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CONTENTS 4
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PROFILE: Funny Filipina Isabel Kanaan NEWS: Anti-racism law in Ontario CANSPEAK: Grammar don’ts!
RBC TOP 25 CANADIAN IMMIGRANTS OF 2017
And the winners are …
24 CAREERS AND EDUCATION
Head for success: getting the right mindset CAREER COACH: Dress to impress JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES: The gig economy (Part 3)
28 SETTLEMENT
TIPS FOR SETTLING IN FASTER: The right neighbourhood fit PARENTING: Celebrating Canada 150 as a family
29 CULTURE
Paola Murillo and the ninth year of Carnaval del Sol in Vancouver
30 BACK PAGE
HUMOUR BY HEMETERIO
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HALIFAX September 8, 2017 CALGARY October 28, 2017 EDMONTON October 30, 2017 VANCOUVER November 9, 2017 MISSISSAUGA December 8, 2017 World Trade & Convention Centre
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People. News. Information. VOLUME 14, ISSUE 6 JULY 2017 Group Publishers Gautam Datt Sharma Sanjay Agnihotri
profile
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
Isabel
Kanaan Funny girl By Margaret Jetelina
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
above Catch Isabel Kanaan on Canadian comedy show Air Farce.
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hen Isabel Kanaan first arrived in Canada as a 16-year-old from busy and tropical Manila, Philippines, she found her new Toronto suburban home quiet and cold — despite landing in the middle of August. “I refused to take my sweater off because I was cold,” she says with a laugh. It took time for her to adjust, but her natural talents as a performer and comedienne helped her through. She is a Seneca College Acting for Camera and Voice alumna and Second City graduate, and now is the newest face on the very Canadian show Air Farce, making her debut on the show’s Air Farce Canada 150 special on July 1, 2017, on CBC. What was your initial transition to Canadian life like? Coming from an overpopulated city like Manila, I found the quiet deafening in the Toronto suburbs. I really only started getting used to Canada when I went to university in Toronto. The diversity, the busy life,
the noise — they felt like home. I haven’t adjusted to the cold though. Did you always dream of becoming an actor? A comedienne? I was always a performer. I was practically singing when I came out the womb and caught the acting bug in high school. I knew I had to be a performer. As for being a comedienne? Making people laugh came naturally to me and my acting teachers would comment on how I could find the comedy in anything. I took their notes to heart and started taking comedy seriously — ironically. Has performing helped you in your immigration journey? Definitely. I wasn’t truly myself until I started pursuing comedy and acting. I would meet people and hide behind the facade of what I thought a “good assimilated immigrant” was. When I started performing regularly, I became comfortable in my own skin and in myself. Canada isn’t known for its large movie and TV industry. What are opportunities like for a perform-
er of Filipina heritage? I’m not going to lie, it’s tough. There’s not much content out there written with Filipinos in mind. That’s why we create communities where we can showcase our stories and skills. I, for example, am part of the new collective creation unit of a Filipino-Canadian theatre company, Carlos Bulosan Theatre, and recently co-wrote and performed in our debut piece, Anak. We are constantly creating new stories and expanding our network so that we can keep working as Filipino-Canadian performers. What does it mean to you to be part of such a Canadian show as Air Farce? And especially for the Canada 150 special? When I initially moved to Canada, it took me a while to get comfortable being myself in a new environment. Being part of Air Farce Canada 150, I get to be my goofy self in front of the whole country! Canada prides itself in its multiculturalism and I am living proof of that. I am so grateful to be on Air Farce — and that Canada has accepted me. facebook.com/canimmigrant
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your take Readers have their say
Celebrating Canada 150
July 1, 2017, marks Canada’s 150th anniversary. This important date marks the formation of Canadian Confederation and the Constitution Act. Prior to 1867, Canada was a part of the French and British empires, and lacking independence. On this momentous date in 1867, Canada became a kingdom in its own right, with a Westminster parliamentary system modeled after the British, and was renamed the Dominion of Canada. Not yet fully independent in function, over time, this Dominion of Canada would gradually become more independent, achieving full independence with the passing of the 1982 Constitution Act. Independence aside, Canada has become fully independent through its authentic and unrivalled identity as a welcoming site for multicultural and multiethnic interchange. In recent history, Canada has hosted immigrants and refugees from all over the globe, granting them rights, freedoms and a place to call home. Alas, in order to maintain Canada’s unique identity, which is protected by the Constitution, and by myriad democratic institutions, the Canadian people have the right and the responsibility to participate in civic life. In the interest of preserving Canada’s status and reputation as a progressive, liberal and tolerant society, one which upholds equality and fosters social integration, one which respects freedoms of expression and association, we must remain engaged and fulfill our civic duties by volunteering, engaging in dialogue with one another, and voting. So, this year, to celebrate 150 years of Canadian autonomy and identity, I welcome you all to pay homage to the various institutions that have made Canada what it is, and to do your part in making Canada the nation that it is.
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canspeak...
Words, expressions and sayings Don’t commit these common, yet simple to avoid, grammar mistakes. Their vs. there vs. they’re “Their” is possessive. “There” indicates place. “They’re” is the contraction of “they are.” Your vs. you’re “Your” is possessive. “You’re” is the contraction of “you are.” Its vs. it’s If you can replace it with “it is,” then use “it’s. If you can’t, use “its.”
Whose vs. Who’s Use the same trick as with “it’s.” If you can say “who is” in the sentence, use “who’s.” Who vs. whom Try replacing “who” with “he” or “she” and “whom” with “him” or “her” to check if you’re using the right word. Then vs. than “Then” means time; “than” is a comparison
news
Historic legislation passes With Ontario’s racialized population projected to grow to 40 per cent of the province’s population by 2031, the Anti-Racism Act, 2017, passed on June 1, strengthens the provincial government’s commitment to combat systemic racism and build a fair society where everyone is provided equal opportunity. “Th is legislation will enable us to build greater racial equity, and build an even stronger Ontario by fighting systemic racism, including anti-Black racism, antiIndigenous racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and discrimination facing other racialized communities,” says Michael Coteau, minister responsible for anti-racism. The act sets the Anti-Racism Directorate, which was established in 2016, in legislation to ensure its sustainability. In federal legislation news, Bill C-6, an Act to amend the Citizenship Act, has received Royal
Bridge Delivery for International Medical Graduates
Assent. Applicants are no longer required to intend to continue to live in Canada once granted citizenship. The act also repeals the ability to revoke citizenship from dual citizens convicted of crimes against the national interest. Dual citizens living in Canada who are convicted of these crimes will face the Canadian justice system, like other Canadian citizens who break the law. Additional changes include reducing the time permanent residents must be physically present in Canada to three out of five years before applying for citizenship; amending the age range for people to meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship from 14-64 years to 18-54 years; and counting some of the time applicants spend in Canada as temporary residents or protected persons toward their physical presence requirements for citizenship.
info@ccnm.edu www.ccnm.edu
Continuing your medical career in Canada
The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Educating naturopathic doctors for almost 40 years
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Top stories The winners of the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards of 2017 Profiles by Vivien Fellegi and Margaret Jetelina
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n Canada’s 150th birthday, Canadian Immigrant magazine is prouder than ever to present the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards, now in its ninth year. Canada is certainly a land of immigrants and it shows in the diversity of our 25 winners — both in terms of their origins and their contributions. From the federal minister of immigration hailing from Somalia, to the celebrated CEO of BroadbandTV from Iran, to an LGBTQ activist from Syria, to a celebrated Chinese-born Canadian ballerina, each of our winners is a truly inspiring role model. The awards program, proudly supported by founding and title sponsor RBC Royal Bank, has been sharing the inspiring stories of immigrants from coast to coast since 2009. This year, the voting phase garnered a record number of votes — more than 55,000 — a true testament to the importance of immigrants in Canada’s continuing story. 2017 is also the third year that RBC selects one of the winners for its special RBC Entrepreneur Award. This year, a new Youth Award has also been introduced to highlight the achievements that young immigrants make to this country. (See inside for the special honourees!) But, to start, who better to begin our winners’ coverage than the man who is the head of Canada’s immigration system itself …
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Minister Ahmed Hussen
From Somalia to Parliament Hill
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hmed Hussen is the first immigrant serving in the role of federal immigration minister in more than a decade; he comes to the position with plenty of authority on the subject. Not only is he an immigration lawyer, he knows firsthand what immigrating to a new country is like. “The journey of settling and integrating into Canada was a difficult one for me,” the Somalian-born Hussen admits. “It was difficult for me to learn about how to do things in Canada such as use a laundromat or mail a letter. I also found the winter to be difficult to adjust to because I came from a warm country.” But he did adjust — in fact, he thrived! After landing in Toronto in 1993, Hussen completed high school, studied at York University and began a career in public service. He co-founded the Regent Park Community Council, playing a key role in securing the $500-million revitalization project for Regent Park. He also served as national president for the Canadian Somali Congress and worked as a special assistant for intergovernmental affairs to former Ontario
Premier Dalton McGuinty. After earning a law degree from the University of Ottawa, Hussen practised in the areas of criminal defence, immigration and refugee law, and human rights. He then decided the next step was to enter politics. He was elected in the 2015 federal election in the riding of York South-Weston. In 2017, he was appointed minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. “I have the privilege and honour of leading the same ministry that I was once a client of,” he says. “That speaks volumes about Canada’s success in being able to integrate newcomers and turn them into successful Canadian citizens.” Hussen says there are certain qualities important for an immigrant to succeed in Canada: the ability to quickly learn the language; the willingness to adapt to a new environment; and the ability to develop networks. “Work hard and seek out mentors because they will be the key to your success,” he adds. “And give back to your adopted country.”
