This year, Canada introduced a new application intake process for the Parents and Grandparents Program. This change improves access to the application process and makes it more fair and transparent.Under this new process, people who want to sponsor their parents and grandparents to come to Canada first have to complete an online form. Earlier this year, 10,000 individuals were randomly selected from the forms received and invited to submit an application to sponsor their parents and grandparents. They were given 90 calendar days to submit their applications, meaning that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) needed to receive complete applications by August 4,...

The Lifesaving Society, Canada’s leading organization responsible for drowning prevention, launched an online boating safety program targeted to new boaters, particularly new Canadians who may be experiencing recreational boating for the first time. STARTboating is a comprehensive program designed to teach basic boating and water safety skills. The program was launched in English, French, Mandarin and Cantonese; followed by Hindi and Tagalog at the beginning of August.STARTboating consists of a series of online, interactive videos, which guide the user through the basic skills needed to safely enjoy a day on the water. While suitable for all boaters, the program was developed with...

Ontario is continuing to welcome newcomers while helping the province’s employers attract skilled workers and responding to the needs of the labour market, with enhancements to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The program allows Ontario to nominate for permanent residence people who have the skills and experience needed to contribute to the province’s economy, helping employers to meet their labour needs.  Ontario is enhancing the program with changes to the following streams: Ontario’s Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream. This new stream is being launched under the OINP for workers in the skilled trades, which will help employers meet their identified need...

Internationally-trained immigrants find jobs through many innovative programs such as the Mentoring Partnership and Ontario Bridge Training.The Mentoring Partnership matches internationally trained newcomers with established Canadians in occupations-specific partnerships to learn about the Canadian job market. Partnerships run 24 hours over four months with 75 per cent of mentees reporting finding work in their professional field within 12 months of completing the program.In 2012, Andrew Bakos signed up with The Mentoring Partnership to become a mentor in the engineering field.Since then, he has mentored many internationally-trained engineering professionals from diverse cultural...

After arriving in Canada more than four years ago, marketing professional Olha Shmanko sent out many unsuccessful job applications.She couldn’t land a job in her own field because she either did not have Canadian experience or was over-qualified.Today, she is well-employed as a planning analyst in part thanks to the help of York University’s Bridge Training Program for International Educated Professionals (IEPs). The Ukrainian immigrant was among the graduates at a celebratory event recently.For immigrants like Shmanko, the certificate helps them bridge the gap between the professional skills and experience they obtained in their respective countries, and employability in Canada.“At...