Serendipity is defined as an event where a person finds something pleasant or valuable that they were not looking for. Is it luck? Fate? Call it what you might, it happens. It could be an unexpected call or text from someone dear, finding a object that brings back memories or a coin on the floor in your daily commute. Serendipity …
In 2009, Bob Chua heard about CultureLink at a job centre. He was told that CultureLink offered programs for newcomers, and learned about one particular program that paired a newcomer with a local Canadian, a match that was meant to help the newcomer adapt to their new country. When Bob signed up for the program, he was given the option …
CultureLink is proud to announce a new edition of our strategic alliance with Mercer. Both organizations came together to create the Mercer-CultureLink Newcomer Internship Program. The 6-month internship opportunity helps newcomers explore the Canadian professional services landscape and gain valuable Canadian work experience. Below is the story of Somas, a newcomer client who got the internship in 2021. Somaskandan Jayaraman …
I decided to move to Canada with more than eight years of work experience in global business management and an international MBA. As someone who hired and managed senior professionals in India, Japan, and South Korea, I thought, what could be so different? I thought I knew how to find a job in Canada, yet it took me four months …
Diversity, Equity and Human Rights Training Gives Newcomers Tools to Succeed in Canada’s Diverse Workplace By Ilaneet Goren While the vision and promise of a better life have brought many of us to Canada, research shows that skilled immigrants continue to face barriers to employment due to bias and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, language, religion and other grounds. And …
Despite challenging times, the Mississauga Cycles project has continued for a second year, running a mentorship program for 32 newcomers in the city of Mississauga. Through the summer and Bike Month, newcomers and mentors connected to their city, by bike! Read their stories of growth, discovery, independence and adventure. Riding Through Nature “Amidst this pandemic, the Mississauga cycling program was …
Ramiro was a university professor in Cuba. He taught Political-Economic theory, sharing with students his knowledge and experience in working with different stakeholders to develop partnerships. This year, he moved to Canada. As a newcomer, his first goal was to find a job. He reached out to us hoping to find support in understanding the Canadian workplace environment and improving …
It was the coldest season of the year 2017. Ahlam, 36 years old, arrived in Canada speaking very little English. Nervous about starting a life in a new culture and a new society, she decided to sign up for ESL (English as a Second Language) classes. She achieved CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) Level 3/4 and enrolled herself in the Food …
Edward Haddad believes that “engaging the public with awareness sessions on various healthcare topics during this critical time is vital to model healthy behaviour, allow for efficient communication between the community and healthcare professionals and hope for a healthy environment.” Edward is a PharmD student at the University of Waterloo and has been a volunteer with CultureLink’s Community Connections Mentorship …
Some of our Community Connections Mentorship Program workers host the Citizenship Education Circle at different Toronto Public Library branches. This is a 10-week program where participants from around the world get together to learn about Canada, practice for the citizenship test, socialize and break the isolation of the winter months. Some joke that everyone is so bundled up, to battle the …
On February 21, one of our clients wrote: Dear program worker, First, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you and CultureLink for the constant support and encouragement that I received since the day I walked into the organization. I still remember the day I met with one of the employment counsellors. She patiently listened to my struggle …
Jun is a creative and driven professional. Back home, she worked as iOS and Android developer, a job in which she always excelled. However, she came to Canada knowing that it would be a challenge to get her career started. She was willing to work hard, but she wasn’t sure where to start. As it often happens, she found out …
Ngoc Nga came to Canada full of hopes and dreams. As soon as she arrived in Toronto, she started looking for the tools that would help make her dreams come true – especially the dream of working in her field. She knew that being bilingual and having nine years of work experience was not enough. Although she was determined to …
The heat and humidity outside maybe skyrocketing, but that did not deter the LSP clients from coming out for a field trip to Ontario Place on Canada Day. Prior to that, they had already gathered in the cool basement of the Lillian H. Smith Library for an orientation session on the history, design and facilities of Ontario Place. On the day itself, the clients were shown how to …
To those who are brave enough (or have no choice but) to leave the life they know and start again in another country, the excitement of being a newcomer can turn into fear and stress in a matter of days. The pressure to settle down can be daunting, and one doesn’t know where to begin. For most newcomers, the first …
The 650 Project is a collaboration between CultureLink, Tao Sangha, Furniture Bank, Firemen Movers and other organizations to help victims of the fire at 650 Parliament refurnish their homes. The first families are already benefiting as you see in this photo.
Come to our Citizenship Conversation Circles! Thursdays October 4th to December 6th, 2018 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm Toronto Public Library, Burrows Hall Branch 1081 Progress Ave, Toronto ON M1B 5Z6 Enjoy activities, quizzes, group conversation and more. This is a drop-in service, no registration required. Please bring your immigration/refugee documents on your first visit. For more information: Contact Rubeen …
One of the truisms in the non-profit world is that when you help women, the entire family benefits. After a successful year with the Syrian Online Support (SOS) English Conversation Circle pilot via WhatsApp, I started to think about what I could do to make it better. I wanted to expand the program beyond Syrian women and to provide them …
By Hanaa Al Sadi The experience of transitioning to life in Canada is different for every newcomer, but all newcomers need support and time to become accustomed to their new communities and adapt to a whole new life in Canada. CultureLink provides innovative programs which enable Syrians adapt to their new life based on their needs, skills, and job preferences. …
Volunteer Mentors will help newcomer participants practice Public Speaking and relevant skills in a small group setting. Successful mentors must commit for the program duration and some extra hours as required by the program. Mentors must be fluent in English with knowledge and life experience in Canada of five years or more. Mentors are matched with participants for extra support …
Volunteer Mentors will help newcomer participants practice Public Speaking and relevant skills in a small group setting. Successful mentors must commit for the program duration and some extra hours as required by the program. Mentors must be fluent in English with knowledge and life experience in Canada of five years or more. Mentors are matched with participants for extra support …
A trip to Maple Magic at Mississauga Bradley Museum was organized by CultureLink’s NEATwalks program on March 15, 2017. 47 Syrian refugees along with their teachers from Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood LINC participated and enjoyed the festivities. CultureLink is immensely grateful for support of the staff from City of Mississauga, Bradley Museum and Switzer Carty Transportation.
CultureLink depends heavily on the contributions of mentors to deliver a wide range of programming. This year over 30 mentors came to the March 28th Mentor’s Summit to be honoured and recognized. The theme of the night was “Volunteers are the roots of strong communities and the key to our success.” We are extremely lucky to have had the opportunity …
We have a wide range of excellent mentors at CultureLink. Paul Thorne is a great example (the tall man at the back). Paul became involved in the Syrian Men’s Mentorship Program because he heard what was happening in Syria and could not imagine being forced to leave his own home due to war, especially with children. He and fellow mentor, …
CultureLink invited newcomer engineers to its popular Hit Restart for Engineers workshops. The aim of the program is to help our newcomer engineers become ready for job searches to showcase their talents and successfully navigate the hiring process. This program was run by our staff person, Eman El Atawy, and an amazing group of volunteers. Helen Latimer, who led the workshop, …
CultureLink’s trailblazing cycling mentorship program for newcomers to Canada, has wrapped up another successful season.
Join the Wintegration Club for some winter action. It’s “snow” much fun!
Even in the depths of winter, CultureLink’s innovative cycling programs connect bicycles and newcomers. In the last week of January 2017, Toronto City Hall hosted a unique display of photography created by newcomers to Canada who participated in Bike Host, our program which loans bicycles to immigrants and refugees and matches them with volunteer mentors who ride regularly. Through their …
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