Photo by Jessica Deeks
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Ajay Virmani
Sky-high success
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Photo by Alessandro Shinoda
ne of Ajay Virmani’s first jobs in Canada was washing windows. He then sold a little life insurance before landing a customer service job at Cottrell Transport in 1979. This move would send him down a path of greater heights than the young Indian-born immigrant could ever have imagined. “I never followed the crowd,” says Virmani, today the president and CEO of the Cargojet Group of Companies in Toronto. “I always believed and continue to believe that one should be unique and create your own opportunity.” That he certainly did. Working his way up at Cottrell while earning an MBA, Virmani became vice-president of its air freight and international division, which was in need of an innovative thinker. Virmani fulfi lled the role, tripling revenues to $15 million. After being promoted to senior vice-president, he made another move in 1990 and started his own company, Commercial Transport International (Canada) Ltd. Two years later, he purchased Fastair Cargo Systems, a major Canadian domestic freight forwarder, and, a mere five years later, Virmani acquired Cot-
trell Transport — the company that had given him his first real job in Canada. Throw in a few other acquisitions and, by 1999, Virmani’s companies had sky-high sales in excess of $100 million and more than 500 employees. The acquisition of Canada 3000 Airlines Cargo division took his business to even higher peaks. After the demise of Canada 3000 Airlines, Virmani launched Cargojet from its ashes in 2002. Now a public company boasting the Canada Post contract worth $1.7 billion, Cargojet’s entrepreneurial story is impressive, as is its founder’s well-known philanthropy. He even finds time to dabble as a fi lm producer, producing successful Canadian movies such as Dr. Cabbie and Breakaway. His son is the actor and writer Vinay Virmani behind the fi lms. But elder Virmani’s focus continues to be “building and growing Cargojet.” Singled out among this year’s Top 25 as 2017’s RBC Entrepreneur Award winner, he says, “We are celebrating 15 years as an organization this year. The next phase of our expansion is the international markets!”
Jennifer Gillivan
Authentic leadership
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ennifer Gillivan has always been an outlier, a creative child who wondered “Why?” The nuns in her Dublin convent school tried to stifle her curiosity, calling her “stupid” and even rapping her hand with a ruler. Gillivan’s grandmother challenged their authority. “Th is granddaughter of mine is the best thing since sliced bread!” she told them. From that moment on, Gillivan was determined to always be true to herself. “You always get the real thing with me,” she says. Gillivan and her husband immigrated to Canada at age 21 to escape the depressed economy of Ireland. Soon after her arrival, she got news that her father had died and, shortly afterward, she discovered she was pregnant. “I missed my relatives — I was so alone,” she says. But she persisted. Gillivan applied to a job ad with the CBC on a dare, and was shocked to get the position. The mother of two worked there for more than 14 years, most recently leading the partnership practice and managing several communications, marketing and
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brand teams across Canada. Today, she is president and CEO of the IWK Foundation, the primary fundraising and outreach partner of the IWK Health Centre, which specializes in services to women and children throughout the Maritimes. Her success in raising funds depends on Gillivan’s authenticity. “You have to be passionate to persuade people to support the cause you believe in,” she says. Gillivan also fi nds time to give back to her community. “I got a lot of breaks in my life, so I feel a moral responsibility to pay it forward,” says Gillivan, who mentors immigrant women and gives motivational talks at schools as a start. She has won many awards, including Halifax Business Person of the Year 2017 and a Top 50 CEO Award by Atlantic Business magazine in 2014, 2015 and 2017, but she is most excited by being named an RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant. “Th is award is personal; it’s about being a good citizen.”
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Celebrating 25 exceptional individuals. Visit canadianimmigrant.ca/rbctop25
We are proud to congratulate and celebrate the RBCŽ Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award winners. Their stories of perseverance and courage are motivating and inspiring to all Canadians. Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate and vote for these remarkable individuals. Ž / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada.
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Chan Hon Goh Ballerina boss
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s a principal dancer of the National Ballet of Canada for more than 20 years, Chan Hon Goh was known for her technical skill, lyricism and emotional depth. Taking on quintessential ballerina roles like Cinderella and Giselle, she is a defining Canadian prima ballerina of her generation. The talent comes to her quite honestly — thanks to a mix of good genes and sheer perseverance. Both her mother, Choo Chiat Goh, and father, Lin Yee Goh, were principal dancers with Beijing’s National Ballet of China, before they all immigrated to Vancouver when Goh was eight years old in 1977. Her parents had actually wanted her to become a concert pianist, but Chan sat on the sidelines at their Vancouver dance school, Goh Ballet Academy, dreaming of being a ballerina. “I always saw myself as a ballerina … even when no one else did. I was forever trying on my mother’s pointe shoes.” Chan eventually did start taking classes, and, at 16, she insisted on entering the Prix de Lausanne, a prestigious global competition for young dancers. She won the grand prize. That’s when the National Ballet came calling, and she
joined their corps de ballet in Toronto. Although she’s now retired from the stage, her determined spirit is still present in everything she does from marketing a line of her own pointe shoes called Principal by Chan Hon Goh, to serving as director of Goh Ballet, following in her parents’ footsteps. “For me, qualities of perseverance, integrity and a willingness to learn are immensely important,” she says. “Working hard and pushing through challenges are a big part of my journey to success.” The Goh Ballet Academy and its youth performance company have grown by leaps and bounds under Chan’s leadership since 2010, including its own critically acclaimed version of The Nutcracker, which she produces every Christmas season. “In the coming year, I will be producing the ninth annual production of Vancouver’s Nutcracker,” Chan says proudly. “I will also be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Goh Ballet Academy. This will entail many events and presentations around the city, plus the commissioning of a new full-length ballet of Cinderella.”
Ahmad Danny Ramadan Local hero
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hat does Syrian-born Ahmad Danny Ramadan love most about his adopted country of Canada? “Walking proudly on a sunny summer day after a long winter on Davie Street holding my partner’s hand with no fear in the world,” he says. Being a gay man living in a Lebanese refugee camp was not quite so carefree. But he used his talents as a journalist to bring attention to the struggles of LGBTQ-identifying refugees. He also reported for two years on the Syrian civil war for the Washington Post from their offices in Beirut. When Ramadan was given a choice to leave the camp in 2014 for either Europe or Canada, he picked Canada. “I knew that I can build a future for myself here,” he says. “It was important to me to be in a place where I will feel part of a community and make my dreams come true.” But he admits it’s not always been easy as he combatted stereotypical views of refugees as helpless. “It was difficult to get people to believe in my talents and accomplishments because I’m only viewed as a refugee. It took a
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lot of work and effort to change that view and bring my agency to the front of any conversation.” Today, he has become a well-known face in Vancouver’s LGBTQ community, working as the community outreach co-ordinator of QMUNITY, British Columbia’s Queer Resource Centre. He also volunteers with Rainbow Refugee Society, and supported the organization in sponsoring more than 10 refugees from Syria, personally raising more than $80,000. Ramadan proudly celebrated his journey thus far when he was chosen as the “local hero” grand marshal for Vancouver’s Gay Pride Parade in 2016. Ramadan, who also has a TEDx speech titled The Refugee Tree, is now working as a volunteer specialist with the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Ramadan also recently penned a book of fiction. “I just released my first novel, The Clothesline Swing, to rave reviews by many local and national newspapers, and I will be touring Canada in the fall to promote the book.” facebook.com/canimmigrant
Dr. James Orbinski
The world needs more Orbinskis
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Photo by Lucas Oleniuk/Toronto Star
r. James Orbinski has vivid memories of arriving in Montreal by ship as a little boy in 1967. “I remember being greeted by two Mounties in their bright red jackets and being really impressed by their leather boots,” the English-born Orbinski says with a chuckle. “I am just so enormously proud to be Canadian. The country has given me so much.” He has returned the favour — and then some. There’s a saying going around right now — “The world needs more Canada” — but, really, what the world and Canada need are more James Orbinskis. As a medical doctor, international humanitarian, professor, research, author and a passionate champion of global health, Guelph, Ontario-based Orbinski believes in making the world more just, fair and humane. As just one example, Orbinski co-founded Dignitas International in 2004, a hybrid academic-NGO to help HIV patients in Malawi, Africa. Today, it has more than 250,000 patients on full HIV treatment. Orbinski has also spent more than 20 years in medical humanitarian relief, having worked in situations of war, famine, epidemic disease
and genocide with Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF). He was its international president from 1998 to 2001, during which time he accepted its Nobel Peace Prize. And he was personally awarded the Meritorious Service Cross when he was working in Rwanda with MSF during the 1994 genocide. “I’m still intimately involved in MSF, but not in a formal leadership capacity,” he says. “I recently gave a keynote lecture [for MSF] on the health impact of climate change.” That particular topic has been consuming his focus lately; he has been down at the University of California, Berkeley and Irvine, as a Fulbright visiting professor. “It’s a new area for me, but it’s important to understand the impact of climate change on health. My work with other scientists and researchers here is really to develop a deeper and richer understanding of the health impact of climate change and develop interventions for it.” Next, he will be coming back to Ontario as inaugural director of the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research at York University in Toronto, starting September 2017. Canada will certainly be happy to have him back!
