May 2015 - Canadian Immigrant

MAY 2015 I FREE

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Publications mail agreement number 40011993

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IMMIGRANT COMICS FIND HUMOUR IN THEIR JOURNEY

THE OTHER: life on the outside

BOOTCAMP #5 HEALTHY LIVING May 2015

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CONTENTS REGULARS

Cover illustration by Hemeterio (hemeterio@gmail.com)

4 | OUR TAKE/YOUR TAKE 6 | FUSION

›› PROFILE: Miss Universe Canada contender ›› New report on immigrant integration released ›› NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS

15 | IMMIGRANT SETTLEMENT GUIDE 18 | WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT ›› CMHC HR exec talks hiring

25 | DRIVING

›› To buy or to lease?

26 | CAREER, EDUCATION & SETTLEMENT FAIR

10 | SUCCESS STORY

›› Toronto event coming on June 15

It’s kind of a funny story …

There’s humour in immigration, according to these four new-Canadian comics

28 | SETTLEMENT

›› IMMIGRATION LAW: Red tape for employers ›› PARENTING: Peaceful kids

13 | SUCCESS4U BOOTCAMP

30 | BACK PAGE

›› TOP TIPS: Advice from our Top 25 ›› HUMOUR BY HEMETERIO

Fit for life

A new practical print and online series for newcomers

20 | ›› HIGHER LEARNING: Be your own advocate in education ›› JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES: Interview prep

16 | SOCIETY

The other

Do we fuel an us-versus-them mindset when we look at each other through an ethnic lens first?

Respond to Canada’s need for immigrants.

Become a Regulated Immigration Consultant Full-time | Part-time | Online Contact a program adviser at 604.899.0803 or email admissions@ashtoncollege.com.

604.899.0803 | 1.866.759.6006 www.ashtoncollege.com Ashton College

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VOLUME 12, ISSUE 5 MAY 2015 Group Publishers Gautam Datt Sharma Sanjay Agnihotri Editor Margaret Jetelina mjetelina@metroland.com Senior Editor Baisakhi Roy broy@metroland.com Creative Director & Editorial Design Safi Nomani snomani@metroland.com Digital Media Developer Kamil Mytnik Advertising Sales Sr. Ad Manager (B.C. and Alberta) Alla Gordeeva alla@canadianimmigrant.ca Tel: 778 558 3397 Sr. Ad Manager (Toronto) Ricky (Kawaljit) Bajaj rbajaj@metroland.com Tel: 905 273 8170 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 Circulation/Distribution Inquiries: ljackman@metroland.com ISSN 1910-4146

Subscription rate in Canada: $36 plus HST for 12 issues Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher

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Toronto Circulation 50,000 copies Vancouver Circulation 30,000 copies Calgary Circulation 3,000 copies Canadian Immigrant is published monthly and distributed free throughout Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto. Canadian Immigrant welcomes submissions, but is not responsiblefor unsolicited material.

Canadian Immigrant is a publication of Metroland Media Group, a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited.

Entire contents property of Canadian Immigrant.

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our take Immigration is no joke!

Finding humour in difficult circumstances is not easy for many of us. But four up-and-coming comics share their stories in this issue of how they use their stand-up comedy to reflect on their Canadian journey, challenges and all (see page 10). (And a big thanks to our illustrator Hemeterio, who did a fabulous job on your creative cover!)

Immigration is definitely a personal story, and not everyone finds what they are looking for in this country; take the “Your Take” writer below who has decided to call it quits. Our story called “The other” (see page 16) also discusses the notion of feeling like an outsider here from a sociological point of view. Feeling like you don’t belong in your new country is clearly no one’s Canadian dream.

But in our Bootcamp installment this issue, in

which we focus on health, including emotional health, I interviewed a truly inspiring Hungarianborn yoga teacher in her 70s, Ava Stone, who talks about finding happiness and peace from within.

It’s so rare to find someone who has such an enlightened — and also humour-filled view — of daily life. And she’s faced her share of great hardships, too. But, as we talked, I didn’t want to hang up the phone! I just wanted to keep talking and learning from her. Hopefully, you will also feel inspired when reading what she has to say (see page 13).

Margaret Jetelina Editor, Canadian Immigrant

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your take Oh, Canada! I cry for thee!

From the window of my downtown Toronto apartment, I can see a Canadian flag fluttering, facing the icy winds that are hitting hard on its already weary face. The world has long back declared the arrival of spring and yet, as expected, the Canadian winter has stayed put.

For the last four months, I have seen my lonely companion fighting this lost battle. It is tired, battered, bruised. In a few days, when people will notice its’ end, it will be removed and a new flag will be hoisted instead, which will flap happily in the summer, not knowing what is destined for it in the Canadian winter.

With lost eyes I stare at my dying friend and notice a mirror image of my existence. After facing the winter of my Canadian existence, I am tired and burnt out as this dream, nay nightmare, is coming to an end.

This story is similar to that of thousands and thousands of immigrants who have arrived in this frigid land and wasted their lives. Yet there is a twist, which is why it needs to be told!

The story does follow the standard script of a skilled middle-aged professional with excellent educational background from his country, coming to Canada thinking that he is the chosen one and will touch the skies of success in the land of his dreams.

Only to recognize within weeks his wasted existence here, especially because he does not possess the right skin and the right name. Then, as the money saved starts to dwindle and the pressures of earning the daily bread for his family breaks his self-esteem, fate is accepted, survival jobs are grabbed and compromises are made.

Engineers, doctors, architects, teachers from foreign lands are a dime a dozen and are regularly seen working as security guards, taxi drivers, garbage

collectors, gas station attendants or factory workers. They will talk about their houses, cars and cell phones got through jobs that pay close to minimum wage, but availed through easy mortgages, loans and even credit card debts, which will take a life time to pay back. They will harp on their Canadian citizenship and its merits in their pseudo accents as phony as the newly rechristened “Canadian” names.

But scratch below the surface and the wounds will come out. Raw, dirty, untreated! Over the second drink in a party, talks will move away from real estate and cars to the golden days lived as high-flying executives in the past! And, by the next one, curses will start coming out toward Canada, its white majority and its system.

But my story was supposed to have a twist!

In 2009, aged 41, I arrived in Canada with the right pedigree — engineering degree from IIT Bombay, one of the best engineering institutions in India, and a successful, satisfying corporate life lived in various countries including the U.S.A. But within days I realized that past carries no value in Canada.

Period.

And then I met Buddha in the form of a government servant, a lady who was supposed to be helping immigrants settle down in Canada. In her frustration at not being able to cajole me in accepting the odd job as a cleaner or garbage collector, she told me that if I really felt that I have higher value, I can always go back to where I came from!

I left my job search, used whatever money I had brought along to buy the business of a gas bar and convenience store in Guelph and later a motel in Niagara Falls. My wife, a doctorate in economics, worked with me, and together we provided for our family with days and days of hard work. Later we sold the gas bar and bought two bigger motels. Amongst family and friends, we were rated a success story! facebook/canimmigrant

@canimmigrant

UPFRONT And while living this “successful” Canadian life, selling cigarettes and grocery, renting or cleaning rooms, and removing garbage, while facing racial slurs on a regular basis from customers who visited our small businesses, the soul was waiting for the moment, when it could follow the Buddha who had enlightened it and given the real mantra, “If you want, you can always go back.”

But this was a scam. I was cheated. I applied for Canadian immigration under the “skilled” category and was selected based on a point system that gave higher credence to my Indian education and work experience, both of which were rejected here. I did not come to Canada to be a gas station attendant. I was an engineer and an experienced professional, and expected opportunities where my expertise could have been used. Even a supervisory role. I was not even shortlisted for a job interview! Not even one!

After running my businesses for five years, time had arrived to break free and do what I was trained to do. I sold my businesses and now that I also had Canadian work experience behind me, started looking for jobs.

Result? Again a big zero, other than the minimum-wage fare. I now end my life as a non-descript entity in Canada and am reborn as a professional while going back to the lands that trust my skills, my expertise and have called me back with open arms, entrusting me the responsibilities of managing companies and providing leadership to skilled people.

Oh, Canada, I cry for thee!

In wasting lives of your adopted children, you lose the very skills that they brought along! Goodbye, my adopted land and I may be gone for long and may just come back in the winter of my life! While leaving, I give you my biggest gift, my most beautiful creation for keeps. My children!

Accept them! Treat them as your own and not as you treated me!

Oh, Canada, I cry for thee and yet in love, “Oh, Canada, we stand on guard for thee!”

Devanshu Narang

WANT TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS? EMAIL MJETELINA@METROLAND.COM.

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fusion

Miss Universe Canada correlates with these career aspirations.

news. people. events.

How has your native culture inspired you in your journey in Canada?

PROFILE

MONIKA HORVAT Confident beauty

M

By Baisakhi Roy

onika Horvat was only three years old when she and her family fled the political upheaval in the former Yugoslavia in 1993.

The beauty queen is now using her experiences to make the transition to Canada easier for other immigrants, and her pageant platform as a finalist with Miss Universe Canada 2015 to make the world a better place — really!

Did your family have any challenges as immigrants in Canada?

