CanadaInfoNet Newsletter

 January 2005 

Greetings CanadaInfoNet Mentors!

Another year has begun and what better way to ring in 2005 than to reflect upon our successes and peer into the future of CanadaInfoNet.

With over 95 dedicated volunteer e-mentors, CanadaInfoNet really has something to be proud of. Together as a team, we have had so many positive outcomes – all due to the commitment and drive of you! We currently have 85 mentoring pairs that are actively working towards reaching their goals. For some the goal is to obtain information about settlement and for others the objective is to get closer to obtaining employment and networking opportunities. It makes us proud at CanadaInfoNet to know how much time, energy and thought goes into your email communications with your protégés.

New Mentoring Projects

CanadaInfoNet has been the flagship program of the Mentoring Services department here at JVS Toronto. With growing interest in assisting newcomers through mentoring our team has devised several new mentoring models and programs in coordination with community partners.  

• In November 2004, TRIEC and CASIP agencies launched their mentoring project this month, aptly named The Mentoring Partnership. JVS Toronto, in partnership with partnering CASIP agencies, will facilitate 100 face-to-face mentoring matches. Visit www.thementoringpartnership.com for more information.
• UJA has contracted Mentoring Services to conduct 2 mentoring projects. One is geared towards the Jewish/Latin American community. It is both ethno and sector specific and will be carried out in groups. The second project is through Beth Tzedec and will be online sector specific mentoring.
• The Iranian Canadian Network has completed a 4 month ethno / sector specific group mentoring project with 95% success. Out of 21 mentees, 12 are now working full-time in their field, 2 are working full-time outside of their field, 1 is in an internship, 5 are in training and 1 is unknown. Overall, we have realized 20 out of 21 positive outcomes. 

Here is a sampling of client testimonials from this group,

“ I’ve relocated (from Toronto) to Calgary and believe it or not I got an offer on the second day of arrival!…. It was a very good idea to put together professionals and a mentor from the same nationality. It gave us many options to discuss situations more. Our mentor shared his experience with us and did whatever he could to make us pull ourselves together and go for it”

Kamyar, IC Network mentee

“Group mentoring especially helped us and encouraged us to make our decision with respect to continuing education (Ph.D program) ……We hope that this program continues and other newcomers in our community take advantage of this program. Wishing you all the success in helping new immigrants.

Shahab M and Niyusha S

Mentoring is effective not only for new comers to Canada but also as a skills enhancement and talent management tool.

If you are interested in initiating a group-mentoring project in your community or organization, please contact us. Let us bring our successful mentoring programs to you!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Parenting For Newcomers

 Does your mentee have questions about childrearing in Canada?

On February 2, 2005 the Bathurst-Jewish Community Centre will be hosting a workshop where newcomer parents can get some answers, meet other parents, and share their own experiences!

TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:

1. Canadian parenting style vs. country of origin parenting

2. Education system in Canada

3. Discipline techniques used by today’s parents

WHERE: 4588 Bathurst Street, Bathurst Jewish Community Centre

Room 120 (Jerusalem Room)

For registration, please call Jenya at (416) 636-1880 ext.296

No charges apply.

An Immigrant’s Diary

The following is an excerpt from an article, printed with permission of the Canadian Jewish News.

I will never forget the day I came to Canada, arriving at the airport with two big suitcases and a fast beating heart, looking forward to the beginning of a completely new life.

I got here with heart full of expectations, illusions and goals. And, of course, fear due to uncertainty of the future.

I will never forget that day, March 17, 2004, when I became a landed immigrant, a day I had dreamed of for such a long time.

As soon as I arrived, I started looking for a job. I went to various agencies whose aim is to help new immigrants get settled and established in Canada.

I was given enormous amount of information – the information available can become so overwhelming and I was given the opportunity to attend numerous workshops to learn how to write a resume, how to handle job interviews and how to network.

Some organizations offered me a two or three weeklong job-hunting workshop. I was told that after finishing it they would place me in a full-time volunteer position in my field for three or four months so that I could obtain Canadian Experience.

Even though volunteering and networking are the most valuable tools in obtaining a job, I am using other strategies, as well.

The process of getting established takes quiet long time and I am still coping with many aspects of it. Canada is a labyrinth of possibilities for me. The opportunities exists, I know they do. However, reaching those openings and opportunities seems to be as hard as finding the way out of the maze. I keep knocking on doors, but none has fully opened yet.

Nevertheless, I do not lose hope that one will open soon, very soon.

Footnote: The author of this article is presently taking part in our Jewish / Latin American Group Mentoring project. This is a model adapted from the IC Network Group Mentoring Project that held an extremely successful outcome.

Interesting Sites

Capacity Canada: http://www.capacitycanada.ca/

The goal of Capacity Canada is to build the foundation for a national policy roundtable of internationally educated/trained professionals. 

Immigrant Professionals Get a National Voice

A national organization, Capacity Canada, has now formed to represent Immigrant professionals from every province.

http://atwork.settlement.org/sys/atwork_offsite_frame.asp?anno_id=2005032

Career Pro News

Contains current labour market information, career-related news, conferences, recent studies, online resources and more. Career Pro News offers daily updates and a free weekly newsletter for career professionals or other people who want to stay informed. One can subscribe to receive the newsletters directly on the front page of this website. Visit http://onestep.on.ca/resource/show.cfm?id=437 for more information.

CanadaInfoNet Staff