Shahrzad Rafati
Video revolutionary
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ne year ago, at the 2016 Technology Impact Awards, Shahrzad Rafati, founder and CEO of BroadbandTV (BBTV), was named Person of the Year for her significant contributions to B.C.’s tech industry. The honour is just one of many accolades the innovative Rafati has received for launching the world’s largest multi-channel network, which drives success for online video creators. BBTV generates 24.4 billion monthly impressions across its owned and operated library and brands, as well as its network of 86,000 content creators. BBTV is also the third largest video property in the world — in terms of unique viewers — following only Google and Facebook. It all sounds rather complicated, but in essence, it’s about inspiring a new age of online storytelling by video content creators (the YouTube generation), while helping big-brand clients like the NBA tap into that content and earn advertising revenue on it. Rafati’s own story began in Tehran, Iran, growing up in a family of entrepreneurs. But she didn’t even own a computer or have an
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email account! At the time, content in Iran was also rationed and there were only three TV channels, she says. “I left Tehran when I was a teenager and arrived in Vancouver with one suitcase and some very basic English,” she said in an interview with Chatelaine. She decided to study computer science at the University of British Columbia despite her inexperience with technology. “Those first few years were really challenging, but I couldn’t achieve my dreams in Iran.” It didn’t take her long to pick things up. “I founded BroadbandTV right out of school [in 2005],” according to Rafati. “The online video space was still very new then, and media organizations didn’t understand how to manage their content.” For the last 12 years, Rafati has established herself as a technology thought leader. She has noted: “My passion in life is to be able to help this new generation of content creators, empower them with the right solutions, tools, technologies to be able to succeed.” canadianimmigrant.ca
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Noella Milne
A mind for justice
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ommercial real estate lawyer Noella Milne’s passion for justice originated in her childhood years growing up in Mumbai, India. “You couldn’t help but see inequality everywhere,” she says. She felt guilty passing young girls cleaning the streets while she was driven to a school for privileged kids. She dreamed of coming to Canada, making some money and returning home to work in the slums. Shortly after arriving in Montreal, Milne scored a job as a secretary in the engineering department of McGill University. She began taking evening classes, completed an undergraduate arts degree and became a travel agent. Then boredom set in. Recognizing that she needed more intellectual challenges, she applied to law school. “In a legal career you’re constantly learning — you can never know enough,” she enthuses. After graduation, she was offered a job at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP on Bay Street in Toronto. Milne had to overcome gender barriers to rise to senior partner. “Back then, clients would much rather have a male represent them because they saw men as tougher than women,”
says the trailblazing attorney. “But I’ve never walked away from anything.” Today, Milne is dedicated to advocating for the disadvantaged and mentors young women lawyers. While on the board of the Children’s Aid Foundation, she created university scholarships for kids taken into foster care. “You can literally change lives with education,” she says. Milne also made her mark on the Canadian Club, a speakers’ forum with roots back to 1897. During her tenure as president, she added social issues to the regular debates on business and politics, and hosted a benefit for an African charity helping HIV/AIDS victims. She is now an honorary life director, an honour bestowed on only three other presidents. Milne was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2012, but she is humble about her achievements. She is, however, proud of her children’s charitable efforts. “They’re humanitarians in the deepest sense of the word,” she says with pride. They were certainly inspired by their mother.
Photo by Saajid Motala
Miroslav Reljic
Unlocking your potential
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hen Miroslav Reljic was selected this past February to coach executive students at the Cambridge Judge Business School in the U.K., he became the first Canadian leadership coach to be offered this prestigious opportunity. That offer letter made him reflect on his journey of success, from a marginalized Serb-gayrefugee from wartorn Croatia, to CEO of his own leadership coaching practice in Calgary, Reljic Coached, 20-some years later helping clients, as he says, “unlock their full potential.” When he moved to Canada in 1999, Reljic spoke limited English. When he first landed in Montreal, he even accidently boarded a plane heading to Halifax instead of his Alberta destination. He got off the plane just in time and made it to Calgary as planned, where he started working cleaning and retail part-time jobs while pursuing full-time ESL classes. By 2001, he enrolled at the University of Calgary and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 2004. For the last dozen years, he has worked and consulted for top Canadian oil and
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banking companies. “My ability to stay proactive and embrace new challenges is what helped me become successful in Canada. When we are proactive, we are more agile, adaptive and flexible. When we are reactive, then we focus on the past and we may miss new opportunities. Staying proactive and focused while pursuing my goals has definitely helped me to succeed in my journey,” he says. These are lessons he shares not only while coaching executive clients, but when he is volunteering his time with newcomers and jobseekers in Calgary. In 2016, he created and facilitated numerous pro bono workshops and volunteered with more than 1,000 newcomers at various immigrant-serving agencies in the city. “I feel blessed that I can give back through my workshops and help newcomers unleash their full potential in Canada, the country that has accepted me for who I am, provided my family with safety and given me unlimited opportunities,” he says.
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Florfina Marcelino Rising up to lead
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ogan, Manitoba, is one of the most ethnically diverse ridings in the central Canadian province. According to MLA Florfina Marcelino, that diversity strengthens the province. In 2007, she, in fact, became the first racialized woman ever elected to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly, and, in 2009, the first person of ethnic background to be given a cabinet position. She was given the portfolios of culture, heritage and tourism, and later multiculturalism and literacy. Re-elected in 2011 and again in 2016, Marcelino stepped up to become interim leader of the NDP provincial party in the last election in which the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba’s victory ended nearly 17 years of NDP government. After the election, Marcelino said she and her party intended to hold the new government to account during question period as the Official Opposition. “This is a party that will keep on fighting for what we believe is right, for our values, for our social justice goals for everyone ... Watch out how we rise up.” Philippines-born Marcelino was a surprise choice to replace outgoing party leader (and
former premier) Greg Selinger. But she was seen as someone that everyone could work with. Indeed, Marcelino makes it a point to say she wants to work with First Nations, newcomer communities and all Manitobans. Marcelino and her family moved to Winnipeg in 1982, and have called Manitoba home ever since. Prior to her political career, Marcelino was a small business owner, editor of The Philippine Times, and worked as a support staff at Red River College for 17 years. Marcelino has faced many challenges, including a brain tumour in 2002 that affected her speech. The mother of five adult children and grandmother to four boys hasn’t let this obstacle slow her down, however. While she’s not seeking the party leader position on a permanent basis, as interim leader Marcelino has been a vocal critic of the government’s policies, and a popular face at community events like citizenship ceremonies, kids and cultural events, Philippine Heritage Week and the Winnipeg Pride Parade. “Our party today, as in the past, is a party of inclusivity. It is a party of diversity. It is a party of all of Manitobans,” she said.
