FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Burlington, ON: The Centre for Skills Development & Training is participating in the Halton Employment Services Job Fair on Thursday, March 1, 2012, from 2:00 – 5:00pm. The  Job Fair will take place at the Sheridan College Skills Training Centre, 407 Iroquois Road in Oakville. No registration is required.

The Job Fair features:

• Free admission for all job seekers
• Free parking
• Pre-job fair assistance through participating employment programs (like The Centre’s Employment Services sites throughout Halton: www/thecentre.on.ca/locations)
• Door prizes, workshops, and great employers looking to hire
• Variety of available positions, including summer jobs
• Access to the resource centre to use printers, copiers and fax machines

There will be an Essential Skills Workshop for Employers and Job Seekers in Rm A14 from 3:00-4:00pm.

The Halton Employment Services Job Fair is presented by Sheridan College Skills Training Centre, the Regional Municipality of Halton, Goodwill Career Centre, The Centre for Skills Development & Training, VPI Inc., YMCA of Hamilton-Burlington-Brantford, Halton Industry Education Council and www.apprenticesearch.com.

For general inquiries, call 905-845-9430 ext. 8160. Print and share this flyer.

For information about The Centre’s Employment Services across Halton and in Mississauga, visit www.thecentre.on.ca or call 1-888-315-5521.

The Centre for Skills Development & Training is a not-for-profit incorporated affiliate of the Halton District School Board with seven locations in Halton and Mississauga. The Centre helps people at all stages of life get on a path to career success—from youth just starting out, to older workers who have been laid off; from newcomers to Canada who need to improve their workplace English, to people interested in the trades who need to build their technical skills; and from small business owners looking to hire staff, to large companies who need help developing and transitioning their workforce. Learn more at www.thecentre.on.ca.

-30-

Contact: Gillian Kearns, Senior Program Coordinator, Employment Services
The Centre for Skills Development & Training
860 Harrington Court, Burlington, ON L7N 3N4
Tel: 905-333-3499 x111 | Fax: 905-634-2775
kearnsg@thecentre.on.ca

Alternate Contact: Maria McDonald, Manager, Communications
The Centre for Skills Development & Training
860 Harrington Court, Burlington, ON L7N 3N4
Tel: 905-333-3499 x135 | Fax: 905-634-2775
mcdonaldm@thecentre.on.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2012

Burlington, ON: The new graduate internship program innovateBurlington was launched today at BEDC’s Mayor’s networking luncheon. The program recruits talented young graduates to complete projects for local companies, providing graduates with the skills, and connections they need to break into the Burlington market.

Retaining local graduates is essential to helping build a more prosperous Burlington. To meet future labour market demands Burlington needs to retain young graduates through connecting them to successful, growing companies. innovateBurlington is a new concept in internships providing local companies with a low risk opportunity to undertake new projects, and test new graduates without having to worry about recruitment, employment contracts, or developing, and managing new employees. It will help retain youth, and give local companies the tools they need to develop a culture of innovation. “I see innovateBurlington as a first step towards developing a real centre for innovation and entrepreneurship in our community,” said Mayor Goldring.

innovateBurlington provides the ideal bridge between work and study, providing local graduates with the experience and exposure they need to launch their careers in Burlington. “As a Burlington graduate I would love to stay living and working in Burlington. Building up local networks is essential to breaking into local business, and innovateBurlington provides the ideal opportunity to connect with local companies, and showcase my abilities,” said Chris Liehmann, innovateBurlington’s first graduate.

An essential part of preparing new graduates for success is passing on business knowledge, and insights to the next generation. innovateBurlington connects young graduates with seasoned business professionals such as Bruce McNichol, Executive-in-Residence, mentoring graduates to become successful business professionals.

“While post-secondary institutions prepare graduates for business there is no substitute for experience. One of the aspects I find most rewarding about the innovateBurlington program is the knowledge that I am helping graduates obtain the real skills they need to succeed, through applying their learning to real business situations,” said Bruce McNichol, President and CEO, Amhil Enterprises.

About innovateBurlington
innovateBurlington is a partnership led by Burlington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), including the City of Burlington, Burlington Chamber of Commerce, The Centre for Skills Development & Training and McMaster University. The aim of the program is to create an innovative and entrepreneurial business community by connecting talented young graduates with Burlington companies. The program works by developing strategic projects with Burlington companies. innovateBurlington then recruits local graduates to work on the projects under the guidance of experienced business mentors, delivering projects that help drive forward business growth and innovation.

For information regarding innovateBurlington please visit: www.innovateBurlington.ca.

About BEDC
The Burlington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) is a non‐profit organization established in September 1994 to work with both the public and private sectors to promote economic growth in Burlington. In partnership with the City of Burlington, BEDC is dedicated to retain the existing businesses in Burlington as well as attract new investments to the city. For additional information regarding BEDC please visit www.bedc.ca.

