causes and effects of promoting and pushing for equity issues such as: anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-homophobia, religious freedoms, the rights of First Nations Peoples, addressing diverse forms of [dis]-abilities and accommodating persons with [Dies]-abilities, employment equity, affirmative action and human rights.

September 2014

We have to work together with different public and non-public institutions for an equitable approach to accommodate diverse/different peoples. It is about a time to apply the testing mechanism, which I call “inclusivity.” We cannot leave the concept of diversity, without letting diverse socioeconomic and political systems acknowledge the fact that we are also different, not just diverse.

These days, while diverse job applicants with Canadian work experience became more “visible,” the expectations for work placements rose dramatically.

The modus operandi of excluding diverse groups became increasingly systemic. For example, the number of years of work experience, even when considering applicants with very high professional backgrounds, was assessed alongside language levels and other categories of qualification that seemed outside the regular scope of job suitability. In such a highly multicultural and multiracial city as Toronto, we need to revisit what we mean by “qualification.” That is where the practical meaning of affirmative action and employment equity policies are supposed to be practised.

Our community members from the African, Asian and the First Nations Peoples, and particularly those from a working-class background, are still largely invisible in most of our city’s public and non-public areas of decision-making. Through my exposures to different workplaces, as a social worker and adviser on issues related to human rights and equity programs, I have been working very hard to help to decipher and demystify certain hidden messages about diversity.

I advocate for establishing creative forms of coalition-building. Such coalitions help positively challenge the institutional rules and regulations reflect the intended welcome to different peoples from diverse backgrounds. Our institutional messages, relative to diversity policies and practices, must be current and reflective of an equitable representation of just how diverse our population is. How can we make the environment more inclusive? Though I support concepts and phrases such as “diversity” and “multiculturalism,” we need to stop dancing around the words. It is about time that we start seeing each other eye-to-eye, with what I call an “inclusivity lens.” facebook/canimmigrant

@canimmigrant

How? 1. We need to believe that it is true to meet eye-to-eye with different persons of diverse backgrounds in Toronto. There are communities with multi-linguistic, ethnocultural, ethno-national and multiracial backgrounds, representing the over-190 United Nations member countries.

2. We need to work together. We can look forward and expand on how we can continue to inclusively accommodate differences and diverse backgrounds.

3. As a well-informed resident, I would like to suggest and advise the mayoral candidates as well as members of the city council to revisit their positions on current and past practices on important social issues. In such a global city, the local and global populations would like to hear on their personal and political positions in addressing: anti-racism/race and ethnic relations education; affirmative actions and employment equity policies and programs; sexual harassment and gender equity; positive space and welcoming programs for the LGBQT community members; visible programs for community members representing the First Nations Peoples of Canada; visible programs to welcome and accommodate persons with [dis]-abilities; challenging the practice of what is called anti-black racism; providing accountable and contemporary social service programs; providing a safe environment to file human rights complaints; and promoting the practice of human rights and equity.

We know that it has been long time since various decrees were made to end legal practices of discrimination and exclusion of different peoples.

Yet inclusivity or inclusion still remains a liminal part of our decisionmaking and administrative practices. In the 21st century, diverse and different peoples truly want to be represented in ways beyond the tokenistic types of representation forwarded for public relations purposes. I hope and wish that the current mayoral candidates and members of the City Council will be able to revisit the city’s practices in the past, check out its current status, and create the environment of inclusivity our city has sought for so long.

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Canadian Immigrant

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fusion news. people. events.

PROFILE Photo by Saajid Motala

AUDREY MCDONOUGH Holistic nutritionist

By Baisakhi Roy

A

s one of the few well-known nutritional cancer coaches in the country, American-born Audrey McDonough has a pretty unique job to do. A registered holistic nutritionist and Reiki practitioner originally from Atlanta, McDonough explains how going back to school in Canada after immigrating to Toronto helped her pursue her passion for holistic healing.

American-born Audrey McDonough uses nutrition to help cancer patients.

I found that so many people think that seeing a nutritionist is only about weight loss or maybe high cholesterol, hypertension or diabetes.

But I believe that a good nutrition plan, personally tailored, is one of the things that anyone who has cancer can do for himself or herself.

likes, lifestyle and goals. Depending on their treatment plan with their oncologist, I tailor a menu plan for them and make any supplement recommendations.

I also address other areas that are important to the body-mindspirit approach that holistic nutritionists follow; I recommend meditation or prayer, exercise, and various other therapies such as music therapy, colour therapy and more.

Tell us a bit about your process and how you go about supporting a person with cancer.

When did you immigrate to Canada and what were your first impressions?

Tell us a bit about being a cancer coach.

Clients are given an extensive nutrition questionnaire to complete, interviewed by me so as to understand their eating habits, likes, dis-

In 1997, I met my husband who is from Toronto. We married in 1998 and I applied for my immigration to Canada as a permanent resident.

As I crossed the Peace Bridge into the country, I couldn’t believe how vast everything looked.

For the next month or so, I was busy running from one office to another getting my licence changed, getting a health card, etc. Though not my favourite thing to do, the system does work and everything ran smoothly and the people I encountered were kind and helpful.

In 2011, I finally became a Canadian citizen. I can now vote and am looking forward to my next chance to vote; it will be for the mayor of Toronto. I can’t wait!

What is the level of awareness among Canadians about the importance of holistic nutrition for cancer patients?

Vancouver Public Library 350 West Georgia Street Central Library, Level 4 Phone: 604-331-3603 Web: skilledimmigrants.vpl.ca

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September 2014

Awareness among Canadians about nutrition in general is growing very quickly. I find that we have a very well-educated public when generally speaking about nutrition and a willingness to learn more and to incorporate this knowledge in their daily life in order to attain better health. With regards to cancer patients specifically, there is growing awareness of the importance of nutrition in the healing of cancer, or at the very least, the possibility of a better quality of life while fighting the cancer.

Do you have any tips for newcomers who wish to work in the health care sector in Canada — especially in your particular field?

The biggest challenge in my opinion is finding out what you want to do. Once you have decided, it is a matter of putting a plan in place and going for it. If someone has an interest in becoming a holistic nutritionist, there are several schools to consider.

When I researched the schools, the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition was the best fit for me. They had a comprehensive program, offered part-time hours and had a flexible payment plan, which helped as well. This degree also enables some coming from an allopathic background to merge with a holistic approach, be it in nutrition, naturopathy, acupuncture or one of the many other areas in holistic studies. facebook/canimmigrant

@canimmigrant

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Micro-loan program launching A financial literacy and micro-loan program will be launched in 2015 on the North Bay immigration portal at northbayimmigration.ca. The City of North Bay is launching the project in partnership with the city’s settlement agency, the North Bay and District Multicultural Centre and the Local Immigration Partnership, the North Bay Newcomer Network.

A $25,000 pool of funds raised locally will be used to pilot up to five loans for newcomers needing financial help through their certification/licensing in Canada process. Loans will be up to $5,000 each for newcomers with no Canadian credit history and will be character-based, with decisions made by a volunteer loan review committee beginning in January.