Tony Luk
Immigration authority
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ong Kong-born Tony Luk was just 16 years old when his father sent him to study at a Canadian high school. It was a tough adjustment. “When I first came here, I was so lonely. I had no friends,” he recalls. A part-time job at McDonald’s helped Luk adjust to Canadian society. Interacting with the customers improved his language skills, and he made friends with many of his coworkers. He also started volunteering with an immigrant settlement agency, which would lay the building blocks for his future profession as an immigration consultant. In 1989, Luk established CISNI-Canada Immigration Service Network Inc., later becoming CanHome Group, which offers travel advice, translation, immigration tips and business consulting. Luk enjoys handling this diverse portfolio of services. “There’s always a challenge,” he says. Luk has also become an advocate on immigration issues, from the licensing of immigration consultants to family sponsorship
improvements. Luk is now paying it forward to the country he’s come to love. “I’ve had so many blessings, I want to give back,” he says. He has volunteered his time with settlement agencies — serving on the boards of the Centre for Immigrant and Community Services for six years and Support Enhance Access for more than five years — and has become a key figure in China-Canada relations. He has served as the president of the Canada-China Overseas Exchange Association, of Canadian China Trade Promotion Association, of Guangdong Chamber of Commerce in Canada and of Canada Guangdong Overseas Friendship Association, and is currently helping plan a Canadian business and cultural delegation to China. Far from that lonely youth he was 40+ years ago, Luk now hosts a weekly Cantonese radio talk show that answers listeners’ questions about immigration issues. “Earning money is good, but when I help people, it makes me so happy.” Photo by Saajid Motala
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Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta
Fighting for kids’ health
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hen Canada’s immigration department says it wants to attract “the best and the brightest,” it assuredly means a person like Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta. The pediatric physician, researcher and distinguished national professor of the Government of Pakistan came to Canada five years ago at the peak of his career. “I was seeking enhanced opportunities for my work in global health especially for women and children, and the opportunity to work with scholars and students in a country that has exceptional policies for global linkage and development,” he says. Bhutta is the Robert Harding Inaugural Chair in global child health at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and the co-director of the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health. Currently, his focus is on looking at the relationship of conflict to the health of women and children. “My team has initiated a series of groundbreaking studies on the relationship of conflict and adversity with reproductive, maternal and child health worldwide in partnership with a coalition of some of the best uni-
versities of the world. This body of work will not only help us develop better strategies for remediation and action in high-burden countries of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, but will also help displaced populations and refugee families in Canada.” Although the list of his past accomplishments and awards in maternal and child health globally is too long to even contemplate citing here, one of his most recent positions points to his prominent place in the field: he is president of the International Pediatric Association (2016-2019). In this role, he is a voice for health professionals supporting integrated maternal, newborn and child health globally. And Bhutta is happy to be sharing his knowledge from a Canadian foundation. “I believe I have greatly benefited from working within one of the best academic and professional institutions in the world,” he says. “SickKids is an institution that grows on you and working with scores of bright and dynamic young people has been one of the major reasons that I have greatly enjoyed the last five years.”
Maziar Heidari
Hooked on classics
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ranian-born composer Maziar Heidari’s life as a musician began with some resistance — his parents forced him to take piano lessons starting at the age of five. “It was terrible to sit in one place and practise for half an hour,” he says, with a smile. “I hated it.” But, as he grew up, he realized that music could be a vehicle to process his emotions. “If you’re not a talkative person, you can express yourself with your instrument.” Music gave Heidari an added voice when he fell in love with composing. “You can reflect the environment around you through your music,” he explains. He studied with famous Iranian composer Farhad Fakhreddini, who introduced one of Heidari’s pieces into the Iran National Music Orchestra’s repertoire, and Heidari was hooked. “It is an unbelievable feeling when you hear your music live for the first time.” Heidari had to kickstart his music career all over again when he immigrated to Toronto at age 34, at the urging of his wife. Merging into the Canadian music industry was challenging, and he decided to pursue a master’s in conducting at the University of Toronto. One of his
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professors introduced him to local composers and, slowly, he built up a new professional network. In 2011, Heidari joined forces with four other Persian-Canadian musicians to form the Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto, a group that plays a fusion of Iranian and Western classical music. “We wanted to make a bridge between cultures,” says Heidari, who also performs regularly at the Tirgan Iranian Festival of art and culture in Toronto, the next one coming up this July 29-30. In addition to becoming a sought-after composer for the National Ballet of Canada, Thirteen Strings Orchestra in Ottawa and more, Heidari also formed Heidari Music, which consolidates his talents in conducting, composing, playing and teaching piano. Proud to have been recently chosen as a classical judge for the 2017 Juno Awards, Heidari also enjoys plugging in other Iranian musician newcomers into his professional community in Canada. “It’s an amazing feeling when I see them creating art here.” facebook.com/canimmigrant
Raghwa Gopal
Startup specialist
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hen Fiji-born Raghwa Gopal was only 11, his parents had to pull him out of school because they couldn’t afford the tuition. So the scrappy young child convinced the owner of a local grocery store to hire him. Gopal quickly proved his savvy, suggesting more cost-effective ways of running the business. “The ability to try out different things and failing occasionally gave me so much confidence,” Gopal recalls. His boss was so impressed by his pluck that he financed his education. After he completed a software engineering degree, Gopal’s brother sponsored him to come to Canada, specifically the Okanagan region of B.C. “Kelowna in 1979 was a very conservative society — there were hardly any people of colour,” Gopal says. “When I applied for jobs, they looked at me differently.” One day, Gopal walked past a sign on a door saying “computer management.” Gopal entered the office, met the owner and asked if they were hiring. They weren’t. So he offered to prove his worth by working for free for a month. Within two days he had a job, and shortly thereafter he
became his boss’ business partner. Gopal became a serial entrepreneur, starting, growing, then selling businesses. He is well suited to this enterprise. “I have a large vision and I have the flexibility to take risks,” he says. He is currently the CEO of Accelerate Okanagan, a business accelerator that mentors up-and-coming tech companies. “This is the fastest growing high-tech region in the country with 15 per cent year-over-year growth, and we are predicting even higher growth in the next few years. Very exciting times for us!” Gopal is also dedicated to paying forward the opportunities he was given. He’s been an entrepreneur-in-residence at Okanagan College’s School of Business, guest lecturing and inspiring students there and at UBC’s Okanagan campus, too. Gopal has won Kelowna’s Man of the Year award, a BC Community Achievement Award, among other honours, but his biggest reward is intangible. “It’s satisfying that someone has succeeded because of the time and effort I put in.”
Ishita Aggarwal
Opportunity knocks
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shita Aggarwal is a promising up-and-coming scientist — and our inaugural RBC Top 25 Youth Award winner. A YWCA Toronto’s Young Woman of Distinction winner, a Leading Women Building Communities honouree and a Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders honouree (among many other awards), Aggarwal has achieved more at 24 years old than most can claim to in a lifetime. Yet she’s just at the beginning of her journey. Aggarwal recently completed an honours bachelor of science degree in cell and molecular biology, neuroscience and psychology at University of Toronto. She is currently working as a research analyst in the neurogenetics and neuroscience research department at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). “My family immigrated to Canada in search of new opportunities. Canada promised growth and hope for the future in a way that India did not,” Aggarwal says. Her immigration is definitely Canada’s gain. Although she admits she has struggled with issues of identity, she doesn’t let it hold her twitter.com/@canimmigrant
back. “Even as a child, I was concerned that accepting my new life would mean giving up everything from my old life,” she says. “[What has helped is] my ability to keep an open mind and see opportunity everywhere.” Those prospects are not just in research, but in advocacy. She is a community volunteer, onair reporter at York University’s VIBE 105.5 FM, and passionate promoter of gender equity, particularly in STEM fields. Aggarwal was instrumental in organizing the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) National Conference to encourage the participation of girls and women in STEM. She is also a research associate at International Women’s Rights Project. To top it all off, she started her own online magazine Behind-the-Scenes, which anonymously shares stories of gender prejudice and discrimination. And she launched Mom’s the Word, a community organization that offers free prenatal care workshops for low-income women. We can’t wait to see what she does next!
Photo by Saajid Motala canadianimmigrant.ca
July 2017
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Senator Yuen Pau Woo Asia-Pacific connector
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enator Yuen Pau Woo’s origins in Southeast Asia moulded his mindset as an advocate for closer ties between Asia and Canada. “Growing up in Singapore, a highly globalized and cosmopolitan city, I learned the importance of being plugged into the world,” he says. But, when he came to Victoria’s Lester B. Pearson College as a scholarship student, the teenager felt lost. “I grew up in a big, bustling city — when I landed in Vancouver my first impression was that I had arrived in a small town,” he says. But he adjusted quickly and not only fell in love with the country, but a fellow student. “At college, I met — and nine years later — married a Canadian. In a sense, Canada chose me — and for that I am very grateful,” he says. Woo immigrated permanently to Canada in 1988, sponsored by his fiancée. They settled in Newfoundland, where Woo had to reinvent himself from bank economist to marine industries consultant.
