Breaking down barriers for women engineers trained abroad

The process of immigration begins long before newcomers first set foot in a new country. MOSAIC, a Vancouver organization dedicated to supporting immigrants and refugees, has a new online pre-arrival service to help foreign-trained women engineers immigrate to Canada. Funded by Westcoast Women in Engineering Science and Technology, the program will launch this March for…

Kinbrace: a place of solace and new beginnings

Since 1998, Kinbrace, British Columbia’s first dedicated refugee claimants housing, has been providing affordable transitional housing to over 400 refugees. According to the organization, many of these newcomers from all around the world start their new life in Canada with meagre to no resources, and often struggle with the harsh realities of poverty, isolation and…

Cultural Access Pass introduces new citizens to Canadian arts and culture

New Canadian citizens can look forward to learning more about their country’s arts scene, thanks to the Cultural Access Pass (CAP). The pass grants new Canadians free access to over 1000 of Canada’s cultural attractions during their first year of citizenship. “It gives a good introduction to the whole of Canada, different cultures and experiences.…

Career mentorship program bridges employment gap in Canadian immigration system

Vancouver needs skilled labour from abroad, but once workers arrive, they need local support to be successful. As Paul Mochrine, general manager of human resources for the City of Vancouver says, “Canada’s future prosperity is highly dependent on attracting talented, motivated immigrants and supporting their integration into our labour market. Particularly for a city that…

Immigrant job hunt may be hard, but it gets better

Navigating the treacherous seas of the job market is difficult for anyone, much less someone new to the country. As an immigrant herself, Nerella Campigotto, a specialist in international business and intercultural communication with over 20 years of experience, understands the challenges that many newcomers face in the job market. “For a lot of professionals,…

Interview with an immigrant success story

Prospective immigrants have it tough. They must make the difficult decision to migrate, perform research about their destination, and tie up loose ends in their home country before departing. Adding to this difficult and expensive process is the act of moving itself. It is no wonder that many people are turning to others for help.