Meg Ramore, North Bay Newcomer Network co-ordinator, says, “We have the North Bay and District Multicultural Centre, Yes Employment Services, the Labour Market Group and the City of North Bay all supplying funds for the loan program,” she says. They will each have representatives on the loan review committee, along with a volunteer from RBC. This a pilot project to see if it has the possibility of being replicated in other parts of the province.

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SUCCESS STORY

A PLACE TO CALL HOME The founders of a neighbourhoodlocating website are making the move to Canada easier for newcomers

BY LISA EVANS PHOTOS BY RICCARDO CELLERE

Celebrating 10 Years!

M

auro Repacci and Gustavo Burckhardt know one of the greatest challenges of moving to a new country is choosing a place to live, not only the city, but the actual neighbourhood. The Brazilian men both immigrated to Montreal and ended up living in neighbourhoods that weren’t ideally suited to their lifestyles. They understood that finding that perfect neighbourhood can mean the difference between a happy life in Canada or an unfulfilled one, so they set out to find an easy solution to help newcomers like them. So they created a website to help individuals and families find the right community for them, even before they landed in Canada.

They named their company Navut, a combination between two Swedish words that together mean “navigating a different land.”

“The Swedish Vikings were [among the first] people who navigated different lands and we saw ourselves like them, coming into a new place without knowing what’s coming,” says Repacci.

Repacci arrived in Montreal eight years ago in the middle of a December snowstorm with just two suitcases. After researching neighbourhoods online, he thought it would be best to live in the Plateau; an eclectic, trendy area of the city with a wealth of unique cafés, pubs, art galleries and gourmet shops, and populated by students, artists and young families. When Repacci started looking for a place to live in the area, he discovered the price range was far out of his reach.

He also realized many of the houses didn’t have garages, meaning most residents parked their cars on the street and had to scrape snow and ice off their windshields every winter morning — something the Brazilian couldn’t imagine doing. Repacci had to act quickly to find a new neighbourhood to live in and visited five different areas before ending up in Griffintown — in the southwestern downtown part of Montreal.

“At the time, it was a new neighbourhood. There weren’t a lot of services there, but the price was lower than downtown,” he says. Because price was Repacci’s main criteria, he settled within Griffintown, and within a few months of moving there, a grocery store opened nearby.

“I got lucky,” he says of his neighbourhood find.

Burckhardt’s story is similar. Like most immigrants, his main criteria upon moving to Montreal in 2011 was price, but without taking any other factors into account, he ended up living in a neighbourhood that was very far from downtown and had poor access to transportation. Not only was the area inconvenient, it lacked many of the amenities the young, single Brazilian was looking for. “The majority of Brazilians I knew before coming here were families or couples and their idea of a good place to live was quite different [than mine],” he says. An apartment in a family-friendly neighbourhood wasn’t the profile the outgoing newcomer was looking for.

Repacci and Burckhardt’s stories are comparable to many newcomers who arrive in Canadian cities and end up in areas that aren’t a good fit for their lifestyles. Choosing the wrong neighbourhood can not only result in inconveniences (commuting long distances to get to work, for example), but can negatively affect your family’s quality of life in Canada. For instance, Repacci points out that public schools in Canada only admit students within a geographical area. “It’s not like that in other countries, so people come here and they just look at the house or the apartment, but they forget that their kids will have to go to school in that area,” he says. Navut’s website allows families to filter neighbourhoods for high-quality schools.

Navut was Repacci’s brainchild. An entrepreneur from childhood, he always wanted to own his own company. “I would be that kid who tried to trade things with people and make money,” he says. At the age of 12, Repacci sold kites during the Brazilian Carnival and always dreamed of having a business of his own. “It was just about finding the right moment and the right idea,” the company’s CEO says.

When he realized how much money you have to spend to move and that other immigrants like him had made mistakes choosing the wrong area upon their arrival in Canada, Repacci knew he was onto something. He put out an ad looking for someone with a technical background to help him design the website. Burckhardt, a programSeptember 2014

Canadian Immigrant

13

SUCCESS STORY mer, replied.

Den. Their episode is scheduled to broadcast in the 2014-2015 season.

The fact that the two were both from Brazil was a casual circumAs new Canadians, the process of building Navut provided a unique stance, but one that cemented their bond as business partners. “We learning opportunity for Repacci and Burckhardt to discover cities both understood what the need of someone moving is,” says Repacci. across the country. Not surprisingly, sorting through data on different The two men put in long hours on evenings and weekends, working cities changed the way each thought about their own neighbourhoods. on the early stages of Navut while they kept their day jobs. Burckhardt “If I’d had this kind of information and knowledge I have now about was the first to leave his job and focus exclusively on Navut. Repacci the city [of Montreal], I probably would have made a lot of different soon followed and in 2012 Navut.com was officially launched. choices,” says Burckhardt, who is planning to move within the next Since then, the website has been used in more than 130 countries couple of months. “I have two new neighbourhoods in mind,” he says by soon-to-be immigrants searching for their new home in Canada. — both of which he found using Navut.

They’re now in the process of translating Navut. com into other languages to make it more accessible to newcomers whose first language isn’t English or French.

Starting the business had some challenges, of course — namely, finding a team of individuals who shared the same vision and ideals. “When you arrive in a new country, you give up your network in the country you’re coming from,” says Repacci.

Fortunately, they found a solid team in designer Aureabelle Cruz, an immigrant from the Philippines who came to Canada as a youth, and sales and marketing professional Marcos Azevedo, who has moved 20 times in his life before settling in Montreal in 2009.

Repacci not only credits his team, who are all dubbed “co-founders,” for seeing Navut become a reality, but thanks Canada as a whole, too. “Canada is a great place to start a company,” he says. “There are lots of resources to help entrepreneurs.” The Navut team recently fulfilled the dream of many entrepreneurial Mauro Repacci (left) and Gustavo Burckhardt co-founded a website to help Canadian Canadians by pitching their company to some of newcomers feel right at home!

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LIVING

On the move Choosing the right neighbourhood in Canada for you

By Lisa Evans

The Navut.com team: Gustavo Burckhardt (top left) and Marcos Azevedo,, along with Aureabelle Cruz (bottom left) and Mauro Repacci.

M

auro Repacci and Gustavo Burckhardt certainly know the challenges newcomers face in finding a place to live. They’ve heard many stories of newcomers who have felt trapped in the wrong neighbourhood after signing a one-year lease before realizing the area lacked amenities that were important to them. Making a poor neighbourhood choice can be a costly error for a new immigrant. Not only is moving time consuming, but it can also be very expensive.

Follow these tips from the team at Navut to ensure you end up in the right Canadian neighbourhood: • Know what’s significant to you. Make a list of the factors that are most important to your life in Canada, taking into account your interests and lifestyle. For many newcomers, this list often includes budget, proximity to public transportation and amenities, languages spoken and cultural demographics.

• Take into account proximity to your potential workplace. You may not know where you’re going to work when you first arrive in Canada, but choosing a location where there are employment options in your field close by can help guarantee a shorter commute.

• Consider what neighbourhood amenities and services you will need.