After years of developing a reputation as a leading thinker on international economic issues and Canada-Asia relations, he became the president and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada in Vancouver, a think tank on Canada-Asia relations from 2005 to 2014. In this leadership position, he spearheaded the National Conversation on Asia — a three-year campaign to get Canadians talking about why Asia matters for the country. In response, the organization launched a program to boost Asia competency in high schools and beyond. For all his efforts, in 2016, Woo was honoured with an appointment to the Senate of Canada. “I am a newbie independent senator slowly learning how to represent British Columbia and Canada in the Red Chamber,” he says. “It is huge privilege to be part of an institution that was set up with an explicit goal to represent minority interests in Canada — including the interests of new immigrants.”
Trish Mandewo
Woman in business
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s a young girl in Zimbabwe, Trish Mandewo was lucky to have a father who sent all seven of his daughters to school, despite protests from others who told him not to waste his money, as they’d only end up as wives or prostitutes. Mandewo would spend her life proving them wrong. “My goal was to do well so I could just stick it to those who thought I wouldn’t become anything,” she says. Mandewo immigrated to the United States at age 18 in pursuit of higher education, but it didn’t feel like home to her, so she came to Canada in 2009. Though she had trained as an embryologist, she realized it would take too long to reacquire the credentials here, so she decided to open a business in her new city of Coquitlam, B.C. At the suggestion of her young daughter, Mandewo bought a Tumblebus — a mobile gym in a converted school bus fi lled with fun equipment like a zipline, climbing wall and slide. “It’s doing very well and we are in the process of rebranding af-
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ter which we are going to start franchising all over Canada,” she says. Seeing a need for a modified bus for children on the autism spectrum, Mandewo also started the non-profit Sensabus Society of B.C., which features buses with tinted windows, soft music and other modifications. The successful entrepreneur believes in the importance of mentorship for women in business like her, and recently co-founded the Women’s Collaborative Hub. “Men engage in unofficial mentoring on the golf course, but multitasking women don’t have time to pick someone’s brain,” says Mandewo, who has become a leader in her community, as well as a sought-after speaker. “I truly found myself and my voice in Canada,” she says. “I enjoy sharing my journey and inspiring others. My next goal is to run for political office. By assuming a leadership role, I hope to bring to the forefront issues affecting new immigrant women and kids.”
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Kuldeep Sharma
Hotelier, mentor, dad
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ndian-born entrepreneur Kuldeep Sharma has always relied on his instincts in business. “I had no mentor backing me — my parents didn’t know anything about business,” he says. But Sharma was a keen observer, and learned by watching the examples of others and by asking lots of questions. “When you learn to push yourself, you develop confidence,” he says. That drive led Sharma to found one of India’s largest security companies, with more than 10,000 employees at its peak. But, like many other immigrants, he and his wife decided to move to Canada in 2002 (he was 44 at the time) to give their two children more educational opportunities and a better quality of life. He faced many challenges starting “from rock bottom” in mid-career. He missed the financial security he had back home, and found it tough to get used to new customs. Even learning to drive on the right side of the road was an adjustment. By 2013, Sharma had acquired enough sav-
ings to buy a hotel in Burlington, Ontario. “With my managerial experience and people skills, I was sure I’d have no problem,” he says. He was right. Today, Mississauga-based Sharma is president and CEO of Crown Group of Hotels, made up of five Ontario hotels that employ more than 300 people. Sharma attributes this growth to the energy of his millennial employees, namely his own children, Sameer and Shivani, whom he groomed from a young age. “I let them screw up small things and realize that they were wrong — that helped them trust me,” he says, with a chuckle. “With their help, we have brought our profi le from under $10 million to more than $100 million in about four years.” Sharma takes pleasure in mentoring everyone else on his team, too. “The only way to grow and do well is if people I am surrounded with are doing well also,” he says. “I am sure that in the times to come, and long after my quasi retirement, we will have more hotels than we can count on our fingers.”
Ninela Sanchez Beautiful warrior
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eauty and brains don’t even begin to describe Ninela Sanchez. The Venezuelanborn beauty queen is also persistent, ambitious, positive and passionate. Growing up in a humble family in Caracas, she was taught early on how to survive challenges, including the cultural, language and lifestyle obstacles of immigrating to a new country. “I’m so thankful that I have immigrated to Canada, because Canada has taught me to be a true warrior,” she says. “What has helped me to succeed through my journey has been to visualize and believe in everything I have put my mind to, in order to conquer my goals with confidence.” That confidence was on full display when she won Miss Venezuela Kid 2002 and Miss Canada Latina 2014-2015. She also placed in the top 20 in the Miss Universe Canada 2016 pageant. A public figure representing Latin Canadian woman, Sanchez has modelled, acted in commercials and was tapped as co-host of Hey Latino TV, a family-oriented program for the
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Hispanic community on Univision Canada. Sanchez uses her platform to support several causes; she runs a yearly campaign to raise funds for Autism Canada, Operation Smile and Bullying Canada. “One of my personal objectives is to influence my generation by being a leader in my community, and bringing the message of ‘beauty with purpose,’” she says. To that end, the Sheridan College business and marketing grad is in the throes of opening her own talent academy. “I’ve been working hard to make it happen,” says Sanchez, who works in the financial credit industry by day. “The academy is for women all around Canada who are looking to motivate themselves, grow as an individual and improve their self-confidence.” Ninela’s Talent Academy will teach everything from etiquette to leadership to public speaking to beauty to nutrition. Sanchez, who is also a new mom to a baby daughter, Sofia, ends with: “My goal is to always help others to succeed and grow in this great country.”
Photo by Mauricio Jimenez canadianimmigrant.ca
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Agnes P. Miranda Filipina pioneer
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s a little girl in the Philippines, Agnes P. Miranda dreamed of coming to Canada one day. “My interest to come to Canada began when I was merely 10 years old, when studying at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy run by French-Canadian nuns,” recalls Miranda, who is the executive vicechairman of World Financial Group (WFG) today. “I still remember how they showed movies showing children ice skating, tobogganing and skiing! I exclaimed to the nuns, ‘When I grow up, I am going to see your country, Canada!’” After graduating from university in banking and finance, Miranda took the plunge and applied for immigration. She landed in Canada as a 20-year-old single woman in 1966. And she got a job the very next day. “When I was asked if I had Canadian experience, I simply answered, ‘I would if you hire me today.’ And that they did. Imagine the day after I arrived, I had a job as a junior accounting clerk!” She’s come a long way in the fi nancial industry since then; 2017 marks the 20th anni-
versary of her co-founding WFG in Canada. “The most important qualities that helped me as an immigrant were courage, ambition and perseverance,” says Miranda, who gives lots of her time to mentor other Filipino Canadian women in business. In 2009, she was a recipient of the WFG Pioneer Award for her substantial contribution to the growth of WFG Canada, and, in 2012, she was awarded Outstanding Filipino Canadian in the field of business by the Philippine Independence Day Council. With her keen business acumen, Miranda is also a promoter of community events, particularly related to culture and beauty. She has produced fashion shows, pageants and other cultural events in Toronto. Recently, Miranda received a Lifetime Award of Excellence for her contribution to Canadian Asian Fashion Week – Toronto. “My commitment to give back to the community has grown more over the years,” says Miranda. “I am focusing on helping youth succeed in ventures such as sports and arts.”