We moved to Calgary, Alberta, and stayed with family friends

for six months until we moved into our own place. Since I came here at such a young age, I don’t remember my life in Serbia prior to moving here. But my parents spoke no English when we arrived in Canada. Despite the fact that they were both well educated and had highly skilled professional jobs in Serbia, they had to work difficult jobs to provide a life for my sister and me.

My parents are pioneers and they took full advantage of the possibilities afforded to them in Canada and used these tools to establish themselves in Canadian culture. My parents both attended English schools

Monika Horvat will compete for the title of Miss Universe Canada 2015, May 16-23, in Toronto.

to improve their English. In time they let their ambitions shine and they escalated in the professional sphere in Canada.

Did you personally have to struggle growing up in Canada?

Growing up I did not feel that I struggled because I did not know any different. However, now that I’m older I can sense that I did miss out on many personal relationships such as spending time with my parents and getting to know my extended family in Serbia. My parents were always working, and my older sister, Sonja, took care of me and in large part raised me. In regards to my extended family in Serbia, we would only see them once a year.

I sometimes feel I missed out on experiencing my cousins grow up.

What inspired you to compete in the Miss Universe Canada event?

I have had many friends tell me to apply for Miss Universe Canada and I dismissed the idea for a long time. However, in my last year of university I decided to apply on a whim and I was in shock when I heard I was chosen to be a finalist.

I have a strong passion for economic development.

Therefore, once I had researched the Miss Universe Canada organization and saw that they are extremely involved with promoting global change in the developing world, I knew it was a good fit. My dream would be to work for the United Nations or the World Bank, and I believe

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I believe that my Serbian roots and life in Canada have encouraged me to empower the immigrant community in Canada. It has empowered me to encourage them to let their dreams shine in the global community. I feel that my cultural mix reiterates the heterogeneous cultures that we have in Canada and allows me to guide many individuals that are also new to Canada or have been new to Canada.

I would like to say that I’m a strong and proud Serbian woman and I’m even more proud that I’m a Serbian Canadian woman. I have been allotted many opportunities in Canada and I would like to share my accomplishments and help others achieve their goals.

So how exactly do you work to help immigrants?

I’m currently working with Calgary Immigrant Educational Society (CIES), which allows me to personally reach out and help immigrants. This has always been a dream of mine. I would like to minimize the struggles of future immigrants and help them achieve all of their dreams and goals.

What is your message to immigrants in Canada?

I would like to inspire current and future immigrants to believe in themselves and aspire to greatness. I am confident that there are no boundaries that cannot be overcome. Believing in one’s self is the most powerful tool for succeeding in life.

What do you think is the secret to being successful?

Confidence and being fully aware of your strengths is the key to success. I have always had the desire to promote change, but in the past I was insecure about exposing myself to the public eye.

However, I have stopped dwelling on undefined consequences and I have been able to conquer barriers in my life. For me it’s setting higher standards for myself every time I conquer something new.

This allows me to continue to transcend everyday.

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FUSION

New report recommends strategies for integration Minister of Employment and Social Development Pierre Poilievre released a report in April outlining new and better ways to integrate immigrants into the Canadian workforce.

The report, authored by the Panel on Employment Challenges of New Canadians, which was chaired by Nick Noorani, longtime immigrant champion and original founder of Canadian Immigrant magazine, held in-person consultations on integrating new Canadians into the workforce in Vancouver, Calgary, Saskatoon, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax since 2014. The panel met with more than 150 organizations closely involved in the issue of employment for new Canadians, and welcomed public input through an online survey.

The minister has pledged to carefully study the panel’s recommendations, which include the need to: • require each regulated occupation to develop a single national standard and point of contact and insist that skilled immigrants take the initiative to have their qualifications assessed prior to arriving in Canada

• develop a broader strategy for alternative careers, with a more prominent role for regulators, that will support newcomers as part of the licensing process • produce better, more coordinated labour market information targeted at newcomers • create a sense of shared responsibility among all stakeholders for helping immigrants find jobs that match their skills, with a focus on engaging employers “Every time we can help a newcomer to Canada plug their skills and experience into the Canadian workforce, everyone wins,” says Poilievre. “All levels of government need to adopt more common-sense approaches that help newcomers take on meaningful work more quickly.”

The minister also announced funding for two related projects, one led by the Medical Council of Canada and the other by Engineers Canada, which will see internationally trained doctors and engineers have their foreign credentials more quickly and effectively recognized by eliminating red tape and taking advantage of new online tools.

B.C. >> In recognition of the current demand for skilled professionals in northern B.C. communities, the Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC-BC) has launched a new website, northernbcjobs.com, which connects skilled new Canadians living in Metro Vancouver with jobs in three northern communities — Prince George, Prince Rupert and Fort St. John. “The reality is that even with full participation of the existing population, B.C. will still need about 265,000 international workers to meet the projected labour demand,” says Kelly Pollack, CEO of IEC-BC. “No one solution will meet the workforce supply needs in these regions.”

B.C.>> Applications are being accepted for the 2015 Lilian To Scholarship for Immigrants at Ashton College in Vancouver. The college supports immigrants in helping them acquire a Canadian educational credential to add to their resumé. The scholarship is sponsored by Canadian Immigrant magazine. See ashtoncollege.com.

Saskatchewan >> More new Canadians are calling Saskatchewan home. Saskatchewan welcomed 7,615 immigrants in 2010, compared to 1,891 in 2000. According to Statistics Canada, numbers for March 2015 also show Saskatchewan maintaining the lowest unemployment rate in the country for 18 months straight.

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SUCCESS STORY

IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY …

STORY… There’s humour in immigration, according to these four new-Canadian comics

S o ro u

Illustrations by Hemeterio (hemeterio@gmail.com)

BY NIC ENRIGHTMORIN

H

ave you heard the one about the Iranian, Taiwanese and Venezuelan men who walk into a bar?

No, it’s not the setup for a corny joke, but the true and inspiring story of how many immigrants use comedy to not only get a chuckle, but to find their place in Canada.

I should know … I’m one of them. After moving to Canada 12 years ago from Britain, I built up the courage to give stand-up comedy a try. My first experience was exhilarating and petrifying all at once. But for the first time, I felt like I was home.

When I shared my experiences onstage, it was the “real” me. It was liberating to share my journey as an immigrant through the shared experience of

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laughter. Instead of feeling embarrassed about my thick, British accent, as I often do during everyday interactions, up onstage, it’s the first thing I point out. I found that making people laugh and “owning” my immigrant status was empowering and so I keep going back for more.

Over the past three years I’ve performed in comedy clubs all over Vancouver and have found my place in the comedy community. Comics are a quirky bunch, but, unlike most other cliques, they accept everyone. People from every background, race and gender are welcome. The only criteria: you have to be funny. Finding stand-up comedy has been such a gift for me, and, after years of trying to make Canada my home, it suddenly came facebook/canimmigrant

@canimmigrant

without any effort at all.

I’m not the only one who found their place in Canada through comedy. Soroush Rezaian came from Iran when he was 10, and now calls Calgary his home.

Calgary comic Soroush Rezaian

After a friend suggested that Rezaian should try stand-up, he went to Monday Comedy Night, an open mic in Calgary where amateur, professional and first-time comics get five minutes onstage. That was three years ago and he’s never looked back.

“As an immigrant, one of the things I missed was being a part of something bigger than myself,” says Rezaian. “Comedy really fulfilled that need for me. It’s nice when people laugh at you.”

Performing stand-up has given Rezaian a real sense of community and connection. “Making someone else happy is the best feeling you can get,” he says. “When you help someone, it’s so positive, and making someone laugh is the purest form of that. It gives you real gratification.”

In his act, Rezaian draws upon his Iranian heritage to get laughs, as well as his observations about Canadian culture. He says he likes to keep his comedy light-hearted because “my job is not to burden people with heavy stuff, I don’t want to bring anyone down.

I’m the human equivalent of a chocolate lab!”

Vancouver comic Ed Hill

Nic

Meanwhile in Vancouver, stand-up comic Ed Hill says there are many reasons why he is drawn to comedy, although “it’s definitely not for the money or the schedule, because they’re both terrible!”

However, while some aspects of comedy are no joke, Hill, who is originally from Taiwan, says it is definitely something he has to keep on doing. “I like the self challenge, writing new material and seeing if it works, with different types of audience and crowds. That’s what makes it exciting.”

Hill has performed comedy all across Canada and around the world. He even got to perform in Taiwan when he toured Asia a couple of years ago. Recently he found out that all his hard work in this tough industry is starting to pay off, as he won Westender magazine’s “Best Comedian in the City Award.”

Hill says comedy has

helped shape his journey as an immigrant. “It’s definitely helped me tell my story and helped me reflect on things I wouldn’t typically think of; my role of who I am in society and who I am as a person in general. There is a lot of self-reflection and I like that.”

He adds that his heritage and immigration from Taiwan, “just naturally weaves itself into the material. Just from the way I tell my

If you just tell your story in some format, and are true to yourself and true to your story, someone will listen.”

— Ed Hill

stories onstage, you can tell that I’m a bicultural individual.”

By day, Hill is also a clinical counsellor for mental health and works with suicidal teens. He says he enjoys his two very different careers and keeps a good balance between the two. “Comedy is definitely me telling my story and my day job is me listening to people’s stories. It’s inter-related, I’m just playing different roles and both are fascinating.”