Is a weekly trip to a grocery store a 10-minute drive away sufficient for you, or are you the type of shopper who likes to pick up a few groceries for dinner on the way home from work? If you want to cook food from your home country, you may want to live in a neighbourhood that has an ethnic grocery store so you don’t have to travel a far distance to purchase it. If you’re a very social person, proximity to coffee shops, bars, restaurants or public libraries where you can meet new people may be at the top of your priority list. Consider what amenities you will need to make your life in Canada as comfortable as possible.

• Understand the school district. If you have school-aged children going to public school, this will be an important factor for you in deciding where to live. Because public school children are normally required to attend a school within their geographic territory (often called a catchment area), selecting a neighbourhood with schools that have a good reputation may be your top priority. Navut uses data from the Fraser Institute’s annual school rankings to allow users to filter neighbourhoods based on school rankings.

• Don’t rely on friends’ advice only. Having a friend or family member in the city you wish to move to can give you some inside knowledge, but keep in mind their criteria for a good neighbourhood may be different

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than yours. If you’re a young, single person, you probably won’t think the neighbourhood recommended by an older couple with children will be right for you!

• Look at the variety of homes in the area. Choosing a neighbourhood with a variety of home styles — from condos to to semi-detached homes to single detached homes — gives you lots of options if you want to upgrade your home at a later date, but want to remain in the neighbourhood you so carefully chose!

How Navut works

Navut helps users discover the best neighbourhood for them. Here’s how it works: 1. The user first selects from seven destination cities (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg or Ottawa). They are then asked to select the criteria they care about (such as schools, safety, proximity to local amenities, proximity to downtown, curb appeal, percentage of homeowners in the area, languages and cultural communities) and rank each according to its level of importance on a scale of one to 10.

2. Navut uses data derived from 20 different sources including the Canadian Census and the National Household Survey for demographics, the Fraser Institute’s school report cards and local police stations for safety to make neighbourhood recommendations for users based on what they have indicated is important to them.

3. The top five neighbourhoods are displayed on a Google map. Users can read through neighbourhood profiles that describe the area’s demographics, safety, type of housing, schools, types of amenities, employment, transportation and walk score, and can then search through property listings within their price range and can be connected with a real estate agent or property manager.

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f you happen to visit Hotel Le Germain in Calgary, you might just run into Jeet Jani, the boutique hotel’s guest services manager. Jani came to the job after graduating from Royal Roads University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Victoria, B.C. Although he lived in Calgary and had spent two years at a college there, the Indian hotelier decided to finish his degree at Royal Roads on Vancouver Island.

“Royal Roads’ BA in International Hotel Management came up as a good option because of the condensed, one-year curriculum, the small class sizes and the focus on real-life experiences,” says Jani about his university experience. “Some other programs I looked at were more like business degrees with some hotel management offerings; in comparison, Royal Roads University is preparing you to become a hotel manager working in the industry.”

With a focus on high-quality teaching, hands-on work experience via internships, rapid career progression and the development of professional networks, Royal Roads’ School of Tourism and Hospitality Management is more than just a place of learning; it’s a place to start and grow your career in tourism and hospitality.

A growing number of students are international students and immigrants, says Tanya Aindow, manager, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, and an immigrant from England herself.

“We have quite a high number of interna-

tional students, and … we’re finding the number of students coming in who are immigrants is increasing,” she says. “There’s a mix of a lot of different countries and a lot of backgrounds.

Some come in with some qualifications from their home country, looking for some Canadian qualifications. Others want to progress their education; for example, they have an undergraduate degree and want a master’s.”

Options for students include the Bachelor of Arts in Global Tourism Management and the Bachelor of Arts in International Hotel Management, which are both designed as completion programs, rather than a full four-year undergraduate program. The school also offers a Master of Arts in Tourism Management that prepares students who already have a few years of career experience for higher management positions in the industry. The programs are offered on campus, with some blended online/ campus options, and run from one to two years.

Flexible admission

When accepting new students, Royal Roads doesn’t only accept students with credits from Canadian colleges; it takes a much more flexible approach than that, which is great news for immigrants with international credentials.

“We have flexible admissions,” Aindow says.

“For example, if a student does not have postsecondary, we could potentially accept them on their work experience. We look at their whole history so we ask them to supply as much information as possible — any experience, any

volunteering in the field and even clubs they belong to. Based on all that, we then determine if they are good fit for the program. We want to see our students succeed. The last thing we want is people to join us if they are not the right fit or will struggle in the program.”

Campus connections

Getting an education at the school is not just about getting a paper credential for your resumé, however; it’s about practical learning and making connections, too.

In addition to an emphasis on students getting hands-on internships in the industry, the teaching methods are interactive, with small class sizes and feedback on assignments throughout the semester, rather than just a series of lectures and a final exam. “This allows us to highlight any extra help they might need. We may advise them to get some additional support, such as language training via our International Study Centre, for example,” says Aindow.

“We also do quite a lot of team activities. We break the students up into teams of four or five students and make them diverse not only in ethnicity, but in age, background, work experience and gender,” she adds. “Success for us is for students to graduate with lifelong friends, who know each other and support each other as they progress in their careers.”

It’s a similar case for faculty-student relationships, as many of the instructors are professionals who are currently working in the industry.

“Some of the faculty have great networks and the students often benefit with job connections,” Aindow says. She adds that the programs’ internships also often lead to permanent positions for the school’s students. “When they take the internship as a capstone to the program, 80 to 85 per cent are kept on in their positions.”

The tourism and hospitality industry is indeed one of the largest employers in Canada, particularly in British Columbia, and it is growing across the country. While traditionally workers in the field begin in entry-level jobs and work their way up, educational credentials such as those offered by Royal Roads allow workers to speed up their career. “It definitely helps them to leapfrog the competition,” Aindow says. “People with undergraduate and master’s degrees in the field tend to climb a lot faster in their careers.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, SEE ROYALROADS.CA.

18 canadianimmigrant.ca

September 2014

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WELCOME TO CANADA Brought to you by:

SOMEWHERE TO STAY Finding somewhere to live will be one of your first priorities after coming to Canada

When comparing your options, remember to ask what’s included in the rental cost. Some apartments, for example, offer free hydro and cable included in the rental price. Others might charge for parking or have additional fees. Compare the total cost you’ll be paying when making your final decision.

And don’t forget about rental home insurance to protect your belongings. That’s an added cost to consider when budgeting how much you can spend on rent.

Ready to look for a rental?

Ready look fortoabegin rental?

Here are ato few ways your search:

are afor fewsigns waysthat to begin your search:available” or “for rent” in •HereLook read “apartment • Look signsneighbourhood. that read “apartment available” or “for rent” your for desired your desired neighbourhood.

• in Search newspaper ads under the classifieds section. newspaper ads underorthe classifieds section.

• • Search Look for online classifieds websites like Craigslist.

• • Look Check bulletin boards or in websites local grocery stores and libraries. forout online classifieds like Craigslist.

• • Check Ask your realboards estate in agent. out local bulletin local grocery stores and libraries.

• Ask your local real estate agent.

12 SIGNS YOU’RE READY TO BUY

W

hen you first land in Canada, you hopefully have a plan on where to stay for your first week or two — a hotel that charges by the month, a friend’s house, a short-term rental.