About the City of Burlington
The City of Burlington is located in Southern Ontario on the north shore of Lake Ontario between Hamilton and Toronto at the west end of the Greater Toronto Area. The city is a growing municipality with a population of approximately 165,000. For additional information regarding the City of Burlington please visit www.burlington.ca.

About the Burlington Chamber of Commerce
The Burlington Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in Burlington and advocates at the local, regional, provincial and federal level on behalf of over 1,000 companies representing 30,000 employees. The Chamber provides valuable networking and education opportunities for its members by hosting over 80 events each year. For more information visit the Burlington Chamber website at www.burlingtonchamber.com.

About The Centre for Skills Development & Training
The Centre for Skills Development & Training is a not-for-profit incorporated affiliate of the Halton District School Board with seven locations in Halton and Mississauga. The Centre helps people at all stages of life get on a path to career success—from youth just starting out, to older workers who have been laid off; from newcomers to Canada who need to improve their workplace English, to people interested in the trades who need to build their technical skills; and from small business owners looking to hire staff, to large companies who need help developing and transitioning their workforce. Learn more at www.thecentre.on.ca.

About McMaster University
McMaster University, one of four Canadian universities listed among the Top 100 universities in the world, is renowned for its innovation in both learning and discovery. It has a student population of 23,000, and more than 150,000 alumni in 128 countries. For more information on McMaster University visit www.mcmaster.ca.

- 30 –

Media Contact:
Kyle Benham
Executive Director
Burlington Economic Development Corporation
905-332-9415 Ext 7252
benhamk@burlington.ca

For Immediate Release, February 16, 2012

Burlington, ON: All Centre locations will be closed on Monday, February 20, 2012, for Family Day. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, February 21.

For information about Centre programs and services, please explore www.thecentre.on.ca.

The Centre for Skills Development & Training is a not-for-profit incorporated affiliate of the Halton District School Board with seven locations in Halton and Mississauga. The Centre helps people at all stages of life get on a path to career success—from youth just starting out, to older workers who have been laid off; from newcomers to Canada who need to improve their workplace English, to people interested in the trades who need to build their technical skills; and from small business owners looking to hire staff, to large companies who need help developing and transitioning their workforce. Learn more at www.thecentre.on.ca.

-30-

Contact: Maria McDonald, Manager, Communications
The Centre for Skills Development & Training
860 Harrington Court, Burlington, ON L7N 3N4
Tel: 905-333-3499 x135 | Fax: 905-634-2775
mcdonaldm@thecentre.on.ca

Welcome to the February 2012 edition of the Newcomer Resource, an e-newsletter from The Centre for Skills Development & Training for newcomers, service providers and other organizations. We hope this newsletter will keep you up-to-date on services and programs for newcomers in Halton Region, and news from The Centre.

In this edition:

Greetings from the Chief Administrative Officer
Skilled trades: A smart option for newcomer women in Canada
LABOUR MARKET ACCESS FOR NEWCOMERS:
        How Twitter can support your job search
        Top 5 résumé tips for newcomers
Settlement assistance available in Aldershot
Ask the Expert: Getting foreign skilled trades experience recognized?

Contact Us
Want more information about the programs offered by The Centre? Visit our website at www.thecentre.on.ca, call us at 905-333-3499, or drop by one of our locations.

The Centre for Skills Development & Training offers many services to the new immigrant community in Halton Region. The Centre offers Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada/English as a Second Language (LINC/ESL) including Enhanced Language Training for Internationally Trained Individuals (ELT) and Job Search Workshops (JSW) in our suite of newcomer services. Newcomer Outreach Workers help newcomers in the Halton community access The Centre’s services, and Settlement Information Specialists are available in four of the Centre’s locations. These programs are funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

The Centre specializes in pre-apprenticeship trades and technology, employment services, corporate development services, language skills and academic upgrading. The Centre offers its programs at locations in Burlington, Georgetown, Milton and Oakville. For more information, visit www.thecentre.on.ca or call us at 905-333-3499/1-888-315-5521.

Kathy Mills, CAO for the Centre

Do you have a plan to find a job in 2012? How is it going? Some newcomers might find it difficult to keep their job-search going when February comes around. There are many things you can do to keep yourself energized:

• Get some fresh air! Going outside for a brisk walk can be invigorating. Family Day on February 20 is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some time outdoors.
• Take a friend or acquaintance out for coffee or hot chocolate, to network or just to have a break.
• Talk to a friend, family member or trusted community member who can give you some
  encouragement and advice.
• Connect with us! If you’re on Twitter, follow The Centre at @CentreConnect for news, events and resources; find us on Facebook; or read our new Employment Resource blog.
• Visit your local employment services site and check out the resources they have available to keep you focused on your job search.

And don’t forget to take a moment to recognize the Canadian flag. National Flag Day of Canada is celebrated every year on February 15. Learn more about the history of the Canadian flag or download a poster to display.

Kathy Mills, Chief Administrative Officer, The Centre for Skills Development & Training

More Newcomer Resource Articles HERE.