Photo by Saajid Motala
Abdullah Kafashe Arctic warmth
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amily values were integral to Tanzanianborn Abdullah Kafashe from an early age. “We didn’t have much money, but we grew up with love and care,” he says. After he lost his beloved older brother in a car crash, Kafashe, who is of the Waha tribe, helped support his nieces and nephews. “He was a good brother to me, so now I have to take care of his kids.” The altruistic Kafashe was volunteering with a Congolese refugee camp when he met his future Canadian wife, teacher Maggie MacDonnell. After five years together in Tanzania, he followed her to Nova Scotia, where he studied community leadership at St. Francis Xavier University. They then moved to Salluit, a fly-in Inuit village located in Nunavik, Quebec. The Arctic! Kafashe had never seen snow before. As an African in the village of 1,480 or so people, he faced discrimination at first, but won over the community by learning the Inuktitut language and playing sports with its youth. Eventually the locals began inviting him to their fishing camps, introducing him to raw
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fish and frozen caribou. While working as an intervention agent at a youth rehabilitation centre, Kafashe and his wife began a running club for Salluit youth, which helped them deal with the high rate of addiction and suicide around them. As the kids trained in minus 40 Celsius for a halfmarathon in Hawaii, they quit smoking, ate better and made new friends. They also raised $30,000 for the Healthy Horizons Foundation for northern youth. Kafashe wanted to preserve the memory of these achievements, and fi lmed a moving documentary called Salluit Run Club. It screened at the Canadian Sport Film Festival in Toronto this June. The couple has recently moved to Kuujjuak, where Kafashe works as a youth educator and plans on continuing the run club and his fi lmmaking. His next fi lm will be about Maggie, who was just named the winner of the $1 million US Global Teacher Prize. “She encouraged me to come to this beautiful country,” says Kafashe. “She changed my life.” facebook.com/canimmigrant
Dr. Muhammad Morshed Resilient researcher
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ecognized internationally as an expert on Lyme disease, syphilis and other zoonotic diseases — with more than 90 refereed publications — Dr. Muhammad Morshed can usually be found bent over a microscope at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) Public Health Laboratory in Vancouver. He is its program head and clinical microbiologist. “I am currently getting some new insights in my research,” he shares enthusiastically. “I am trying to understand why some pathogens such as syphilis-causing bacteria can’t be eliminated, even when these bacteria are highly sensitive to the penicillin. I am also trying to understand what is causing Lyme disease-like symptoms in many individuals, even though they are showing up as negative by standard tests.” You might also find Dr. Morshed sharing his findings with emerging scientists at the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where he’s a clinical professor. Despite his impressive educational creden-
tials — he received his PhD from the Yamguchi University School of Medicine, Japan, in 1994, and completed further specialty training in both Tokyo and California — he couldn’t fi nd work in Canada when he fi rst arrived in 1996. “I applied for hundreds of positions, knocked on many doors and found nothing,” he recalls. “Finding no other alternative to support my family, I had to return to Japan for as a visiting professor. This was the toughest time for me. I had to leave my wife and nine-year-old daughter in an unknown land.” When he returned to Canada, he finally got his foot in the door. “But I always felt pressure to constantly prove that I deserved my position. I always worried about my accent, and how I was perceived by others. Even after 20 years, these worries remain,” he admits, adding, however, that being named a Top 25 helps validate all his struggles. “I heard a lot of nos before I heard a yes,” he adds. “I think the most important quality for immigrants is resiliency.”
Dahlia ElShafie-Mostafa Coaching force of nature
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here are many words to describe Dahlia ElShafie-Mostafa. She is a certified master life coach, counsellor and trainer. A PhD, a writer, a motivational speaker, leadership consultant and humanitarian. A wife, a mother, an Egyptianborn Arab, a Calgarian and a Canadian. She’s also a community volunteer who was recently recognized with the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers by the Governor General of Canada. Her list of additional awards could go on as well — let’s just say the number exceeds 30 international recognitions. What all this says about ElShafie-Mostafa is that she’s a multifaceted professional with a lot of wisdom to give — and a lot of energy with which to give it. As the president and CEO of CLICK Coaching and Counselling Inc., she offers relationship coaching and counselling at her Calgary office and also internationally via phone and Skype. She can work in English, French or Arabic. She is also dedicated to helping immigrants and refugees to settle and integrate in Canada. “I learned at a very young age about determination, clarity, focus, setting goals, strategic
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planning, effective communication skills, acceptance, tolerance and conflict resolution,” she says. “I believe all of these qualities are truly crucial for the success of an immigrant in Canada.” To help spread her message, ElShafie-Mostafa offers a variety of free workshops, wrote a book called Breaking Barriers Shining My Own Light, and hosts her own Arabic-speaking radio show, Inspirations with Dahlia Mostafa, on Canadawy Radio. Her next steps are a TV show for Arab women in North America called Before it’s too Late and a full-fledged coaching academy! “In September 2017, I will be launching the Life Transformation Academy, a coaching academy that provides a set of 30 courses focusing on prevention rather than intervention, when it comes to youth development, marriage issues, parental education, confidence, self-esteem, career planning, leadership, happiness, emotional and mental balance, as well as success,” she says. Have questions about life, love and relationships in Canada? Dahlia ElShafie-Mostafa may just have the answer! canadianimmigrant.ca
July 2017
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Gabriela Covaci
Positive role model
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omania is Gabriela Covaci’s homeland, but life wasn’t always easy there. Since there were limited high schools with advanced studies, prospective students needed top marks to attend one. Getting into university and then finding a good job were even harder, but this competitive environment toughened her up. “The struggle strengthened my personality,” she says. At age 36, Covaci decided to leave Romania for Canada because she felt stifled. “The process of change after the [1989] revolution was so long and complicated I felt I didn’t have air,” she says. But starting over again at mid-career wasn’t easy. Back home, Covaci had been a respected trainer and developer at McDonald’s, but in Burlington, Ontario, she could only fi nd work as an assistant store manager at the restaurant, working for close to minimum wage. It wasn’t enough. So she went back to school to study career counselling at Mohawk College in Hamilton. It was a good move. The college then hired her to work there as an employment consultant. “Because I’ve now succeeded in my career, I feel I have to help others move
ahead,” says Covaci, who also teaches continuing education and language classes parttime. She also volunteers with various immigrant settlement agencies, and, as if she weren’t busy enough, the mother of two started up a non-profit called Rocateach for children to learn about their Romanian heritage. “It opens them to new perspectives.” In everything she does, Covaci enjoys helping immigrants reach their potential. “When we came 14 years ago, there was not too much information about settling here,” says Covaci. Today, there is more guidance available, but, really, a positive attitude is the most important thing for newcomers. “Working with newcomers in both my job and in my volunteer time, I realized that the ones who can’t succeed are the ones who are not positive,” she says. For her own positive contributions, she has won many accolades, including Halton’s Newcomer Strategy Award. Covaci’ s most recent initiative is launching a new chapter of the YWCA Women in Leadership group in the Halton Region.
Photo by Moxx Photography
Mohamad Fakih Restaurant mogul
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t’s the 10-year anniversary of Paramount Fine Foods under president and CEO Mohamad Fakih. And looking at how fast the Middle Eastern food empire has grown since then could make your head spin. Nothing a little baklava couldn’t fi x. There’s a reason the restaurant franchise is so successful: part the tasty food, and part Fakih’s leadership approach. Named Brampton’s Business Person of the Year for 2017, he says: “Looking back at my journey of where I began, I would say there are a few key things that played a part in my success: 1. Know what you don’t know. Understanding what you do not know allows you to seek advice from people who can teach you. 2. Open your eyes to new opportunities. Will you be courageous enough to recognize them and step out of your comfort zone to move on them? 3. Know your numbers. The bottom line is to have a positive bottom line. 4. Give back in everything you do; it will
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only come back to you.” For this year, Fakih’s goal is to open 60 locations. “We are constantly working with restaurant consultants, chefs, and a full researchand-development team to grow the brand,” he says. The community-minded Fakih is also in the process of starting Paramount’s own foundation. “We want to be able to raise money on a complete 100 per cent, non-profit basis to help people. We are truly excited for this.” Fakih made headlines for his philanthropy last year when he vowed to hire 100 Syrian refugees and offered to pay the funeral costs of the victims of the Quebec mosque attack. A former trained gemologist from Lebanon, Fakih came to Canada two decades ago with nothing in his pocket. “Here I am, someone who came to Pearson International Airport with literally nothing. I take pride in saying that I cried when I put my sign up on YongeDundas Square because I never imagined that one day I would have a store besides the Mirvish Theatre and across Eaton Centre.”
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CAREERS & EDUCATION
Head for success What does it take to make it in Canada? The right mindset, says a group of Vancouver immigrants working to inspire other newcomers By Margaret Jetelina
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f you ask Gabriela Medar what it takes to succeed in Canada, she’ll say understanding your new culture is a must. An engineer originally from Romania, Medar wanted to change her career path once she arrived in Canada in 2012 to work in the nonprofit sector, and enrolled in SFU’s career development practitioner program. “I wanted to work in a helping profession and I was willing to start from scratch. In that sense, it gave me an advantage because some qualifications are not easily transferrable to the Canadian labour market,” she says. After graduating from SFU, she started working with the Whalley Employment Centre in Surrey, helping clients with resumés and job search advice. Helping other immigrants to establish their careers quickly became her passion. But she noticed the integration needs of immigrants went beyond general resumé tips; they needed help in understanding Canadian culture. She then wrote an ebook called 10 Steps to Find Work and Be Successful in Canada: A Guide for Immigrants Who Want to Thrive in a New Culture. And, together with Manny Daid, Mohamad Khademyani and Michelle Xiao, she started a Meetup group called Job Search for New Immigrants in Greater Vancouver as a way to further help immigrants through workshops and networking events. “We started this Meetup to help more immigrants and offer more support. We saw the need and decided there needs to be more help for immigrants,” says Medar.