It’s best to stay in such temporary accommodation for as long as possible, so you can get a feel for your new city before choosing a more permanent rental.

When you’ve had a chance to settle in a little and explore your new town, your next step will be to look for longer term accommodation.

While advice from friends and family is a great way to learn about your options, it’s always best to get a variety of perspectives, and do plenty of research on your own to make sure your personal needs are met when choosing a location (see “On the move” on page 16 for advice on how to pick a neighbourhood).

After renting for a while, it could be time to buy your first home in Canada

Factors to consider

When choosing a location and home to rent, there are many factors to consider, including: • commuting distance to the city • public transportation available nearby • suburb versus city • crime rates/safety/noise • schools in area • amenities like stores, libraries, community centres and places of worship • natural parks and recreation options • cost!

Of course, budget is one of your biggest factors in choosing accommodation, and costs can vary greatly not only depending on your city and neighbourhood, but also the type of dwelling (i.e., apartment, condo, townhouse or house). A two- or three-bedroom rental in Metro Vancouver will typically cost you between $1,000 and $1,500, for example. In smaller towns, the costs can drop substantially.

Celebrating 10 Years!

T

hinking of jumping from renting to buying? Home ownership is a big commitment. Here are 12 signs that you might be ready.

1.

2.

3.

4.

You’ve been in Canada for more than a year.

You have a good job with steady income.

You’ve been in the same rental for at least a year.

Your rental home is too small for your family. You’ve made do, September 2014

Canadian Immigrant

19

WELCOME TO CANADA Brought to you by:

but it’s time for more space.

You know what city/neighbourhood you want to live in for the long term.

You pay all your bills (including rent) regularly and still have some discretionary income.

You have a Canadian credit card and have started to build up a good credit history.

You have a good relationship with your bank and even have a small loan or credit line.

You have pre-qualified for a mortgage.

You have saved a down payment.

You want to start building equity in a home as a long-term investment.

You want a place to really call your own.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

A

7 HOMEBUYING TIPS FOR NEWCOMERS

fter you have immigrated to Canada, making the decision to buy a home can be an exciting but perhaps stressful journey.

Here are seven tips to help you on your path to home ownership.

overspend. Consistent payment of all your bills and a low debt load will give you an excellent credit score in a year to 18 months. Banks will then be more likely to approve your mortgage with a good interest rate.

2. Start saving for a down payment. These days, with high housing costs in many Canadian cities, you’ll need a substantial cash down payment. This money shouldn’t be a loan. If it’s a gift from family, you may have to show that you are not required to pay it back.

3. Get your papers in order. Canadian lenders will need a job letter, pay stub or other forms of proof of income like income tax documents.

If you are planning to transfer money from another country for your down payment, you should also allow plenty of time to complete this.

4. Become informed. Research the basics of buying real estate and getting a mortgage in Canada. For example, are you aware of the expectations and extra monthly fees payable when buying a stratified property like a condo? What about annual property taxes? Do you understand the different types of mortgages available (see “Types of mortgages” on page 22)? And are you aware of all the closing costs and services you’ll need to complete the sale transaction including legal fees?

5. Get pre-approved. By filling out a short application, a banker or mortgage broker can let you know exactly how much of a mortgage you can qualify for.

6. Create a budget. Housing costs can be high. Preparing a budget outlining all your monthly expenses can ensure your anticipated housing costs are manageable.

7. Use professional services. Rely on professional guidance. Buying your first home can be time-consuming and frustrating at times, and the right guidance from realtors, mortgage brokers/lenders, inspectors and lawyers/notaries can reduce some of the stress and the risks.

COST OF HOUSING What can you afford?

S 1.

Build up your credit history. It is very important that you establish a good credit history in Canada before applying for a mortgage.

When considering a new mortgage application, Canadian lenders will look at your credit standing. So start building your credit history with a secured credit card as a start. Then apply for a traditional credit card with a reasonable limit. Make sure to pay it off on time and don’t

20 canadianimmigrant.ca

September 2014

o, you’re ready to buy a home, but how much can you afford? How big of a mortgage are you comfortable with, and how much will the bank approve?

A rule of thumb when it comes to buying a home is that your monthly housing costs should not be more than 32 per cent of your gross monthly income, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

It’s also important to realize that the cost of owning is much more than the amount of the mortgage alone. There are many extras that you may not have had to consider when renting. They are: • all utilities, including heat, water and electricity • annual property taxes, which could be in the thousands of dollars • home maintenance and renovation costs • home insurance on the building in addition to your belongings facebook/canimmigrant

@canimmigrant

“It was a new country but it very quickly felt like home.”

TD is the #1 ranked financial institution among newcomers to Canada.

The TD New to Canada package1 can help give you the financial foundation you need to settle successfully.

Open an account with no monthly fee.2 Get a TD credit card even with no credit history.3 Enjoy no fee money transfers.4 And get a bonus interest rate on your savings account.5 It’s our way of saying welcome, you’re going to like it here.

For details, visit a branch or tdcanadatrust.com/newtocanada 1 You must meet the eligibility requirements and provide the required identification to qualify for the New to Canada Package. We reserve the right to change, extend or withdraw this offer at any time. 2 Unlimited Chequing Account or All-Inclusive

Banking Plan (the “New Chequing Account”) must be opened in order to waive the monthly account fee. The monthly account fee will only be waived for the first 6 months that the New Chequing Account is open and is limited to one account per person and the type of chequing account cannot change during the 6-month period. The monthly account fee waiver only applies to the regular/pro-rated monthly fee; all other fees will continue to apply. If the minimum monthly balance is maintained in the New Chequing Account in any given month during the first 6 months that the account is open and the monthly account fee is not charged, no monthly account fee waiver will be applied for that month. 3 Subject to TD’s credit granting criteria. 4 Offer only available to the New Chequing Account. Offer is limited to one account per person. Customers will receive a full rebate of one TD money transfer fee per month commencing the end of the following month, following the month the account was opened and will be effective for 6 months thereafter. The rebate only applies to the outgoing TD money transfer fee and not any other applicable fees, including any fees earned during foreign exchange transactions.

TD will rebate the most expensive TD money transfer fee that occurred in the applicable month. 5 Savings Account bonus offer only applies to a TD Every Day Savings Account or a TD High Interest Savings Account that is opened on or before the day the New Chequing Account was opened. Bonus offer is limited to 1 savings account per person and the type of savings account cannot change during the Offer Period. The bonus rate of 0.75% is in addition to the posted rate on the savings account and will be applied to the savings account commencing no later than 10 business days after the New Chequing Account was opened and will be effective for 6 months thereafter (“Offer Period”). Regular posted interest rates will apply after the end of the Offer Period. Bonus interest will be calculated separately and paid monthly. Interest rates are subject to change without notice. ®The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

WELCOME TO CANADA Brought to you by:

FINDING COMMUNITY There’s more to finding a place to call home than just property

Y

ou may already know a few friends and family members in Canada, but an important step in your integration into the country is to make new acquaintances and connections in your neighbourhood. Here are a few tips to get you started in connecting to others.