If you’re a woman who is a newcomer to Canada, there are many exciting career options for you to consider. One option is the skilled trades. A career in the skilled trades might be right for you if you enjoy being hands-on, putting things together, understanding how things work, being physically active, and working with new technology.

In Ontario, there are over 150 skilled trades. People working in the trades have specialized skills and training in one of the following areas:

• Construction – electricians, carpenters, plumbers, etc.
• Motive Power – automotive service technicians, aviation technicians, automotive painters, etc.
• Industrial – tool & die makers, industrial millwright mechanics, etc.
• Service – horticulturalists, hair dressers, chefs, etc.

A career in the skilled trades is a smart choice for women for several reasons. One reason is the average annual salary for a skilled tradesperson is 25% higher than the average Canadian wage ($50,000 versus $40,000). Another reason is that more women are getting involved in the trades; the number of women in skilled-trades apprenticeships more than tripled to 38,070 in 2007, from 12,480 in 1996.

The Ontario government is encouraging women to enter the trades by offering training programs designed for women— many of these programs are low cost or no cost and include tuition, books and tools.

If the skilled trades sound like a fit for you, here’s where you can get more information:

• Women in Skilled Trades Training Programs from the Ontario Women’s Directorate: Information about training programs across Ontario.
• Women in Skilled Trades: Enhanced General Carpentry Program at The Centre: Read more about The Centre’s program and watch videos of some of our students.

More Newcomer Resource articles HERE.

Among all the helpful online resources for your job search, don’t forget about twitter. Twitter is a popular social-media tool that allows users to create an online profile and send out short postings (called tweets) on any subject, which are available for everyone to see. Twitter also allows users to follow other people on Twitter who have similar interests. For people who are job searching, Twitter can be a great tool for several reasons:

• Many companies and professional groups have Twitter accounts and post job openings; some even have Twitter accounts just for posting job openings. By following these accounts you will have access to any job postings instantly.
• Following a company’s Twitter feed also gives you an opportunity to learn more about them and what they do, which will help when you are putting together your targeted résumé.
• Creating a Twitter account is also an opportunity for you to build a professional presence for yourself. Commenting on or creating postings about something in your industry can help to show how knowledgeable and professional you are.
• Using Twitter can also be a great way to grow your professional network. Following people and organizations in your field and interacting with them is a great way to build new connections.

For more employment tips and help on your job search, follow The Centre on Twitter: @CentreConnect.

More Newcomer Resource articles HERE.

In Canada, a good résumé is one of the most important documents you will ever create. Having a clear, well written résumé is essential when you are applying for jobs. It’s easy to spend a long time creating a really detailed résumé–but sometimes after working on something for so long it’s hard to notice any mistakes or problems that other people might find. To help you create a solid résumé and avoid any mistakes here are our top five tips:

1) Always proofread – Spelling and grammar mistakes are one of the first things people will notice when they read your résumé. By proofreading your résumé carefully and asking someone else to proofread it, you can avoid the embarrassment of making a simple mistake.

2) Make your résumé easy to read – The way your résumé is formatted, including the kind of font you choose, will affect how much time and effort it takes someone to find important information. Use an easy-to-read font, bullets and point form to help the important pieces stand out.

3) Show your accomplishments – The easiest way to show someone the impact your experience has had is by quantifying your accomplishments with numbers. Be creative and think of different ways you can use numbers to explain the results of the work you have done.

4) Avoid any unnecessary details – Information like your marital status, birthday and photos will only take up space that could be used to describe your accomplishments and experience.

5) Take your time – Avoid the mistakes caused by rushing and take your time. Take the time to make sure your résumé says exactly what you want.

Contact your Settlement Information Specialist for more information about employment programs and assistance for newcomers.

More Newcomer Resource articles HERE.

One of The Centre’s Settlement Information Specialists will now be available to meet with clients in Aldershot once a week at the Aldershot Hub. The Aldershot Hub is located at Holy Rosary School on 261 Plains Road East, Burlington.

Starting February 2, 2012, the Settlement Information Specialist can meet with newcomers at the Aldershot Hub Thursdays from 3:00 to 5:00pm. Settlement Information Specialists can help provide information, referrals and support to newcomers according to their individual needs. Some examples of things a Settlement Information Specialist can help with are: finding employment assistance, finding child care, getting a bank account, immigration paperwork, finding healthcare and getting housing.

Check our website for more information on our Settlement Services or the Our Kids Network for information on the Aldershot Hub.

More Newcomer Resource articles HERE.

The first thing you need to do is contact your local apprenticeship office to meet with a training consultant. They will ask you to bring documents that show your training and experience in the trade. The documents should include things like letters from your past employers, and any certificates and diplomas you have received. Your information will need to be translated before this meeting by an official translator who has seen the original documents. If you meet the requirements to practice in Ontario you will get a temporary license that will allow you to work in the trade until you pass the Ontario licensing examination (90 days). If you don’t meet the requirements the consultant will help you enter a training program.

More Newcomer Resource articles HERE.