Toronto clown Isaac Luy

While Rezaian and Hill came to Canada with their families when they were children, Venezuelan improv comic and clown Isaac Luy moved to Toronto in his early 20s. He said that initially he was worried about pursuing comedy because of his limited English, but he soon found out that he was wrong.

“One thing comedy has really helped me with is my English. In the beginning, I was terrified of doing improv, because I felt like I wasn’t going to be able to do it because of the language barrier, but it turns out it was the other way around. I found an environment where I could fail without being worried about any consequences. Every time I said something wrong, or someone misinterpreted what I said, it was a gift. That was a huge relief. I could make fun of the things that I said and that helped me learn the language, too.”

Luy says, unlike improv, clowning is basically like regular theatre, with a different approach to creating the content. “It’s a play and the public are very much involved, so the show changes every night.

There is a script and cues, but you’re ready to let it go if something more important is happening in the moment with the audience.”

For Luy, clowning has a special place in his heart because it’s helped him enter a theatre company in Toronto, where he now teaches clowning to others. “It’s a very magical thing when you see the veils fall away, when you get to see people for who they really May 2015

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are without pretending to be something that they’re not.”

Luy says one of the things he loves about performing in Canada is there are so many resources and people to learn from. “In Venezuela, we don’t have much of a tradition in clowning and improv, and comedy can be a little primitive.”

It’s about sharing stories

There is no doubt about it, comedy is a great way to feel at home in Canada. If you’re interested in trying it out, but not sure where to start, you can always take a class. Both Hill and I took classes with Jan Bannister, owner of Laughter Zone 101 in Vancouver, who has been teaching people the art of stand-up comedy for more than 10 years; she says that in every class there is at least one immigrant.

Isaac

“Certainly they learn some new language skills, they learn to express themselves. But the biggest positive that comes out of it, is they meet new people and they realize it’s fun and that people enjoy their company.

Comedy is such a sharing thing, it’s really great,” Bannister says.

Ultimately no matter where you are from, comedy is just another way of communicating with your fellow humans. We all have stories to tell and sharing them helps us feel connected.

As Hill explains, “If you have a desire to tell your story, go to any medium. It doesn’t have to be stand-up, it could be acting, it could be the arts, painting, writing. If you just tell your story in some format, and are true to yourself and true to your story, someone will listen.”

Ed

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SUCCESS BOOTCAMP IN CANADA

Fit for life Part 5 of our ‘Success4U in Canada Bootcamp’ focuses on health and wellbeing

By Margaret Jetelina

Y

ou might have seen those fitness bootcamps in your neighbourhood where groups of exercisers get together to get fit through intense workouts. Well, this month’s installment in our “Success4U in Canada Bootcamp” is about health and wellbeing, too — although signing up for a literal bootcamp fitness program is not required!

Success in Canada is not just about learning English, writing the best resumé and finding that perfect job. While establishing ourselves in our career is critical (see our first four bootcamp installments at canadianimmigrant.ca under “Community>Bootcamp,” it’s not going to give you everything you need in life. To be truly successful, we also need emotional and physical wellbeing — that is, success from a holistic point of view.

And, depending on how you look at things, that wellbeing often must come first before other aspects of life fall into place. After all, it’s hard to approach day-to-day challenges and achieve goals if we feel physically or mentally unwell.

Bootcamp in 6 parts 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Building a solid foundation Behavioural and soft skills Career planning Lifelong learning Health and wellbeing Relationships and community

PART 5:

Health and wellbeing Repeated health studies have pointed to something called “the healthy immigrant effect” — immigrants are likely to gain weight after settling down in their new home and have an increased risk for illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

lemon, garlic and turmeric (see our list of wellness tips in “Worldly wellness” at canadianimmigrant.ca under “Settling in Canada/Health Care”).

10. Plan out your meals and shop accordingly. Prepare your food in advance if you will be busy. Take snacks with you, so you don’t end up going through the drive-thru!

11. Depriving yourself will make you miserable, so treat yourself sometimes!

2. Physical fitness Not surprisingly, it’s also reported that immigrants often face a spike in emotional health issues, like depression, isolation and homesickness.

It’s not a stretch to say that negative thinking can then further reinforce any physical ailments you’re experiencing. So, to approach your journey in Canada with positivity and the very best version of yourself, let’s look at three categories of health: 1. Nutrition 2. Physical fitness 3. Emotional health

1. Nutrition

It’s no surprise to realize that eating habits change after immigrating.

Your access to types of food changes, as does your lifestyle. While you may come from a country of origin where the focus is on fresh food, you might be a little overwhelmed with the variety of products, including prepared and fast foods, that are available in Canada. Confused? There are many settlement agencies across the country that offer workshops on nutrition and shopping in Canada, and it’s a great idea to sign up.

Choosing what to feed our families is important, because there is

much truth in the old adage “you are what you eat.” Here are 11 commonsense tips to keep reminding ourselves of: 1. Focus on fresh foods rather than prepackaged ones.

2. Shop on the outside of the grocery store, which is where the fresher food is kept like dairy, breads and produce; the inner aisles usually have prepared foods like cereals and junk food.

3. Make sure that you read your food labels and limit foods with trans fats and high sodium content.

4. Limit your sugar intake. There is a lot of hidden sugar in food, especially in white carbohydrates like white bread, pasta and rice.

5. Be mindful of portion control.

If you are consuming more calories than you are expending, you will gain weight.

6. Don’t be afraid of good fats such as nuts, avocados and salmon.

7. Don’t overdo calorie-laden drinks like juice, soft drinks, flavoured coffees and alcohol.

8. Base your meals around lean protein sources and vegetables.

9. Learn about the healing qualities of certain foods and spices such as

Nutrition is just one part of healthy living, of course. Getting enough exercise is an important part of staying physically fit. And it really doesn’t have to be as intense as taking those bootcamp fitness classes — although they are effective in shedding excess weight if that’s your goal — but simple activities that you enjoy are more than enough for most.

Health Canada recommends that adults get at least two-and-a-half hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity weekly, and that children and youth get at least 60 minutes per day. This can be a mix of activities, including walking, running, swimming, biking, yoga, dance or team sports. Choose an activity or two that you enjoy, and you’ll do them more often. If you can’t afford the cost of gym or yoga studio memberships, you can follow along a variety of exercise routines on YouTube for free, from yoga to aerobics to cardio ballet!

Other tricks to staying active?

Make fit choices every day like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, meeting someone for a walk instead of lunch, or taking your kids to school on foot, instead of by car.

If you’re trying to lose some May 2015

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SUCCESS BOOTCAMP IN CANADA

weight, the key is burning more calories than you take in. That’s often easier said than done, especially after a full day of work, dealing with children and all the other everyday responsibilities you’re faced with. So try to make physical activity a part of your family routine, whether it’s going for an evening walk or kicking the soccer ball around in the backyard. You’ll not only feel better physically when you get your body moving, but it will also make you feel happier and more positive.

3. Emotional health

Just ask 71-year-old Ava Stone, a popular yoga instructor in Port Moody, B.C. — but not your ordinary yoga instructor. The Hungarian-born immigrant shares well-earned insights on life and emotional wellbeing with her students as they go through the hatha yoga poses in her classes.

“It’s just the way I am. I am always searching on how to be happy, improving my thinking and my mind,” she says, adding she also always tries to find the funny side of things.

“I have been fortunate enough to end up here after the Hungarian Revolution,” Stone says. She came as a

young teenager with her parents and older sister, and the two sisters soon found themselves living alone when their parents left. At 14, Stone, whose English was not very good, got her first job doing laundry. She worked hard to learn the language and build her life in Canada, of which yoga has been a central part. She says practices like yoga and meditation can help newcomers as they struggle to settle into their new lives.

“It allows you to be more conscious of yourself, taking you beyond your thinking mind,” she says. “We have about 50,000 thoughts per day, many on repeat. You have to be quiet to step outside that noise.”

Immigrants, for example, may be constantly worried about getting a job in Canada and longing for the way things were back home. “They worry if they are going to make it,” she says, explaining that they are dealing with the ego, rather than their true self. “But if a person is conscious of their true essence, it doesn’t matter where they are. People are the same anywhere. If you live in peacefulness, it brings energy, good health and knowledge.”

In other words, you see life from

the point of view you put out. “If you look in the mirror and you don’t like what you see, remember that you put [that image] there,” she says. “Your mind and body are mirrors to each other. The more happy and excited you are, the more your body will respond … when you’re feeling good about yourself, the world looks better.”

Immigrants who are struggling can unfortunately dip into serious mental health challenges. Registered social worker Ilaneet Goren, a Ukrainian-born immigrant, says, “Mental health challenges are part of many newcomers’ realities. Statistics tell us that one in every five Canadians is diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in their lives, while seven out of 10 people living with psychiatric symptoms do not receive treat-

ment at all. Surely, newcomers are as vulnerable, if not more so, given the inherent upheaval of a migrant life,” she says, adding that there is stigma attached to having a mental illness. But she offers up several tips to help battle mental health issues, including adjusting your expectations, surrounding yourself with a support system and asking for help when needed (to read all her tips, see canadianimmigrant.ca under “Settling in Canada>Health Care.”