• Start by visiting your local immigrant services society, community services office or YMCA. You will certainly meet other newcomers there. These non-profit organizations also may have a host program that matches you up with a volunteer who helps guide immigrants through their first few months in Canada

T

TYPES OF MORTGAGES

here are several different types of mortgage products to choose from. Here’s a chart showing the major options in Canada:

Open versus closed mortgage

An open mortgage allows you to pay any amount toward your mortgage at any time, while a closed mortgage requires you to make set payments at set times and pay a fee if you want to pay more, renegotiate, refinance or transfer your mortgage before the end of your term.

Fixed-rate versus variable rate mortgage

A fixed-rate mortgage is where the interest rate is fixed for a specific

22 canadianimmigrant.ca

• Join local clubs, like Toastmasters or sports teams. Making friends is much easier when you’re having fun and sharing a common interest.

• Take part at activities at your children’s school, whether it’s volunteering on the parent advisory council, attending school gatherings or just being present at school drop-off and pick-up times. You will likely meet the parents of other kids in your children’s classroom.

• Volunteer at local events or charitable organizations. Not only will you meet new people, but you’ll also get some valuable Canadian work experience.

September 2014

period of time. A variable rate mortgage means the interest rate may fluctuate when the mortgage prime rate changes.

High-ratio versus conventional mortgage

If your down payment is less than 20 per cent of the purchase price of value of the property, your mortgage has to be insured against possible payment default by a mortgage insurer like Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation or Genworth Canada.

If your down payment is greater than 20 per cent, you may qualify for a conventional mortgage, which means you are not required to pay for mortgage default insurance. facebook/canimmigrant

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Working for the greater good Opportunities in Canada’s non-profit sector

By Lisa Evans

A

re you socially driven? Do you want to be part of an organization that makes the world a better place? Then a career in the non-profit sector may be for you.

Canada’s non-profit sector is as vast as it is diverse. Employing more than two million Canadians, the sector encompasses many fields including education, health, the arts and human services, to name a few. And with a variety of positions ranging from administrative to executive, there’s something for every skill level and interest. In addition to being dynamic, the non-profit sector is also one of the most rewarding to work in.

Janice Chu thinks so. When she immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong, the former high school teacher struggled to find work. “There wasn’t a high demand for teachers at the time,” she says. She put her skills to use at St. Stephen’s Community House, first as an adult ESL instructor and later as a newcomer services manager. Today, Chu is the director of community investment at United Way’s York Region office.

Chu says passion is what drove her to develop her career in the non-profit sector. As an immigrant, she felt a strong desire to give back to her new country. “I came here, I love this country and I got a lot of support when I first got here and now there’s a way that I can give back day to day through my job,” she says.

Janice Chu gives back every day through her work with the United Way of York Region.

A high level of job satisfaction is what keeps Chu dedicated to the sector. “In a non-profit, the compensation may not be as great as the

67

Te 24 canadianimmigrant.ca

September 2014

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profit sector. What trumps that is simply your passion; your mission to serve and your desire to make the society a better place,” she says.

What opportunities exist?

Charity Village, the number one non-profit job search site in Canada, sees an average of 1,000 new job postings each month. Marketing manager Jennifer Ross says some of the most in-demand positions are fundraising (including grant writing and planned giving) and those in marketing and communications. “We are also seeing an [increase in] positions related to social media, as the non-profit sector realizes the value of those channels in reaching their donors,” she says.

Although growth in the sector as a whole is currently stagnant, with the same number of job opportunities this year as last, health care, community and social services are the areas that are seeing the most opportunities.

Education and skills

Education and skillsets vary within the sector depending on the industry, but Ross says most postings on CharityVillage.com require a post-secondary education. While work or volunteer experience in the non-profit sector is highly valued, experience in the for-profit sector is also an asset. “The skills required for many positions transfer well to the non-profit sector,” says Ross, although she notes that individuals who are “sector-shifters” (those moving from for-profit to non-profit) would benefit from some volunteer experience. “Having volunteer experience shows a non-profit that you are seeking to learn about the challenges unique to the non-profit sector.”

Volunteering for non-profit organizations you’d like to work for is also great way to gain experience and make contacts.

A number of Canadian colleges and universities offer certificate or diploma programs in non-profit management, although it’s generally

not a requirement to have studied the sector in order to work in it.

Gerda Kaegi, academic co-ordinator of the non-profit and voluntary sector management certificate at Ryerson University in Toronto, says many newcomers who have worked in non-profit organizations in their home countries find the program valuable to learn how nonprofits operate in Canada.

Enrolling in such courses can also be a great opportunity to make key contracts. “All of our instructors are in the sector [and] have links into various organizations and can help make connections for students,” says Kaegi.

Immigration matters could be tricky

Reach an Expert

People work in the sector because of their passion to contribute andmatters help,couldmatters Immigration be tricky Immigration c not because Reach of the money.” an Expertan E Reach — Jennifer Ross

Individuals who are interested in starting their own non-profit in Canada would also benefit from taking a matters non-profit management Immigration could be tricky program. Courses in strategic planning, financial management, advocacy and government relations, marketing and dealing with issues of diversity provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful non-profit operators.

Reach an Expert

Salary expectations

But don’t expect to get rich running or working for a non-profit. “Salary ranges are dependent on the type of position, but they are almost always significantly less than the for-profit sector,” says Ross. “People work in the sector because of their passion to contribute and help, not because of the money.”

Certified Canadian Immigration Consultants and Members CSIC, CMI, CapIC salaries to Although many non-profits do try to offer ofcompetitive Graduates of the UBC Immigration attract top talent, salaries are typicallypractitioner in theCertificate low to mediumMember range. program CSIC M064140 Charity Village’s 2013 Compensation Survey showed the average salary including bonuses and additional compensation of a CEO or executive director is $90,315. The average salary for senior management is $78,832, for management/supervisory staff $54,409 and for Federal Skilled Worker support staff $38,914.

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Building resilience 10 ways to do it

I

t is said that immigrants and refugees are inherently resilient: having the courage to leave their families and friends, culture and language behind in pursuit of a dream for a better life must require some built-in resilience.

However, it is also true that when we come to a new country, many dreams are shattered and illusions broken. We suddenly discover that beyond the beauty of this new country, there are many challenging roads ahead. Factors such as not getting a job at the same level (or not getting any job at all), feeling discounted as a professional, not having your support network around or experiencing financial hardship all have a big impact in your ability to respond and function.

Studies show that it is very common to experience a “roller-coaster” when you immigrate to a new culture: couples may disagree on how each spouse perceives the move, children may drift away from their parents’ cultural values, and you may experience fears and feelings of regret and homesickness.

Being an immigrant also makes you more vulnerable; statistics show that immigrants and refugees are more

exposed to accidents and abuse at work, suffer from more emergencies and are more vulnerable during disasters such as floods, storms or power outages. Reasons behind this include language barriers, literacy levels, cultural ways that prevent members of the family to be independent, isolation and unfamiliarity with local “unwritten” behaviour rules.

Building it up

The good news is that resilience can be built. Resilience not only helps people to face adversity and overcome challenges, but resilient people are usually happier, find jobs faster, makes friends easier and adapt quicker to new environments.

