New partnership forms to help newcomers to Canada

Egna Hernandez working at the Jobs Caledon Employment Resource Centre, with Dan Regliszyn, Jobs Caledon employment facilitator.

Jobs Caledon, vpi, and COSTI have partnered up to make the transition to life in Canada easier for newcomers when searching for employment. The partnership brings new services to one location in Caledon.

"I arrived in July 2006 and the very next day I came into Caledon Community Services' Jobs Caledon," said Egna Hernandez. "I felt a lot of support from the staff, and now that they're getting together with vpi and COSTI, it's great. I think it will be helpful (to newcomers) that these agencies are coming to Jobs Caledon."

Hernandez came to Canada less than one year ago, with her husband and two children from Bogota, Colombia. She has a bachelor's degree in education, as well as an office administration diploma, but even with her education, finding meaningful employment in Canada is not an easy task.

This new partnership means newcomers, like Hernandez, can now come in to access information for foreign trained professionals, like career counselling, and employment links, and oneon

one time with an employment coordinator with specific

knowledge about newcomer needs.

"We're excited about working with Jobs Caledon and vpi," said Dorothy Solate, general manager at COSTI. "The one-stop access approach to services will help ease the transition to employment for foreign trained professionals residing in Peel." Newcomers can now come in to access information helping them find jobs in Canada more quickly.

"You feel like you're not alone in this country. Someone is concerned about your needs, and one of the main needs for newcomers is to get a job quickly and hopefully in their field," added Hernandez.

Vpi will work closely with newcomers to refer them to services that can help aid transition into life in Canada. "Vpi offers employment assessment services whereby clients develop a Return to Work Action Plan and are referred to many government services free of charge in order to assist them in their pursuit of employment," noted Megan Hood, vpi program coordinator.

Jobs Caledon Employment Resource Centre (ERC) offers a wide variety of services to clients including resume development and job search workshops, and last year alone had over six thousand visits. Jobs Caledon ERC will continue to open doors for client success, including bringing in new services to help the people of Caledon.

For more information or to register, please call Caledon Community Services at 905-951-2300 or 905-584-9460. Pre-registration and appointments are required. Both daytime and evening appointments are available. Jobs Caledon is located at 18 King Street East, in the upper level of the Royal Courtyards, in downtown Bolton. Jobs Caledon is an Employment Ontario Program which is funded in part by the Government of Canada.