Staying on the theme of the last blog post, Programs for Immigrants, and acknowledging that there has been much talk and media attention recently regarding hiring foreign workers to fill the growing demand for employees, here are two recently developed web sites that provide great information both to employers and immigrants:
Gateway to Employment for Immigrants in British Columbia http://www.lookingahead.bc.ca/
BC Government Welcome BC Website http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/immigration/index.htm
Have you moved to Canada and are finding it difficult to find employment in your trained field? IMMpower BC and ISTEP are two programs that may be of assistance to you.Â
IMMpower is a BC Skills Connect program for immigrants.
“An IMMpower BC coach will work directly with skilled immigrants to create a specialized plan to assist them in returning to work in their area of expertise. Customized services may include: career planning, qualifications assessment, credential recognition and connecting clients with training, apprenticeships, mentorship, employer networking and work placement opportunities.â€
The Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society in Nanaimo administers the IMMpower program in our area. For more information check out their Website.
The Immigrant Skilled Trades Employment Program (ISTEP) is a pilot project to help landed immigrants build careers in British Columbia’s construction industry and provide employers with skilled trades’ workers.
ISTEP Job Coaches work with immigrants and employers and “Immigrants who have experience in construction or who want to start a career in the construction industry will be matched up with employers who have jobsâ€
For more information about the ISTEP program or to get in touch with an ISTEP job coach go to the ISTEP Website.
The Career Centre also has more information about IMMpower, STEP and other programs that can help you get back to work. Phone us at 248-3205 to make an appointment to see an Employment Consultant.
The Province is acknowledging the need for more health care support workers and recently announced that “The Province is investing almost $9 million in new student spaces, loan reduction and enhanced training for residential care aides and home support workers at B.C. public post-secondary institutionsâ€. Â
The demand for health care workers in Parksville is sure to increase in the near future with the new Residental Care facility being built in Parksville on the corner of Standford and Craig Streets. This new facility is planned to open by the summer of 2008 and it will have 140 residential care beds and 30 assisted living units.
We recently spoke with an instructor in the Home Support/Resident Care Attendant Program at Malaspina. She indicated HS/RCA Programs for Sept and February are starting to fill but there are no waiting lists at this point. For more information check out the program website