Resilient people know their values and set up realistic goals, plan for the unexpected, learn to deal with uncertainty and challenges while keeping strong. They know when to look for help and when to stop or shift roads.

Here are 10 ways to build resilience in your life: 1. Create a realistic vision and revisit it to readjust your goals and plan: knowing where you want to be in five or 10 years helps you to stay strong. Set goals and revisit them often as circumstances change. Share your vision with

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family and close friends to keep it fun and accountable and recruit their support.

2. Clarify your values and expectations: what brought you to another country? How do you want to live your life? How does this match with your values? Values are important to keep ourselves strong, but they may change over time as we are exposed to different ways to see the world. Expectations, on the other hand, tend to be unrealistic when we arrive, and they may need to be adjusted to the reality around us. Being open to change and embracing a different culture while keeping our deepest values strong takes time (and resilience)!

3. Be active: join community events, volunteer, take a part-time job, make new friends or learn a new skill. Being active has the double benefit of preventing you from feeling depressed or useless and allows you to create support networks and skills, which will help with your job search and settlement.

4. Create and strengthen your support network: resilient people have connections with the community as a whole and know when and where to look for help when needed. Offer your skills and wisdom to others and accept feedback. Your network needs to include not only your family and close friends, but also neighbours, classmates and community members from different backgrounds. Isolation is resilience’s no. 1 enemy!

5. Take time to know where you are: resilient people know their community very well. Familiarize yourself with your city and its surroundings. Walk or drive around and learn where industries are located, what type they are, what is produced in the fields, who lives where, how do you travel from where you live to the main points such as hospital, airport, etc. This helps you to develop a sense of belonging and makes you more resourceful for your job search, as you will not need to figure out how to go to an interview (or a new job) each time.

6. Take time to know about your new country: how do people behave? What are the unwritten rules? What are the challenges and

Celebrating 10 Years!

the assets in this, your new country? Where does your food, water and energy come from? How does the government work? What institutions are in place and how they work?

7. Accept feedback and help: you’ll find lots of people who want to help you, from your settlement worker and employment counsellor to instructors, other community members and people you meet through social media. Accepting help is not a weakness. Feedback helps us grow and become better people.

8. Share the weight: resilient people don’t work alone. Things like looking for a new house, a job or just trying to figure out what your next career move is (in a new country) can drain your energy off. Take a mentor, a “buddy” or enlist a family member. It will strengthen your relationship and relieve stress. People who look for a job with a buddy tend to find better jobs and faster.

9. Accept losses and learn from them: there is a reason they call it a roller-coaster. There will be ups and downs, and the downs can be really difficult. Resilient people know when to take a break, take distance and put things in perspective. This allows for recharging batteries and learning about what went wrong and what can be improved.

10. Connect with what matters: nature, your family and friends, your basic needs and spirituality. Research demonstrates that contact with nature (hiking, growing your own food, swimming in a lake, etc.) helps people to reconnect with their deepest values.

Enjoying homemade meals, walking together with friends in a park or relaxing while camping under the stars all remind us that we didn’t come here to buy expensive stuff, compete with others and be always busy and sad.

Argentine-born Silvia Di Blasio studied and worked in Venezuela for many years. She currently works as a certified career development practitioner in Surrey, B.C., and volunteers for many community organizations in her spare time.

September 2014

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| C AREER COACH |

Impress in 30 seconds!

T

Perfect your 30-second elevator speech to open more doors

he perfect 30-second elevator speech. Everyone needs to have one. It is as essential for the CEO of a corporation as it is for the jobseeker.

Do you have yours ready?

Whether you are at a job interview, at a networking event, at your friend’s barbecue or literally in an elevator — once you state your name, you need to be able to explain who you are, what you do and how you can add value — clearly and quickly.

A beautifully tuned elevator pitch is a must-have in the jobseeker’s arsenal and vital to networking success. Think of it as your verbal cover letter. It can open more doors and eventually land you the job you desire.

Pitch in four steps

Here are four step to keep in mind when crafting your speech: 1. Express your strengths as you define who you are. Keep it short.

2. Elucidate what you do. This is when you reveal the benefits that you bring.

3. Explain what sets you apart.

Demonstrate some personality to stand out.

4. Ensure a definite call to action. This is the final step and it

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should lead the listener to want to set up another meeting or further the relationship.

Now comes time to sit down and write it out. To create your speech, you should: • Write down all that comes to mind. Try writing in a bullet points’ format or as short tweets. Now cut the jargon and unnecessary words and create crisp, powerful sentences.

Finally, connect the phrases to each other so your pitch flows smoothly.

• Highlight key points and a unique point of differentiation.

Check if you have really answered the key WIFM (what’s in it for me?) question of your listener. Insert a figure or a quote or a memorable phrase that will leave them wanting more.

• Practise a lot. Then practise a few more times. It is important to have your speech written down, memorized and practised. The more you speak it, the easier and more natural it will get. Rehearse with someone or in front of a mirror. The important thing is to practise it out loud.

• Focus on the delivery.

Breathe, smile, relax and look your target in the eye. The more natural your delivery, the greater

your chance of success. Words change perceptions. Instead of a generic statement like “I have great accountability skills,” perhaps you could say something like “Accountability is very important to me.”

can exchange cards and ensure her card features either her LinkedIn URL or a QR Code that will take the target to her online profile, where her summary and testimonials corroborate what she just said.

Sample elevator speech

Give it a try

Here is an example of a good elevator pitch that follows the above steps.

“Hi. Nice to meet you. My name is Miriam Fernandez. I am a human resources specialist with 10 years’ experience in diverse industries and markets.”

Those three lines would take about 10 to 15 seconds. She can then use her next 15 seconds to add details about her skills, unique value proposition and specific ways she could help a potential employer. This is her chance to tailor her pitch to focus on their needs and deliver benefits they can visualize.

“I have successfully worked with clients of all sizes from small startups to Fortune 500 organizations. have Yamaha MusicSystem EducationClients System Music Education acknowledged my expertise in consistently helping them identify and recruit top-level talent into their companies. It would be my pleasure to get in touch with you soon.”

At this point, she

Keep in mind that when you meet someone for the first time, you have a blank canvas and you can paint any picture you want.

But once it is painted, it stays forever. You now have 30 seconds to deliver a confident, upbeat message and nail it with confidence.

A good pitch takes planning and practice to deliver quickly and on the spot. Get started, have fun, believe in yourself and speak with pride. And soon, you may find yourself riding an elevator going in to your new job!

Yamaha Music Yamaha School Music School

St. 10th Floor Murali Murthy is owner of Vantage Copy, 5075 Yonge St. 10th5075 FloorYonge Indian-born Toronto M2N 6C6 Toronto M2N 6C6

as well as a speaker, coach and best-selling author of The ACE Books — The ACE Principle and The ACE Awakening.

He is also chairperson of CAMP Networking Canada. See poweroface.com.

416-224-5590 416-224-5590 30 canadianimmigrant.ca

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| SKILL S FOR SUCCESS |

Rejected?

How to deal with it and move on!

R

ejection of any kind, whether it’s related to your work, friends or love, can be hard to handle. It can affect your mood and state of mind in the moment and, if you let it,

even longer term. When you are rejected in a situation where the consequences are high for you, for example, after a job interview, it can leave you feeling powerless, frustrated and even desperate.