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CAREERS & EDUCATION
The right mindset Manny Daid couldn’t agree more. An immigrant from India, he helped the Meetup group set up a Facebook page for the group called Successful Canadian Immigrant. A mechanical engineer who is now a speaker and author, Daid not only wanted to find success for himself in Canada; he wanted to help other immigrants do the same. He believes having the right mindset is the key to it all. “Through our events, we guide immigrants and support them to integrate in Canada through a mindset,” Daid says. “We help immigrants integrate mentally. It’s not just about finding a job, but alongside that, having a mindset to be socially available. To feel at home in Canada.” He says that newcomers tend to still be mentally in their home country. “I see that happening all around. But, if you’re living in this country, why not make it home?” says Daid.
Through our events, we guide immigrants and support them to integrate in Canada through a mindset.”
— Manny Daid
“Be present.” Medar adds that it’s not about abandoning your culture. “We love diversity. We will never say give up that cultural background; it’s rich and gives a deep understanding of who we are. However, there are things that immigrants need to understand about the Canadian culture. It’s about identifying the rules of the country,” she says. “It’s also about what employers are looking for, and why they are reluctant to hire without Canadian experience.” “People have different experiences and backgrounds of knowledge; our
target is to help support them to integrate,” says Daid, who recently penned a book called Immigrant’s Secret to Success: Mental Karate. This June, they started holding a companion workshop called Successful Canadian Immigrant Mindset Crash Course, which focuses on networking skills, leadership and overcoming limiting beliefs that stop you from getting what you want. “It’s about helping immigrants integrate into Canada by developing a success mindset,” says Daid. “They will learn a new model of communication practices and principles
that successful people have adapted. Overall, they will learn principles to live a life passionately in any foreign country.” The group is also launching a new community video project for 2017: Canadian Immigrant Share. Once a month, they are going to interview successful Canadian immigrants who will share the challenges they encountered in Canada and the success strategies that worked for them. And their Meetup group is growing. “When I started [the Meetup group], there were five people; there’s now 650,” says Medar. “And our target is not just permanent residents. There are lots of people here with work or student visas and they have no government support but may want to stay here and get a better job, but have no idea what kind of skills they should have. I see that as a trend that will continue, and we are here to help them.”
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CAREERS & EDUCATION CAREER COACH
Strike a pose 6 ways to dress to impress to lead to more success
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ou might agree with me that we live in a judgmental world. The minute we meet someone, we make an assumption based on what we see. In the professional context, your success begins the moment someone looks at you, and makes that initial judgment call. This is particularly true for job interviews. Good first impressions are crucial. Many non-verbal cues, such as the style, fit, colour and cleanliness of your clothes; your choice of accessories; the firmness of your handshake and your posture help determine the level of your success. In today’s competitive, winnertake-all situations, wearing more professional attire can send a signal about who you are. Here are six dress-for-success tips to master the
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Reflect your age
Dress your age. When you pick the right attire and it fits you well, it appears as if the clothes were tailored for you. Be comfortable in your attire and let it reflect your wisdom and worldliness.
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Look put together
art of creating a positive, professional image, and making a great first impression.
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Dress to reflect your job, company or industry
Since the advent of the dot-com era, dressing for the job has become a little more relaxed in certain professions, but others remain highly conservative. The safest option is to wear clothes for the job you wish to have. Carefully consider your industry’s dress code policy — whether it is casual or conservative — and dress appropriately for your company and clients.
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Consider colour
Did you know each colour communicates a message and contains an impact of its own? How well you are able to put them together will convey your message. Dark colours like black, navy and dark grey imply power, knowledge, responsibility and success. White denotes cleanliness, formality and sophistication. Light and pastel colours suggest creativity and softness.
How you pull your look together can reveal something about your organizational skills. Make sure you have a cohesive look from head to toe. And no matter how casual your clothes are, make sure they are ironed and wrinkle-free. Plus, keep your shoes clean, as dirty shoes can throw off an otherwise polished appearance.
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Demonstrate attention to detail
By putting time and effort into dressing well and matching your accessories, you reveal to current and potential employers your attention to detail. When you take pride in how you look, it suggests that you will also take pride in the work you do.
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Wear your self-esteem
Sharply dressed men and women radiate a sense of worth. Your goal is to create an aura of confidence when you walk into a room, and you can do so by how you carry yourself and what you wear. Dressing to impress gives you a competitive edge. When you dress well, it shows that you are taking care of yourself and you are ready to take care of your customers.
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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CAREERS & EDUCATION J O B S E A R C H S T R AT E G I E S
The gig economy (Part 3) Navigating this new world by redefining what success means to you
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n Parts 1 and 2 of this series, I introduced the concept of the “gig economy” — the increase in freelance, contract and project jobs that is signaling a change in how we see our careers, work, the job-search process and employer/ employee relationships. The gig economy can be a story of horror or a story of success; there are no guarantees of stable income or benefits. And skills and a proactive and independent approach trump seniority.
Redefining success One of the main tools to help you navigate the gig economy is to redefine success. Many of us have bought into the idea of success from our culture, our parents or even the media. We were supposed to expect a linear progression: go to college, get a job in a good company, climb the professional ladder and retire to enjoy the rewards. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case for about 45 per cent of the labour force, and this number is growing. College degrees no longer guarantee a good job, jobs are no longer secure, and even retirement is becoming harder to achieve in an era where everything from finances to politics seem to be shaking and changing. The good thing about taking the time to redefine success on your own terms is that you can then plan based on your own values and priorities, and not other people’s expectations. For some, success means havtwitter.com/@canimmigrant
ing more time to spend with their loved ones. For others, community engagement and a circle of diverse friends or a sound spiritual life defi ne success. Success is no longer attached to how much we have in our bank accounts, the size of our houses, the car we drive or even the clothes we wear. More and more people are realizing how all those things not only don’t bring happiness, but may even create stress and anxiety and a neverending need to achieve, making us even busier. Diane Mulcahy, author of the book The Gig Economy, suggests the following exercises you can do to reflect on your own definition of success. • The obituary exercise: write two obituaries, one that reflects the type of path your current life is following and one that reflects the path you would like to have lived. Compare both and decide which one you would like to actually live out. • Priorities and values exercise: make a list of the things you do with your time and the areas where you spend more money. On another sheet, write your values and priorities in life. Compare both: how much time and money are you currently investing in activities that reflect your values and priorities? • Finally, define what is true success for you. What do you want more of in your life? What do you want less of?
stable, but perhaps more rewarding career path. Instead of spending most of your awake time in jobs that may become repetitive, unrewarding and even boring or abusive, you can have different “gigs” where you can try all those amazing hidden interests and unused skills while still reserving enough time to enjoy life with your loved ones. Argentinian-born Silvia Di Blasio is a certified career counsellor and life coach with a passion for sustainability, food security and resilient communities. She works as a case manager helping immigrants to get back to their pre-landing occupations at the Career Paths Program at ISSofBC.
Understanding what you value By redefining success and visioning the type of life your true self wants to live, you have more freedom to decide how you allocate your skills, time and money. This will help you to accept a much less canadianimmigrant.ca
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SETTLEMENT T IP S F OR SE T T L ING IN FA S T E R
Location, location, location
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Three tips on finding the right neighbourhood for you
oving — many of us have done it or can at least relate to the level of planning it takes. Whether you are moving across the city or across the globe, finding a neighbourhood that suits your lifestyle likely tops your to-do list. Buying a home and choosing where to live is one of the most significant decisions in our lives. If you’re new to Canada, take your time to ask questions, learn about the market and various neighbourhoods, and think through what is important to you before making a decision. Consider these tips when narrowing down your neighbourhood search.
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Budget
When you are looking for the perfect property to rent or buy, budget is a major consideration.
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anada turns 150 years old this month, and there are many ways to celebrate! Celebrating Canada’s birthday is more than eating cakes and viewing fireworks; it is when people come together to honour our country, history, resources and, most importantly, the people who make Canada such an amazing place to live.
ing with children. Researching such options including additional needs like athletic programs or English/French as a second language will help find the community that works best for you.
3 Understanding your priorities — be it location, type of home or nearby amenities — that fit into your budget will help narrow the scope of the search. Determine how much you can afford. In Canada, banks offer extensive assistance to newcomers and can help you fi nd your dream home. Talk to
a mortgage specialist when you are ready. Consulting with a specialist is free and they can meet you at your home or another location convenient for you.