To be truly happy and successful in Canada — or anywhere else for that matter — taking a holistic approach to our lives beyond just a career and financial focus will no doubt make all the efforts and struggles encountered as immigrants a little easier to overcome.

BOOTCAMP EXERCISES

The bootcamp experience is all about doing something often, repetitively and with intensity. Here is a sampling of exercises for Part 5: Fit for life. Find our full list of exercises and worksheets at canadianimmigrant.ca under “Community>Bootcamp.”

Nutrition Exercise no. 1

Connect with a local settlement agency to see if they offer a workshop on nutrition and shopping in Canada.

Exercise no. 2

Make a meal plan for the coming week and create a shopping list.

Exercise no. 3

Stock up your pantry with essential ingredients and spices to help you make your favourite meals easily.

Physical fitness Exercise no. 1

Make a list of the physical activities you enjoy, and determine any equipment you need or ways to access them.

Exercise no. 2

Plan out three hours in your week to dedicate to your chosen activities.

Exercise no. 3

Choose a family activity that will keep you all moving together on a daily basis (e.g., walking the dog, walking to school, etc.).

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May 2015

Emotional health Exercise no. 1

Find time to quiet your mind, whether that is through yoga, meditation or relaxation.

Exercise no. 2

Try to remain positive about life and its challenges, and believe in yourself. Remind yourself of your worth daily!

Exercise no. 3

If you feel you need support, look for mental health resources in your community via an immigrant settlement agency or other community organization. facebook/canimmigrant

@canimmigrant

Immigrant

Settlement

Guide 2015

To list your agency in the “Immigrant Settlement Guide,” please contact: ONTARIO LISTINGS Ricky Bajaj: 905-273-8170 or John Zhang: 416-803-3931

WESTERN CANADA LISTINGS

Alla Gordeeva: 778-558-3397 or alla@canadianimmigrant.ca

UPFRONT Are you a newcomer to Canada? You no doubt have many questions. Immigrating can be a challenging process, with many unknowns, but the good news is that there are many resources available to help you. Seeking help at an immigrant settlement agency is going to be your most important first step in Canada. And many services are free, from English as a second language programs to settlement counselling to career help, including mentorship and retraining opportunities. The services are all aimed to help you overcome the challenges you’re facing and succeed in Canada.

Here are just some of the agencies ready to serve you in the Greater Toronto Area:

Agency

General Services and Specialty Programs

Languages

Brampton Multicultural Centre (BMC)

Not for profit, registered charity providing multilingual, culturally sensitive free programs & services to help clients enhance their community engagement while integrating into Canadian society. Programs: Initial settlement support, resumés & employment readiness workshops, advocacy with solution-focused counselling, interpretation & translation, services for youth and youth at risk, volunteer opportunities, seniors program and mental health support services in multiple languages. Reference to instructor-led LINC classes with child-minding & transportation subsidies, violence against women program and community engagement programs.

Email: services@bmccentre.org www.bmccentre.org

• • • • •

English Punjabi Gujarati French Spanish

• • • • •

Hindi Tamil Urdu Arabic Farsi

Settlement Services, Family Counselling, Senior Services and Volunteer Opportunities. Specialty Programs: English Language Training & Citizenship Classes, Job Search Workshops, Adult Day & Seniors Wellness program, Services for Women, Children and Youth, Supportive Mental Health Services Email: info@indiarainbow.org www.indiarainbow.org

• • • •

English Punjabi Gujarati French

• • • •

Hindi Tamil Urdu Arabic

Find out how to: get the skills you need to find work quickly! — Job Search Workshops Program! perfect your resumé, practise interview skills and more — Job Find Club for Internationally Trained Individuals job search effectively — with Employment Ontario Employment Services. Access Bridge to HR — a bridging program for internationally educated HR professionals Email: info@jobskills.org www.jobskills.org

• English

Settlement Services, LINC Classes (level 1-6) with child minding, Counseling, Job search, Citizenship & Immigration, Groups for Youth, Seniors & Women and Volunteering. Specialty Programs: Bridge Training Program for International Mental Health Professionals, Community Engagement Program, Community Mental health Program and Anger management.

Additional locations at Scarborough and Toronto.

Email: northyork@mnlct.org www.mnlct.org

• • • • •

English Spanish Mandarin Bengali Turkish

New to Canada? Looking for a job in your field? Need career and training options? We can help Get free advice on how to use your skills and find a meaningful career in Canada. Contact us today to speak with one of our experts. We’re a national organization and serve all of Ontario.

Contact: Elena Rakitskaya or Jim Lamarche Email: acp@nacc.ca www.nacc.ca/acp

• • • • •

English French Russian Farsi Spanish

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: resumé/cover letter preparation, interview readiness and information about accreditation, workplace practices, Canadian employer expectations. Other services available.

Email: info@welcomecentre.ca www.welcomecentre.ca

• English

197 County Court Blvd.

Suite 303 Brampton ON L6W 4P6 Phone: 905-790-8482 Fax: 905-874-6100

India Rainbow Community Services of Peel 3038 Hurontario Street, Suite 206 & Unit 1, Mississauga, ON L5B 3B9 Phone: 905-275-2369 Job Skills Employment & Business Programs & Supports Locations in York, Peel and North Toronto Phone: 1-866-592-6278 Mennonite New Life Centre of Toronto 2737 Keele Street North York ON M3M 2E9 Phone: 647-776-2057 National Association of Career Colleges 44 Byward Market, Suite 270 Ottawa, K1N 7A2 Phone: 1-866-981-6863 Welcome Centre Immigrant Services 7 Locations in York and Durham Regions Phone: 1-877-761-1155

May 2015

Canadian Immigrant

15

SOCIETY

The OTHER Do we fuel an us-versus-them mindset when we look at each other through an ethnic lens first?

By Ramya Ramanathan

T

he concept of self requires the existence of “the other.” Sociologists use the concept of “othering” to describe how differences are understood and identities are constructed. People often assume that because someone has a different skin tone or dresses differently or has a different accent, they may not have much in common with them.

They are seen as being entirely different and become “the other.”

Canada’s multicultural ideology embraces diverse racial and ethnic communities being able to retain their cultural identities while being a part of the larger Canadian mosaic. Despite this general acceptance of multiculturalism, Canadians — immigrants or otherwise — often allow markers such as skin colour, country of origin, cultural background or language to define our boundaries, limit our relationships and our interactions instead of getting to really know the people in our neighbourhoods or workplaces.

“People focus on superficial physical or cultural differences and assume that people must be different from them and sometimes avoid interaction. They worry about offending others, and it’s often a subtle kind of avoidance of awkward situations,” says Vic Satzewich, a professor of sociology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, who has authored books on race and ethnicity in Canada. “Often a lack of meaningful face-to-face interaction facilitates the ‘othering’ process.

It’s not necessarily a sign of bad faith or an inherent kind of racism; it can be a sense of uncertainty about what the norms of interactions are between people.”

Polls show that while Canadians regard multiculturalism as a key feature of national identity, they expect immigrants to blend into Canadian society and adopt Canadian values. And, for immigrants, studies have found that having meaningful social interactions with native-born Canadians in workplaces, neighbourhoods and schools is important to their successful integration. When immigrants feel that differences are too great to be bridge, they find integrating a challenge and start pulling back from social engagement, in turn, creating a distance and reinforcing the concept of the “other.”

Comfort among the similar

Limiting associations to people of similar ethnic backgrounds or those speaking the same language further facilitates the process of othering.

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From the newcomer perspective, they miss home and often seek those who speak a common language, have the same upbringing and cultural understanding. Radhika (name has been changed), a new Canadian from India who works in the banking sector, finds that the people she works with seem to be more comfortable in their own ethnic groups, even at the workplace. “In a big bank like ours, we seem to seek out people of our kind and open up to them. Who else can we talk to about our daily routines, problems, our complaints and sorrows?”

Newcomers often also prefer the security of ethnic neighbourhoods. But ethnic concentration in neighbourhoods can also have an othering effect, reinforcing ethnic and racial divides. The positives and negatives of such ethnic enclaves are widely debated. The positives include offering a safety net and equipping immigrants with contacts and the information needed to establish themselves quickly. On the negative side, residents of such enclaves don’t have much of an opportunity to integrate, learn English or build a true sense of Canadian identity.

Is this ethnic-focused approach to settlement exacerbating an us-versus-them mindset?

Jennifer, a native Canadian who works in health care in Toronto, says, “I feel like the ‘other’ when I go to the kitchen in my workplace and there are nurses talking in their own language. I wonder if I am intruding and feel left out.”

Narrow views

When there is too much of a divide among different groups and ethnicities, it leads to stereotyping. While often intended as harmless or a joke, such commentary can further reinforces an immigrant’s sense of being treated as the other.

Juan (name has been changed), a Mexican-born immigrant and highly qualified professional, doesn’t like it very much when he jokingly gets asked, “How is your fruit stand?” on a regular basis by an acquaintance.

While ethnicity is often a punchline, such humour is not always funny.

“People automatically assume that it’s acceptable to make those kinds of jokes,” says Satzewich. “They don’t understand the genius of someone like comedian Russell Peters, who uses stereotypes to subvert the stereotypes; people end up using stereotypes to reaffirm them.”