The fact is that rejection doesn’t feel great, can be confusing and difficult to accept. But it is also a reality that rejection is part of life, especially for immigrants who hear their fair share

of the word “no” after coming to Canada. So there will be occasions when your job application, your proposal, your ideas or your request for a meeting will be rejected by someone.

Are you new to Canada?

Are you looking to build a successful career?

ACCES Employment can help!

Our sector-specific programs help new Canadians to find a job in their field and to build their career in Canada.

Working with over 1000 employers in the Greater Toronto Area, we can connect you to companies hiring in your sector. ACCES Employment offers specialized services for professionals from the following industries: • Engineering

• Supply Chain

• Human Resources

• Finance

• Sales and Marketing

• Information Technology

Funded by:

Visit www.accesemployment.ca or call us at 416-921-1800.

Celebrating 10 Years!

September 2014

Canadian Immigrant

31

sible to overthink and dwell on negative events and feelings. It’s easy to react by complaining, blaming and resenting others.

The downside is you’ll become a victim of circumstances and in doing so you hand over your power to others.

How to respond? A healthy approach to rejection is to: • recognize and accept that rejection is part of life • acknowledge the importance of bouncing back and moving on

Move on

Accept the outcome — the sooner the better

Moving on might require you to stop thinking about what’s happened and to let go of the negative feelings that leave you unhappy and stuck. Moving on might mean finding a new perspective on the situation so that you can learn from it for the future, or avoid repeating your mistakes. It might include looking for something positive from the experience to refocus your mind so you can try again.

Knowing how to recover from setbacks and other challenges that life throws at you is an essential part of managing your stress and wellbeing.

The earlier you can accept the rejection, the sooner you will be able to move on from it and it will be less stressful. The more you are able to do this over time, the more habitual it will become and so any future rejections are less likely to completely flatten you. A healthy mindset is to think that something else will work out … it usually does, and often in ways you didn’t expect.

Avoid taking it personally

It’s not a personal attack. I appreciate this one is easier said than done! Think about it this way — the interviewer said no to something specific on your application or at your interview that didn’t work for them. Respect that. It didn’t work out this time.

It doesn’t mean you’ll never get a job, that you’re worthless or a failure.

But first step back and pause

It’s likely you will feel upset after being rejected; you’re human after all! Allow yourself to feel whatever it is you’re feeling, without judgment. It’s healthy to give yourself some time to process the rejection, what it means, and how it may impact you and anyone else that matters to you in your life.

A word of caution here: limit the amount of processing time you take to avoid wallowing in pity and negative thoughts for longer than is helpful. It’s pos-

negative experiences. Be mindful of the blind optimists, who will often quickly gloss over the situation. Find someone you trust who will listen, help you sort out how to deal with the situation and won’t be afraid to tell you if you’re dwelling on the situation too long.

Don’t air grievances on social media

Employers browse the internet.

You don’t want them to see you don’t handle rejection well.

However upset or angry you are, avoid the temptation to vent online.

Remember, the past does not equal the future

Being rejected by an employer in the past does not mean every

other employer will say no in the future. If you focus on the number of times you were rejected for a job, the problem will become much bigger and you’ll feel like you can never succeed. You’ll find it hard to move on by sending out more resumés, exploring new possibilities or pursuing different options.

Have realistic expectations of yourself and others

Things don’t always go our way or turn out as we’d like and that’s OK. You are not entitled to a “yes” response. There may be more work to do to achieve your goal, for example, some new learning and more experience. Whatever happens next, you’ll be able to deal with it.

U.K.-born Hazel Morley has more than 20 years’ experience as a learning and development practitioner and professional/personal coach. See thinksmarttraining. com or email hazel@thinksmarttraining.com.

Talk to someone — choose wisely

Be careful who you share your problem with. Avoid those who will exaggerate the situation, judge you or dominate the conversation with their own

Are you an IMMIGRANT looking for work?

Our Skills Connect for Immigrants Program: • connects your skills with B.C. Employers in all job sectors • provides mentorship opportunities and one-on-one coaching • helps you plan your career, access job leads, upgrade your skills and earn Canadian credentials

Call Today: 604.575.3800 Toll Free: 1.877.277.4832 www.skillsconnect.ca

“The Skills Connect for Immigrants Program is part of the WelcomeBC umbrella of services, made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.”

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SETTLEMENT

| LIFE LESSONS |

Jump start

I

Sometimes all it takes is a leap of faith

’ve often heard of leaps of faith. When you just have to trust — your instincts, your destiny, the universe — that things will fall into place and work out for the best. It’s a nice romantic notion and the often-promised “happily ever after” is a tempting payoff. But when faced with the prospect of actually taking said jump, a sudden and paralyzing fear of gravity sets in.

I was freelancing as a television editor on weekends and some evenings after an eight-hour day at my full-time job. The wheels in my head had started turning. I was just about ready to quit the job I wasn’t quite suited for in favour of occasional shifts at one I loved.

While my own apprehension about the lack of stability that might follow was already overwhelming, the people surrounding me were chiming in with their own fears. With each “How will you pay the rent?” I began to let doubts scare me. With every “A paycheque is a paycheque,” I took two steps back.

I decided to stick it out for a while longer.

I have talked myself hoarse about approaching everything with a blind optimism — how positivity has given me the strength to achieve things I never dreamed of. And yet there I was letting fear get the best of me. And not even my own fear — but those of others who had completely separate life experiences from my own. Their reasons were based on their own struggles and insecurities. There was no reason to believe my life would have a similar outcome. Internalizing the anxieties of others had made me panic and clamber back onto stable

but otherwise barren land.

Several longdistance phone calls followed.

My wise and supportive mother and siblings talked me through some basic financial planning. In the meantime, the television station I worked freelance for came through with a promise of two months’ worth of shifts during the spring and summer seasons when the fulltime editors take their vacations. A sabbatical from my full-time job was not an option and so there I was, on the edge again, but this time I went for it.

With a grand total of $1,000 in my bank, which included all available credit, I gave my two weeks’ notice.

Combining a little bit of calculation, a whole lot of belief and a generous amount of bravado was all it took. Two months of freelancing turned into two years and the several wondrous opportunities that followed. All because I chose to go ahead and take that storied leap.

Life lesson no. 6 — fear of the unknown may or may not protect you from failure. But it will most certainly keep you from success. You might as well jump.

Indian-born Dilshad Burman came to Canada as an international student and is now the host of Omni Television’s V-Mix. She has plenty of life lessons to share with other young immigrants. See all her “Life Lessons” at canadianimmigrant.ca.

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SETTLEMENT

The ABCs of starting school And how parents can help transition their children successfully to kindergarten and beyond

S

By Farah Kazim

eptember is marked on our calendars as a time to leave the carefree days of summer behind and embrace the start of a new academic year. It is truly a time of change, as students, parents and teachers are encouraged to start with a clean slate and open a new page in their books.

Transitions are not always easy, yet they are essential for the growth of human development. How do these transitions impact the development of our youngest students, specifically newcomers who may have recently arrived from another country?