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Education
Finding a neighbourhood with schools is a must for people mov-
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. PARENTING
Celebrate Canada 150 with kids
Ways to celebrate with your family Check out what your local community is doing to celebrate Canada 150, and take part in these festivities by participating and/or volunteering for them. It is a great way to meet people, help the community and have fun! There are many commemorations, exhibitions and many more Canada 150 initiatives across Canada that are worth checking out. One initiative is called “3 Things for Canada” (see threethingsforcanada.ca), which invites all Canadians to get involved in their city, and take part in doing three acts of service to make their city and their country a better place. For our part, Canadian Immigrant magazine and I would like to invite all
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Canadian immigrant families to celebrate with their children. In honour of Canada’s 150th, we are asking families to allocate a minimum of 150 minutes each week, of quality time. While 150 minutes might seem challenging for busy families to achieve, it is possible if divided into 20 to 30 minutes daily or whatever works for your family. However you choose to allocate your 150 minutes, what’s most impor-
tant is scheduling in uninterrupted quality family time. It does not have to be elaborate, expensive or overly time consuming. It can be as simple as unplugging from technology, putting aside work and being fully pres-
Community
Feeling connected to your community be it through social programs, volunteering or local attractions, can have a huge impact on your experience. Do some digging to find out more about what’s available based on your interests. It may help seal the deal. Above all, look before you leap and take the time to research different neighbourhoods to familiarize yourself with what’s out there. Check out the RBC Neighbourhood Finder, which can help you in finding the right home and the right community for you.
ent with each other. There are so many wonderful ways to spend time with your family. Brainstorm some fun and affordable family activities.
Sharing with other families Canada is filled with amazing people from all walks of life, and every family has so much to share and learn from each other. Share your success stories and strategies of how you connect with your family and your community. Hopefully, it will inspire other Canadian immigrant families to do the same. Let’s make the most of this national holiday by celebrating with our families, our friends and our community. Let’s be part of something bigger than ourselves. Together, Canadian immigrant families can make an impact, and change the country for the better. Happy birthday, Canada!
Cheryl Song, an immigrant from Malaysia, has more than 20 years’ experience of working in early learning and family programs. Contact her at cheryl@learnwithsong.com or visit her website at learnwithsong.com. facebook.com/canimmigrant
CULTURE
Come to Carnaval
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Paola Murillo’s Carnaval del Sol is back for the ninth year this July in Vancouver
olombian-born Paola Murillo is a marketing and business dynamo in Vancouver’s Latin American community. As the head of Latincouver, a virtual plaza for Latinos to connect, she is the brains behind a variety of events from regular Latin American networking breakfasts to a Latin Innovation Hub to the ExpoPlaza Latina, a business event exploring trade opportunities with Latin America, to her signature Carnaval del Sol, now in its ninth year this July 8-9 at Concord Pacific Place. Murillo is all about inspiring other immigrants as well as Canadians — with a Latin twist. In everything she does, she approaches it with the four pillars of “supporting communities, empowering people, promoting culture and connecting business,” she says. In fact, business is in her blood. “I created a food business when I was nine years old selling sandwiches to my schoolmates until I was 16,” says Murillo. “At one point I was competing with the school cafeteria and the school wasn’t happy about it. Starting a business at a young age helped me learn about business. Once I had settled in Vancouver and learned about the communities here, I then created Latincouver in 2008.” Carnaval del Sol was her first large-scale event, welcoming around 500 the first year. The family-friendly, free community event, which welcomes people from all backgrounds to experience Latin American cultures through music, art and food, now sees up to 100,000 annually.
Carnaval del Sol 2017 The 2017 lineup includes more than 200 music acts scheduled from 11:30 a.m. Saturday until 7:30 p.m. Sunday. For kids, there is a kids’ plaza with performances, painting and dancing classes, puppet show, kite-building and more. There will also be a cooking stage, twitter.com/@canimmigrant
left Paola Murillo, who was named one of 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians in 2011, brings another year of Carnaval del Sol (above) to Vancouver. food vendors, dance groups, visual artists at work, soccer, arts and crafts, free public salsa and Zumba classes and more. (See the full lineup at carnavaldelsol.ca.) More than just a weekend, Murillo has also spearheaded Latin American Week, with Latin-inspired events before and after the weekend festival, including a Flamenco, Tango and Wine night at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre on July 5, 7-10 p.m., in collaboration with Flamenco Rosario and Argentine Tango Lab. Brand new this year is Music on Wheels from July 10-24, which will see Latin American and Latininspired youth bands aged 18-25 performing at pop-up locations around Vancouver. Finally, kicking off the festivities on Friday, June 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island, an event called the 150 years of Canadian and Latin History Event, featured speakers sharing their stories since they first came to Canada. canadianimmigrant.ca
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Immigrant SETTLEMENT GUIDE For getting your listing included, please call Ricky Bajaj at 416-856-6304 or Johnny Zhang at 416-803-3931
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Brampton Multicultural Centre (BMC)
Not for profit, registered charity providing multilingual and culturally appropriate programs and services for free to help clients enhance their community engagement and social capital while integrating into the Canadian society. Programs: Programs and services include Settlement support , employment readiness workshops, enhancing immigrant community connections through schools and libraries, advocacy and solution-focused counselling, interpretation and translation, volunteer and placement opportunities, mental health support services, seniors and women abuse and engagement services. A unique portfolio of youth programming is also available such as: Youth leadership development, life skills coaching, client-centred counselling, paid internships at various workplaces, gang prevention workshops, one-on-one intervention meetings based on individualized work plans. Email: services@bmccentre.org www.bmccentre.org
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TCET provides Language, Employment, & Settlement programs that empower people in fulfilling their potential. Our LINC Home Study program provides Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) via distance education. The self-paced curriculum is offered either online or by correspondence. The program includes a weekly lesson via phone or VOIP with a certified instructor. Email: help@linchomestudy.ca www.linchomestudy.ca
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Locations across the Greater Toronto Area and virtual services across Ontario & Canada Phone: 905-949-0049, Toll free at 1-800-668-1179, Email: Info@tcet.com, www.tcet.com Centre for Education & Training Language Assessment Centre York-Simcoe-Durham 420 Highway 7 East Suite 204 B Richmond Hill ON L4B 3K2 Toll free: 1-855-330-8655 Job Skills Employment & Business Programs & Supports Locations in Markham, Brampton, Keswick and Newmarket Phone: 1-866-592-6278 Multinational Small & Medium Business Community Center (MSMBCC) 211 Consumers Road, Suite 300, North York, M2J 4G8 Phone: 647-343-8288 The National Association of Humanity Science and Technology (NAHST) 4675 Steeles Ave. E Unit 2D22 Toronto On M1V 4S5 Or: 3-2375 Brimley Rd. Unit 351 Toronto ON M1S 3L6 Welcome Centre Immigrant Services 7 Locations in York & Durham Regions 1-877-761-1155
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Completing a language assessment is the first step to accessing English language classes in your community. Language Assessment Centres provide no cost English language assessments and referrals to classes for eligible immigrants seeking language training. Language Assessments services are available on a scheduled and pre-booked basis. If you live in York region, Simcoe County and Durham Region please call 1-855-330-8655 to schedule an appointment. Email: ysla@tcet.com www.tcet.com/assessments Facebook: www.facebook.com/Language.Assessment.Centre.YSD/# Twitter: twitter.com/LAC_YSD
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Find out how to: get the skills you need to find work, including: work experience, resume help, interview techniques, entrepreneurial options and more. We offer: Job Search Workshops Program, Job Find Club for Internationally Trained Individuals, Bridge to HR, Practice Firm, Self-Employment Pathways for Newcomer and Employment Ontario Employment Services. Email: info@jobskills.org www.jobskills.org
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Help small and medium business from starting business with business plans for success: business registration; business planning; corporate problem solving; corporate culture tutoring; legal, politics and social requirements service and fund assistant application from government. Specialty program: business guide in Canada and Asia countries;enterprise assistant program; free tax services for new comers and seniors; Seniors program for social networking and conversational Café and special events to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation.. Email: info@sbsccanada.org www.sbsccanada.org
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Community services for cultural and recreational activities, including classic poetry recitation events and Chinese traditional music concerts, with funds collected from its own members; supports for seniors groups for cultural and recreational activities; promotions for cultural exchange with the main stream society and many minorities’ cultural groups. Email: thomas@nahst.org www.nahst.org
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Settlement Services assist immigrants to integrate and become established and contributing members of Canadian society. English Language Classes are instructor-led, and supported by a computer lab. Job-specific, advanced-level Enhanced Language Training available. Supports to assist in developing the skills needed to find work: resume/cover letter preparation, interview readiness and information about accreditation, workplace practices, Canadian employer expectations. Other services available. Languages of service: English, interpreters are available Email: info@welcomecentre.ca www.welcomecentre.ca
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