“If someone asks you to stop making references to ethnic or racial differences, listen to them,” says Juan. He also asks people to speak up facebook/canimmigrant

@canimmigrant

UPFRONT if they find something offensive.

There is a difference between harmless stereotyping, and ethnic othering that could lead to racism. When we divide ourselves as a superior “us” over “them,” we are using the power of definition to believe that we are better and have an upper hand intellectually, economically or socially, potentially leading to discrimination.

“When racial othering leads to exclusion or denial of job opportunities or denial of places in school, then the solution needed to that racist othering is different from neutral innocuous racial othering that happens all the time,” says Satzewich.

Finding common ground

Today, with one in five Canadians being foreign-born, creating dialogue becomes even more important. Nikolas Patentalakis, a new Canadian from Greece who leads a social group for expats in Calgary, believes that increased interaction is critical for effective dialogue. “I think that if you mix people and they get to know each other, we can definitely create a more open society. As you get to know people, you realize that there’s not much difference between you and them. And it’s less likely to make assumptions about an ethnic group if your best friend’s girlfriend is from that country and you get to know her.”

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Some people find connections in their professional or workplaces.

Others find a common interest like a sport, activity groups, social groups or community gathering spaces.

“When I first moved here, I felt people were patronizing to me,” says David (name has been changed), a Ugandan-born immigrant who moved to Canada a decade ago. “They treated me as the immigrant who had ‘escaped’ from an impoverished life and country.”

But he finally found that connection. “My local church encourages intercultural experiences; my interaction with a number of folks through my church has helped me a great deal in understanding different cultures,” he adds.

Damodar, an 82-year-old immigrant from India who moved to Canada 47 years ago, is convinced that when we begin talking to people from different religions, cultures and communities, we realize that all human beings are ultimately the same. “But if you don’t talk to people from different communities, your view can be narrow. Immigrants sometimes tend to keep their own company, but as their children grow up and start making friends outside their communities, parents realize that their own views are narrow. Our children who grow up here have more liberal views.”

Regardless of our background, most Canadians’ dreams and aspirations are not that different. We all seek the same things: a reasonably good life, safe neighbourhoods, good schooling for children, access to good health care and career opportunities. Focusing too much on the differences can put up walls between people, create barriers to integration and come in the way of fully benefiting from our multicultural society and all it has to offer.

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May 2015

Canadian Immigrant

17

WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT

Diverse talent HR leader at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) talks about the organization’s commitment to hiring newcomers and the skills they look for

By Baisakhi Roy

P

roviding insurance for residential mortgage loans to Canadian home buyers, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is known for offering detailed information about the housing market, including special resources just for newcomers in eight different languages. That commitment to diversity is also evident within the organization’s workplace.

Gail Tolley, CMHC’s senior vice-president, human resources, encourages a culture of inclusiveness at the workplace and also has valuable tips for newcomers to increase their employability in the Canadian job market.

What skills should internationally trained professionals focus on if they want to work at CMHC?

Individuals, including foreign-trained professionals, contemplating working at CMHC are advised to have a specialization in a field of study related to CMHC’s business — finance, risk management, market analysis, assisted housing, policy development. Foreigntrained professionals will also want to ensure that their accreditations,

certifications and degrees are valid in Canada, both nationally and in many cases provincially.

Familiarity with Canadian culture is also important to help with the transition to Canada, and to a Canadian workplace. In addition, general skills such as report and technical writing, analytical skills, leadership skills, communication and interpersonal skills are all valuable in pursuing work at CMHC.

What are some of the specific positions CMHC hires for?

CMHC is always looking for analysts in functional areas such as finance, business, policy and market analysis. Other active hiring areas include information technology and administrative positions.

CMHC also seeks candidates in increasingly specialized positions in risk, capital markets and economic capital modelling, to name a few.

In these areas, Canadian experience is not essential, but international experience is highly valued. These positions often have a higher likelihood of requiring proficiency in English as essential.

You mentioned Canadian experience … how does that become a factor?

CMHC is striving to be a world-class leader within the global economy. We know that one of the key elements of achieving this goal is to hire diverse talent with the right skills, including experience with financial best practices, as well as knowledge of the Canadian financial market and culture, knowledge and experience of Canadian legislation and regulations, and a good understanding of the Canadian government system.

In addition, every position will have specific relevant and technical knowledge and skills, which must be evident to be considered for a position. As well, as an agency of the Government of Canada,

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CMHC operates in Canada’s two official languages (English and French). As such, fluency in one or both of these languages is often required in order to work at CMHC, in particular for client service and managerial positions.

What about the workplace culture? What should immigrants know?

Familiarity with Canadian social norms, including communication styles and interpersonal skills, may help ease the transition into CMHC’s workplace. One thing to keep in mind for interviews at CMHC is that the process is a competition. While some cultures may take a more subtle and understated approach to conveying one’s own skills and knowledge, candidates need to be direct and clear in presenting their qualifications and expertise.

Finally, anyone contemplating working at CMHC should understand the importance placed on valuing diversity, inclusion and equality in our workplace.

What specific challenges does CMHC face when recruiting immigrant talent?

The process of confirming a security clearance, which is required in order to begin working at CMHC, tends to take more time when someone has lived outside of Canada, as more documentation is required. It can also take time to carry out the reference checks required for a foreign-trained individual, as a result of different time zones and language constraints. Other challenges include language and communication barriers, obtaining validation of education and experience, and confirming that candidates are eligible to work in Canada.

CMHC actively seeks opportunities to hire new Canadians. Our recruitment strategies include initiatives to help with outreach to various segments of the population, including partnerships with a number of groups serving new Canadians, including Hire Immigrants

Ottawa, Immigration Francophone, LASI World Skills and the Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN), to help us recruit qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds.

What do you think are the biggest barriers that newcomers face when applying for jobs?

While understanding the Canadian workplace comes with experience and exposure, there are many things newcomers to Canada can do to enhance their qualifications and employability. For example, immigrants may wish to increase their knowledge of the Canadian government and culture. LASI World Skills is one organization that aims to enhance the economic integration of newcomers by developing and offering programs and services that assist them in increasing their employability in the Canadian job market.

New Canadians may also wish to address any accreditation issues in advance and ensure they have the necessary permits to work in Canada.

Other barriers such as language may impact a newcomer’s job search success; enhancing one’s proficiency in English and French would therefore be of assistance in increasing job prospects.

As an HR specialist, what do you see as the advantages of diversity in the workplace?

Diversity is a great asset to the Canadian workplace and the Canadian economy. Encouraging a variety of opinions and perspectives promotes creativity, innovative thinking and problemsolving. Welcoming a diversity of opinions encourages a culture of inclusiveness, where all employees feel valued and able to bring their whole selves to the workplace and to their jobs. Having a global workforce represented where you work translates into a rich and dynamic workplace and a wealth of best practices at your disposal.

New and broadening knowledge should be welcomed and highly valued, as it is at CMHC.

May 2015

Canadian Immigrant

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| HIGHER LEARNING |

Raise your voice

P

Be your own advocate in your post-secondary studies

ost-secondary schools are usually well equipped to help students with academic concerns, but knowing who, when and how to ask for help is the student’s responsibility. And being able to speak up is a skill students should have.

As a student in Canada, having some ability to self-advocate with faculty, staff, other students and field placement supervisors is important. If you don’t speak up, there is an assumption that you agree with what is being said or decided. But, if you have concerns or questions, it is entirely appropriate to raise them.

Why you might need to speak up

Universities and colleges can operate like well-oiled machines, but they can also break down and

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make mistakes. You may find that you are missing important information, you believe an error was made, you are confused about what you need to do to register or graduate, or just about anything in between. This is true for many students, but particularly for those whose situation is complicated by lack of familiarity with the Canadian education system.

Students need to be aware of their rights. For instance, are you entitled to academic accommodations due to a disability? Do you have to accept a grade for a group assignment that was done poorly by others? Should you have to pay for a course that you dropped from your schedule? There may also be times when your circumstances are such that you need special consideration. Knowing how to respond in these situations

helps ensure that your rights are protected and that you have the information you need in order to succeed.

Where to turn

In general, you go to your professor for problems that occur in class; for instance, if you disagree with a grade you received on an assignment. You will also go to your professor if you need to make a request for special consideration, such as asking for an extension on an assignment due date or if you need to miss a test due to illness. This will require that you explain your situation and you may be asked to show supporting documentation.

Problems that occur outside of the classroom, such as errors in registration information or an appeal for dropping a class without

academic penalty should be taken to the registrar’s office. In considering your complaint, be sure that it is genuine and that you are not at fault yourself.

While post-secondary schools may all handle situations a little differently, they all have staff and procedures for providing information and sorting out problems.

People who can help are usually connected to the student government or school administration, and may be called student advocates, lawyers, school ombudsmen or other staff. You can usually find information on the people who can help by looking on the school website or ask at a help desk, a counselling service, student government office or your academic department. You may have to ask several people until you get to the right person or procedure. (Some

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#

MONEY schools allow you to ask questions through email, which can be useful because you will have information in writing that you can go back to when needed.)