Children will experience numerous transitions in their life, arguably the most significant of which is the transition from their home environment to preschool or kindergarten, according to the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Successful transitions

With this in mind, it is important that parents and teachers work collaboratively to support student success in their new environment. Smooth transitions are achievable through the love, support and understanding of caregivers, the encouragement and guidance from teachers, and the trust, acceptance and inclusion from their peers.

Language is key

The ability to communicate is one of the main tenets of a high-quality, early childhood program within the Canadian educational system. However, this is easier said than done, as newcomer students differ in the rate at which they acquire basic English skills.

To help their children, parents can act as partners in the language learning process by playing games such as Pictionary, in which players try to identify words in English from various drawings and visual cues.

They can also use a translation dictionary as a tool of reference for children to discover the meaning of new words. Your local library may also have bilingual books and audio-visual CDs to further enhance literacy development. These materials will help young readers decode unfamiliar words and phrases, especially idiomatic expressions.

Playing English songs and nursery rhymes will also help newcomer children learn through repeated phrases and sequencing of words.

Newcomer students should also be encouraged to join extracurricular after-school activities and clubs that appeal to their interests. This will, in turn, enhance their language ability, skillset and instill a sense of community.

School strategies

Parents should also be open to strategies the teacher might employ. The elementary teacher is often charged with the responsibility to make judicious choices regarding the pairing of students, whereby a less fluent learner is matched with one who is more familiar with English. Research supports that when this system is used appropriately, the power of observational learning is limitless.

Finally, to facilitate the optimal transition, newcomer parents should volunteer their time in the classroom and school, understanding that learning is a joint venture between the parent, child and teacher.

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Celebrating 10 Years!

September 2014

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WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT

Hospital hires What does the health care industry look for in immigrant professionals?

An interview with Scarborough Hospital’s VP of HR offers up a diagnosis

By Denise Hansen

T

he stories are well known enough: physicians trained in India driving cabs in Canada’s urban centres; highly trained Filipino nurses underemployed as nannies and caregivers in rural regions; medical scientists, lab technicians and biochemistry experts from around the world all struggling to find employment in the Canadian health care industry in large part due to licensing issues.

For immigrants in the health care field, it can be a long, hard battle to find meaningful employment in the health care industry — one of the most specialized and regulated industries in Canada. For this issue’s “What Employers Want” instalment, Canadian Immigrant talks with Rhonda Lewis, vice-president of human resources and patient relations at the Scarborough Hospital in Ontario, to find out what Canadian hospitals — and the health care industry in general — look for when hiring immigrant professionals.

Approximately, what is the Canadian-born/immigrant makeup of the Scarborough Hospital’s workforce?

We believe that the makeup of the Scarborough Hospital’s workforce reflects the community we serve. Based on the latest census data, the visible minority population in Scarborough is 74 per cent of the total population. Scarborough also has the highest percentage of recent immigrants in Ontario.

Why is diversity important to the Scarborough Hospital?

The Scarborough Hospital’s vision is to be recognized as Canada’s leader in providing the best health care for a global community. The importance of diversity is inherent in this vision. Diversity produces better results at the hospital in terms of enhancing the patient experience, increasing staff morale and strengthening transitions of care.

Improving access to care for patients is about the removal or alleviation of barriers, such as providing interpretation services, as well as the inclusion of culturally sensitive practices and food options.

For staff, focusing on diversity fosters a culture of inclusivity and acceptance, and increases engagement.

A powerful example of the hospital’s commitment to diversity is its Global Community Resource Centre. This centre was established as a unique and dynamic “one-stop” interactive hub for patients, staff and the community to access reliable and multilingual health and community information in a variety of formats. The goal is to empower visitors to the centre with increased health literacy and better access to community services. The collaborative model for the centre includes partnerships with 14 community agencies.

their homework and are equipped with this ability prior to applying for employment opportunities. Sometimes this means ensuring they have sound knowledge of certain types of equipment, software or legislation, which might differ in Canada from other parts of the world. There are several continuing education options available to newcomers that are not unduly onerous, to be able to obtain the required specific knowledge or skills. Volunteer work is also a rewarding way in which newcomers can integrate themselves into the work environment.

What other skills or experience do you find immigrant candidates lack?

I think that one of the main challenges is language gaps, specifically the ability to understand and articulate in commonly used colloquial terms. Closely following this issue is that newcomers often lack confidence and this becomes evident in the manner in which they present themselves or showcase their talents.

What are some of the careers and skills currently in demand in the health care industry?

The health care industry offers a wide variety of clinical and nonclinical careers. Some of the key clinical jobs currently in demand are nurses, medical technologists, pharmacists and physiotherapists.

Key non-clinical jobs include information systems and financial analysts, health record technicians, human resources consultants, and quality and improvement facilitators.

Non-technical skills that are essential for all jobs are a high level of communication, teamwork, problem-solving and decision-making.

Once hired, what advice can you give newcomers in the health care industry on learning the ropes quickly?

I believe that, once hired, newcomers must make every effort to integrate themselves into the workforce by getting involved and staying engaged. It is important for them to embrace the diversity of their work environment and be willing to contribute their talents in an inclusive manner. They must also be proactive in becoming quickly acquainted with the essential elements of their job, whether it is equipment or policies and procedures, in order to ensure that they are as prepared as possible to produce optimal performance.

How does the Scarborough Hospital approach the issue of foreign credentials and international experience when hiring?

All regulated health professionals employed at the hospital are required to have the requisite licensing in Ontario, and their practice is governed by the respective colleges. As long as professionals are licensed to practise in the province, the hospital places no distinction on the origins of their credentials.

Many employers prioritize Canadian experience. What can immigrant professionals do to substitute for their lack of Canadian experience?

It is important for immigrant professionals to ensure that they do

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Amazing career stories begin at Scotiabank.

Scotiabank is proud to present the Canadian Immigrant 2014 – Career, Education and Settlement Fair.

We have a strong sense of community, this is why we support and partner with various organizations to include newcomers into the Canadian work force. Explore our sponsored opportunities: • take sector specific pre-employment training at ACCES Employment • get career advice by Scotiabankers through TRIEC’s The Mentoring Partnership program • network and connect to meaningful employment through TRIEC’s Professional Immigrant Networks To learn more about Scotiabank and to start your amazing career visit: scotiabank.com/newcomers

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BACK PAGE

N

ewcomer tips from our RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2014!

G P ( , M)

“

You must know exactly why you are immigrating. You are coming here for a purpose, and you must keep your focus on this goal while learning about the culture and the environment in which you are going to live and work.

”

V A

( , , , E)

“

Believe in yourself! Stay strong!

Forge the way for others! And never ever let anything or anyone stop you from making a positive difference in your life and in the lives of others!

”

Skills Connect for Immigrants Meet employers in your field Free job search assistance Work one-to-one with an employment specialist Qualify for work in your profession Receive training subsidies Delivered in partnership with Abbotsford Community Services

This project is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia

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Burnaby 604 438 3045 Coquitlam 604 588 7772 Surrey/Langley 604 588 7772 Fraser Valley 604 866 1645 or 604 866 0257 skillsconnect@douglascollege.ca

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