How to help yourself

When raising your issue, be sure to prepare in advance. Do your research, have all the necessary facts and materials. Perhaps write out your concerns in a logical sequence. If you are going to have a meeting, it is important to both listen carefully to what is being said as well as make sure that you have received time to present your point of view. If you find yourself in an emotionally upsetting situation, sometimes it is a good idea to ask to postpone a meeting until you are in good control and can speak politely, rationally and are in a frame of mind to work toward a resolution.

If you still have a problem after you have located and asked the right person for help, you could escalate your request by asking to speak to a supervisor. If you are

still unsatisfied, you may want to consider an appeal — a formal process where your request will be evaluated without bias. Being penalized for something that was beyond your control, medical in nature or unfair may be grounds for an appeal.

However, the decision to appeal a decision should not be taken lightly. This can be a difficult and upsetting process.

You want to make sure that you are in the right, that you have tried all other means and that the outcome is worth the effort.

Consulting with someone neutral who understands the situation can help you make this decision objectively.

Many situations can be resolved easily, but for those other times, be sure to look for help and learn how to advocate for yourself. If we can say there is a Canadian way of doing things, listening, being respectful and working together toward a solution or a compromise could be one.

Geneviève BeauprÊ and Susan Qadeer have extensive experience working in university and college settings, providing career, academic and personal counselling to international and immigrant students.

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Interview prep

H

What to do before, during and after you meet an employer for a job

ave an interview lined up? Last month, I wrote about different types of interviews and questions that you can expect to be asked, but that’s not all you need to know.

This month, I want to share my best tips on what you need to do before, during and after an interview to improve your chances of getting the job!

Before you meet

• Get up to date on any news in your market or career path. You need to know what is happening in Canada around your industry, such as trends, challenges and opportunities.

• Be prepared to show the employer how you meet the

Canadian requirements in your industry (i.e., licences, experience, training).

• Learn about the organization: who is who, and what is the company’s mission and vision, organizational structure and culture? What do they do (services, products), what is their market and how can you help?

• Prepare your clothes: you need to dress one level up from the regular dressing code for that profession or industry. If possible, observe how people in this company dress and behave (i.e., formal or casual?).

• Prepare what you’ll bring with you to the interview: a copy of your resumé (more if you know in advance that you’ll have a panel interview), a few business cards (also known as “call-

•

•

• •

•

•

ing cards”), a notepad and a pen, and your portfolio if you have one (this is highly recommended for people with design, photography, architecture, education or similar backgrounds).

Connect with professionals working at the company (in person or through social media) and “follow” the company.

This will allow you to know what is happening and show them you are knowledgeable and truly interested in them.

Prepare a set of questions you’ll ask them (do not ask questions that are easily answered on their website).

Prepare a list of references to provide if asked.

Check the company’s address and the route you’ll take to get there. If possible, rehearse it to measure time, traffic, parking or any other issues that may impact your being on time.

Sleep and eat well the day before: don’t drink alcohol or take medications that may impact your performance.

Be extra careful on the morning of the interview: take a shower, groom your hair, cut nails and wear clean, crisp clothes and accessories.

At the interview

• Be punctual. Give yourself 15 to 30 minutes buffer if you are using public transportation or are unfamiliar with the location.

• Behave professionally; they will judge you for both your appearance and behaviour.

• Be extra careful about body language, gestures and use of personal space: ask permission to sit or to use any materials that don’t belong to you.

• Shake hands, make eye contact and pay attention to the names of the interviewers.

• Listen calmly to each question

• • •

• •

and ask for clarification if you didn’t understand something.

Think before you answer.

Keep your answers positive, crisp and short.

Don’t forget to ask your questions at the end of the interview (no more than two or three).

Do not ask about compensation, vacation time and other benefits at this time.

Ask for their business cards so you can thank them and follow up.

Remember the receptionist: she or he is probably the most influential person in an organization and her perception of your behaviour can be decisive!

After the meeting

• Thank the interviewers and the receptionist for their time, and offer to stay in touch.

• Submit on time any additional paperwork they may have asked from you during the interview.

• Follow up with a phone call or email a week after the interview.

• If not chosen for the job, send a letter respectfully (and professionally) asking for feedback and offering them to keep you in the loop in case another opportunity arises.

• If you are chosen, it won’t be difficult to show your appreciation and eagerness to get started. After you’ve been offered the job, this is the time to finalize details about when you start, your compensation and other benefits.

Argentine-born Silvia Di Blasio studied and worked in Venezuela for many years. She currently works as a certified career development practitioner in Surrey, B.C., and volunteers for many community organizations in her spare time.

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DRIVING Sponsored by:

Lease or buy What’s the best option for your next car?

By Ronald D’Souza

I

f you’re like most people, paying cash to buy a brand-new vehicle isn't very feasible. This means that you are either going to purchase a car through financing or lease a car.

Finance it

If you’re buying, then you are likely financing it through the automaker, a bank or credit union.

In this case, you agree to pay the full amount for the vehicle over a period of time, plus a financing charge.

Once you enter into a contract with a dealership to purchase a vehicle, you use the loan from the lender to pay for it. It is important to establish how much of a down payment you will be using.

A larger down payment will reduce the amount you will be paying over your term (i.e., monthly payments for 48 months).

A big factor in securing financing and getting a competitive lending rate is your credit rating. Your credit history and credit score tell lenders a lot

about the amount of risk they will incur by loaning you money.

Be sure to carefully consider the interest rate that is being offered and calculate the total cost of borrowing before signing any paperwork. Also be sure to crunch the numbers and see if the repayment schedule fits into your budget and lifestyle. But the good news is that once the monthly payments are complete, you own the vehicle outright.

You can then sell it or drive it for many more years with no monthly payment.

Lease it

Leasing a car allows you to drive a brand-new vehicle without

paying a large sum of money up front or taking out a loan. Leasing requires making a relatively small down payment, followed by monthly payments for the term of the lease. There are typically limits on how much mileage you can add to the car, however. And, when the term expires, the car must be returned and you start from zero.

But there are many reasons why you might choose to lease your next vehicle. A major reason is that you are able to drive a newer vehicle under warranty that will rarely need more than just routine maintenance (some auto manufacturers include this during the lease term as well).

1. If you decide to finance, it is typical that the shorter the loan term, the lower the financing rate. Be mindful, however, that your payments will be higher.

2. Whether you lease or buy, consider GAP insurance, which will cover the difference between the actual cash value of a vehicle and the balance still owed in the event that the vehicle is declared a “total loss.”

3. Focus on and negotiate the best sale price of the vehicle, instead of focusing on what your monthly payments will be. In the end, the lower the sale price is, the lower your payment installments will be.

Leasing also allows you to experience a larger, more luxurious, better-equipped car, if desired, since monthly payments are lower when leasing. In other words, leasing allows you to get into a nicer vehicle for the same price as purchasing a more modest car.

And if you run a business or are self-employed, you can expense the lease payments, saving you money on your tax return.

What’s right for you?

So what’s best for you? Do you enjoy driving a new vehicle packed with the latest features and then swapping it every few years for a newer model? Do you run a business that requires a vehicle that can be expensed? If so, you would be an ideal candidate for leasing.

On the other hand, if you typically log higher mileage, and wish to take pride in owning something you can call your own, then financing a vehicle would be a sound choice. porary workers. You can learn about the latest offers at your local dealership or online.

8 TIPS NEWCOMERS NEED TO KNOW 4. If you currently own a car and wish to trade it in, be sure to negotiate the best possible deal you can, and then introduce your intentions of trading in. Trading in your old vehicle will help increase your down payment and reduce your payments.

5. Shop around for the best possible deal to finance your loan.

Dealerships don’t always offer you the best rates, although sometimes they might have a zero-interest promotion! If not, check with credit unions and banks before signing on the dotted line.

6. Take advantage of deals and promotions, for example, Buick offers a Welcome Bonus to all eligible newcomers and tem-

7. Look for promotions being offered directly from auto manufacturers. Negotiate the best possible deal you can. If you are eligible for a promotion as a newcomer or student, be sure to take advantage of it! Automakers like Buick offer students up to $750 off and newcomers a $1,000 welcome bonus.

8. Never rush into making major decisions. Take time to evaluate your options, and add up all your monthly expenses, including fuel, maintenance, insurance and lease/loan payments.

Disclaimer: The content is produced and owned by Canadian Immigrant magazine. All content provided here is for informational purposes only.

May 2015

Canadian Immigrant

25

Winning Ways — The Formula for Your Job Search Success Murali Murthy, speaker, author, coach 15 Proven LinkedIn Tips for Career Success

Going to the fair

Information, motivation and connections await at our upcoming immigrant expo in Toronto

T

he fifth annual Career, Education & Settlement Fair is back in Toronto, June 15, 2015, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Presented by Scotiabank in association with Centennial College, and with major sponsors British Council-IELTS, MEDISYS and IDP-IELTS, the day-long event will feature a tradeshow of exhibitors including immigrant service providers, educational institutes, recruitment agencies and employers.

In addition to the tradeshow,

the event features a resumé clinic, speed mentoring and an inspirational speakers’ program to help prepare and motivate you for a successful journey in Canada. The speakers include:

Keynote Presentation:

Shabbir Evershine and Hussain Bandukwala, cofounders, LocaWoka Find your Startup Success Sujay Vardhmane, senior manager, diversity & inclusion, Scotiabank

Ashley Evans, recruitment representative, Centennial College Pursuing a Career — Why College?

Carmen Jacques, student recruitment manager, Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario Learn More About the CPA Designation Nancy Siew, judge, citizenship unit, Citizenship and Immigration Canada Canadian Citizenship — Your Citizenship

Canadian Immigrant magazine will be hosting fairs in three other cities this year: • Halifax • Calgary • Vancouver

(Sept. 8, World Trade and Convention Centre) (Oct. 15, Telus Convention Centre) (Nov. 16, Vancouver Public Library)

Planning is currently underway for all three fairs. We are seeking sponsors, exhibitors and speakers.

For more information, contact: Alla Gordeeva (Vancouver/Calgary fairs) alla@canadianimmigrant.ca Tel: 778-558-3397

Ricky Bajaj (Toronto/Halifax fairs) rbajaj@metroland.com Tel: 905-273-8170

GO TO CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA/CAREERFAIR.

LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT JOB? GET THE RIGHT SKILLS!

Electronic Medical Records

Hands-on, End User and Implementation Projects Programs start every Saturday

Office Clerk Diploma* Reception for Newcomers Certificate** Word & Excel Advanced Certificates**

Medical Receptionist Diploma* Medical Billing Certificate** Medical Office Procedures Certifcate**

Computerized Accounting Diploma* Bookkeeping & QuickBooks Certificates** Simply Accounting Certificate**

Small Class Size, Friendly Instructors, Financial Assistance Available * Diploma opportunities are approved vocational programs under the Prviate Career Colleges Act, 2005

Convenient location at: 55 Eglinton Ave. East, Suite 703 Toronto, Ontario (Yonge & Eglinton) 26 canadianimmigrant.ca

May 2015

** Certificate programs are not approved as vocational programs under the Private Career Colleges Act 2005

www.workingskillscentree.com facebook/canimmigrant

@canimmigrant

SETTLEMENT SPOTLIGHT

NETWORKING THAT WORKS

How ACCES Employment’s Speed Mentoring program connects jobseekers to successful careers

B

eing a newcomer to Canada can be an exciting experience, with the prospect of new opportunities, new employment and new adventures. Along with the excitement, there can be confusion in a new job market with no familiar faces to provide the right information and key introductions. ACCES Employment offers a range of services to support jobseekers in connecting with employers.

Sector-specific training is offered through a series of programs that support internationally trained professionals to find jobs that reflect their experience. ACCES Employment clients are also given the opportunity to participate in high-level, targeted networking events in their professional communities. For newcomers eager to efficiently tap into their job market and make direct contact with prospective employers, ACCES’s Speed Mentoring program can be a great solution.

The program is simple and effective and allows participants to meet several contacts at a single event. The format has also been used as a recruitment opportunity by many employers in the Greater Toronto Area.

For Majid Kazmi, relocating to Canada meant the opportunity to broaden his horizons and add international experience to his success-

ful career portfolio. Kazmi was referred to ACCES Employment by a friend and was accepted into the Leadership Connections program.

The program allowed Kazmi to fast-track his career goals. After just a few months in Canada, he succeeded in pursuing a role that utilized his many years of experience in the banking industry.

“Leadership Connections exceeded my expectations in terms of bringing out my true leadership potential and helping me create and cultivate my critical first connections,” he says.

It was through a Speed Mentoring event at ACCES Employment that he was introduced to his current employer. In a one-on-one session with one of the mentors, Kazmi had the opportunity to showcase his skills. Reflecting on his experience, he says, “ACCES Employment not only connected me with my employer, they also prepared me to put my best foot forward.” Kazmi is now a senior product manager of consumer deposits at CIBC. It was a tough decision for Maha Al Amin to leave a successful career back in Qatar and come to Canada. When she arrived, Al Amin came to ACCES Employment to look for help with achieving her professional goals in Canada. When she completed the Human Resources Connections program, she had the opportunity to attend Speed Mentoring® sessions with several of the major banks in Canada.

“I had opportunities to attend Speed Mentoring events at ACCES. I received several job offers to choose from as a result,” says Al Amin, who is now a senior advisor, talent strategies, diversity and inclusion in human resources at BMO Financial Group.

ACCES Employment will once again be organizing a large-scale signature Speed Mentoring event in early May. The 2015 Speed Mentoring Marathon will bring together more than 250 mentors and mentees from various sectors. For more information, please visit accesemployment.ca.

Speed Mentoring is funded by the Government of Canada and is sponsored by BMO Financial Group.

Are you new to Canada?

Are you looking to build a successful career?

ACCES Employment can help!

Our sector-specific programs help new Canadians to find a job in their field and to build their career in Canada.

Working with over 1000 employers in the Greater Toronto Area, we can connect you to companies hiring in your sector. ACCES Employment offers specialized services for professionals from the following industries: • Engineering

• Supply Chain

• Human Resources

• Finance

• Sales and Marketing

• Information Technology

Funded by:

Visit www.accesemployment.ca or call us at 416-921-1800.

May 2015

Canadian Immigrant

27

SETTLEMENT

C

anada’s government views itself as being a government that has reduced administrative burdens for Canadian businesses. Indeed, the House of Commons recently passed legislation that states that every new regulation that imposes a new administrative burden on Canadian business must result in an existing regulation being amended or repealed. Under its Red Tape Reduction Action Plan, the Canadian government has announced that it is committed to streamlining the regulatory approval processes and reducing reporting requirements and information demands.

Canadian employers of foreign nationals and prospective immigrants can be forgiven for viewing these proclamations and pronouncements with skepticism.

rummaging through filing cabinets locating resumés that they received five years ago can be forgiven for being skeptical.

Burden of express entry

Immigration matters could be tricky

Reach an Expert

While the stated $21 per business administrative burden for the overhaul to the LMIA system is questionable, the Government of Canada’s statement that the introduction of the express entry system does not result in any administrative cost to businesses is laughable.

Prior to the introduction of express entry, the administrative cost of Canadian employers wishing to retain their skilled foreign workers on a permanent basis was generally limited to the employers providing reference letters for Canadian experience class applications. Under express entry, however, almost all prospective economic immigrants must have either a provincial nomination certificate, or a job offer supported by a LMIA, in order to immigrate to Canada. The administrative burden to employers, especially those who have to obtain a LMIA, is much greater than it was before express entry.

Employers who are currently commencing recruitment for LMIAs, or supporting provincial nomination program applications, in order to ensure that their current employees can be retained on a full-time and permanent basis can be forgiven for not believing the Government of Canada’s statement that express entry does not impose any burden on them.

| be IMM I G R AT I O N L AW | could be tricky Immigration matters couldmatters tricky Immigration

Burden of the LMIA regime

Red tape

Reach an Expertan Exper t Reach

Since 2013, the now-called Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has made Immigration matters could be tricky the labour market impact assessment (LMIA) regime excessively administratively cumbersome.

ESDC has increased the LMIA from the food services sector, cluding resumés, for six years. application fee from $0 to $275 to and suspended existing LMIAs. Most employers can expect ESDC $1,000. It has introduced exceed- In June 2014, it introduced LMIA to randomly audit them, during ingly more stringent recruitment foreign worker caps that took which the employers will have to requirements on employers wish- effect immediately. Since June provide extensive documentation ing to obtain LMIAs to perma- 2014, ESDC has quietly changed about their business to ESDC, nently retain their foreign work- Certified numerous LMIA requirements by including even tracking down Canadian Immigration Consultants ers and help them transition to simply editing and not paystubs. Incredibly, ESDC comand Members of CSIC, its CMI, website, CapIC Graduates of the UBC Immigration permanent residency. For reasons providing any notice to employers pliance audits are done exclusively practitioner Certificate program Member CSIC M064140 that I still don’t understand, ESDC that a change had been made. by mail. So a process that could has decided to not publicize some Contrary to the Red Tapeservices Re- take days often takes months.

We provide all immigration It is not surprising that in 2015 of its recruitment requirements, duction Action Plan, ESDC’s new a decision which has resulted in Federal compliance regimeWorker has greatly the Federal Court stated thatb ESSkilled uld many employers conducting re- Arranged increased the documentation DC’s requirements were increas- Frustration is no surprise Employment cruitment and submitting appli- requirements of employers utiliz-Immigration ing the costs of hiring, training Since 2013, ESDC and CIC have Certified Canadian Immigration Consultants Canadian Certified Consultants Canadian Experience Class and Members of CSIC, CMI,and CapIC Members of CSIC, CMI, CapIC cations that are guaranteed to fail. ing the LMIA system.

Employers andImmigration scheduling workers. greatly increased the administraGraduates of the UBC Immigration Graduates of the UBC Neera Agnihotri Certificate program practitioner Certificate program Provincial Nominee Programs Member CSIC M064140 Member CSIC M064140 In April 2014, ESDC imposed mustpractitioner keep all documents related When the Government of tive burden to Canadian busiBusiness andapplications, Investor a moratorium on mostWe LMIAs Canada introduced the amendnesses. The regulatory approval to their inWe provide allLMIA immigration services provide all immigration services ments to the Immigration and process for Canadian employers Family Class Sponsorships Federal Skilled Worker Federal Skilled Worker Refugee Protection Regulations seeking to employ foreign workResidence Card Applications all immigration services Employment Arranged Employment Arranged Immigration matters could be Permanent tricky We provide that resulted in the Class new LMIA ers and prospective immigrants Canadian Experience Class Canadian Experience Citizenship Applications Federal Skilled Worker Reach an Expert system, it stated as part of its soared, as did reporting requireProvincial Nominee Programs Nominee Programs Provincial Arranged Employment Passport Applications stated commitment to reducing ments and information demands.

Canadian Class BusinessExperience and Investor Business and Investor US Visitor Visa Applications administrative burden on While there may be legitimate Provincial Nominee Programs Family Class Sponsorships Immigration matters could be tricky Family ClasstheSponsorships andVisas Investor businesses that it had concluded policy reasons for ESDC’s and Reach an Expert Work Permits, Student & Visitor Visas PermanentBusiness Residence Card Applications Permanent Residence Card Applications Family Class Sponsorships that the administrative burden CIC’s changes, the Government Citizenship Applications Citizenship Applications Permanent Residence Card Applications and cost to employers of the new of Canada should not be surprised Passport Applications Applications CitizenshipPassport Applications LMIA Applications regime was (excluding the when employers react with frusUS Visitor Visa Applications Visa US Visitor Passport Applications Work Permits, Student & Visitor Visas increase Work Permits , Student Visas &application Visitor Visas to the LMIA tration to claims of a streamlined US Visitor VisaVisas Applications Consultants Work Permits, Student VisasLtd. & Visitor Visas fee) only a combined total of $21 administrative enviper business. Employers who are ronment.

AGNIHOTRI IMMIGRATION Ph: 604-597-2284 Toll Free 1-877-597-2284 Agnihotri Immigration CONSULTING INC. Consultants Ltd. Consultants Ltd. Fax: 604-597-2285 Consultants Ltd. Ph: 604-597-2284 Toll Free: 1-877-597-2284 Steven Meurrens is an immigration lawyer with Larlee hotr - 12788-76A Ave. Surrey, BC V3W 1S9 Fax: 604-597-2285 / Email: info@agnihotriimmigration.com Ph:#204 604-597-2284 Toll Free 1-877-597-2284 Ph: 604-597-2284 Toll Free 1-877-597-2284 Ph: 604-597-2284 Toll Free 1-877-597-2284 Rosenberg in Vancouver.

Contact him at 604-681www.agnihotriimmigration.com Neera Agnihotri Neera Agnihotri s Fax: 604-597-2285 NOW 2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU: Fax: 604-597-2285 Fax: 604-597-2285 9887, by email at steven.meurrens@larlee.com or visit #204 12788-76AAve. Ave. Surrey,BCBC V3W 1S9 #204 -#204 12788-76A Surrey, BC V3W 1S9 - Surrey, 12788-76A Ave. Surrey, BC V3W 1S9 #204 - -12788-76A Ave. V3W 1S9 #210-7270 Market Crossing Burnaby, BC V5J 0A2 www.agnihotriimmigration.com www.agnihotriimmigration.com www .agnihotriimmigration.com his blog at smeurrens.com.

Member

Administrative burden for employers Reach an Expert using LMIA and express entry

Neera Agnihotri

Neera Agnihotri Neera Agnihotri

xpe Certified Canadian Immigration Consultants and Members of CSIC, CMI, CapIC Graduates of the UBC Immigration practitioner Certificate program

Member CSIC

M064140

Agnihotri Immigration

Agnihotri ImmigrationImmigration Agnihotri

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Certified Canadian Regulated CanadianImmigration ImmigrationConsultants Consultant Certified Canadian Immigration Consultants and a member ICCRC–CRCIC, CAPIC. Certified Canadian Immigration Consultants and Members ofUBC CSIC, Immigration CMI, CapIC and Members of CMI, CapIC Graduates ofCSIC, the Graduates of the UBCofImmigration Graduates the UBC Immigration Practitioner Certifi cateprogram Program practitioner Certificate program Member CSIC M064140 Member ID: R406511 practitioner Certificate Member CSIC

M064140

We provide all immigration services

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We provide all immigration services Federal Skilled Worker tion May 2015 facebook/canimmigrant 28 canadianimmigrant.ca Arranged FederalEmployment Skilled Worker Canadian Experience Class

@canimmigrant

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Arranged Provincial NomineeEmployment Programs o r k e r Canadian Class Business andExperience Investor Family Class Nominee Sponsorships m e n t Provincial Programs Permanent Residence Card Applications Business and Investor Citizenship Applications C l a s Family Sponsorships Passport Class Applications r o g r a m US Visitor Visa Applications Permanent Residence Card Applications Work Permits, Student Visas & Visitor Visas

SETTLEMENT

| PA R E N T I N G |

Peaceful kids

W

The practice of mindfulness can bring more balance and harmony to your family

ith the fast-paced and hectic lifestyles that most families live nowadays, meditation, or the practice of mindfulness, can be a great tool for families, to find peace, vitality and balance in everyday lives.

Meditation is ...

Meditation is an ancient practice of mindfulness and quieting of one’s mind. Through the practice of being still in our mind, focusing and listening to our heart and body, it brings awareness to ourselves and our actions. It is an effective and powerful tool to stay grounded, to slow down and to be fully present in every moment.

Meditating regularly can help with regulating emotions and coping with stress in a healthier way, helping you achieve healthier and happier lives. It connects us with our true inner self, allowing us to know the essence of who we are. This can result in increasing our self-esteem and self-worth, and improving our relationships with ourselves, friends and families. It can also help improve your memories and ability to concentrate, which can improve school and work performance.

Children too young to meditate?

Contrary to common perception that children are too young to meditate, it is actually easier to teach the skill of meditation to children than adults. Compared to adults who have accumulated many more years

of life experience, children tend to be more open, flexible, playful and able to relax, which allows them to be more receptive to the concept of mindfulness. And the earlier they start, the more benefits they can get from meditating regularly.

The key to successfully instilling the practice of mindfulness is for parents to set good examples themselves. Parents can guide children with simple instructions on how to relax and quiet the mind, as well as to encourage children to visualize using their vivid imagination. (There are myriad books, apps, videos and websites to help you get started.)

It’s important, however, to be aware of children’s age and personalities, and find creative ways to make meditating fun, playful and relatable to them. Know that any activity can turn into meditation by simply being mindful of the senses. Inspire children to listen to their body: how their body feels and sounds like when they move and when they are still.

The ability to find inner peace and a quiet mind is one of the best life skills we can teach our children. It takes only a few minutes a day, and the benefits have positive lasting effects in all aspects of our lives.

Cheryl Song,, an immigrant from Malaysia, has more than 10 years’ experience of working in childhood education and family programs.

CHANGE YOUR FUTURE IN CANADA...

Become a naturopathic doctor If you are an internationally trained medical professional, you have significant training that is valuable to the Canadian health care system and to the health of Canadians. The CCNM bridge delivery for international medical professionals offers graduates of medical schools an opportunity to further their health care careers in Canada.

The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine now offers bridge delivery of its naturopathic medical program, developed specifically for international medical graduates.

For more information:

Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are in demand as highly educated primary care providers who integrate standard medical diagnostics with a broad range of natural therapies.

visit www.ccnm.edu/img call 1-866-241-2266 ext. 245 Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine 1255 Sheppard Ave East, Toronto bridgeFinal_ver2.indd 1

May 2015

Canadian 5/7/2012Immigrant 10:24:16 AM29

BACK PAGE

Top

Newcomer tips from our RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2014!

Tips J S

“

Embrace the pluralistic society.

Ride on the best part of your own culture and work persistently to achieve goals.

”

D. S S K

“

Consistent and whole-hearted efforts certainly pay in the long term. Do believe in luck — but the harder you work, the luckier you become.

”

VOTE FOR AN INSPIRING IMMIGRANT FOR THE RBC TOP 25 CANADIAN IMMIGRANT AWARDS OF 2015 AT CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA/RBCTOP25 FROM MARCH 19 TO MAY 11.

People Helping People

SKILLS CONNECT FOR IMMIGRANTS Your career in Canada starts here.

New to Canada? Looking for work in your field? Let us help.

Lower Mainland 604 438 3045 or 604 588 7772 Fraser Valley 604 866 1645 or 604 866 0257 skillsconnect@douglascollege.ca

douglascollege.ca/skillsconnect

This project is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

canadianimmigrant.ca 3014-288 CDN immigrant ad.indd May 1 2015

14-258

This program is free!

facebook/canimmigrant 1/23/2015 @canimmigrant 4:10:25 PM

Offer applies to eligible new immigrants living in Canada with a valid Permanent Resident card with an arrival date of 2013, 2014 or 2015 or Temporary Foreign Workers with a valid temporary work permit. $1,000 credit is a manufacturer-to-consumer (tax inclusive) available on eligible Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles (excluding Colorado 2SA, Camaro Z28, Malibu LS, Canyon 2SA, Corvette and Escalade). Offer valid Feb. 9, 2015 to Jan. 4, 2016. As part of the transaction, dealer may request documentation to verify eligibility. This offer may not be redeemed for cash and may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives. Certain limitations apply. Void where prohibited. GMCL reserves the right to amend or terminate this offer for any reason, in whole or in part, at any time without prior notice. See dealer for full details. and conditions appl