Many newcomers with international qualifications need some help finding a suitable role here in Canada. Sometimes it’s because your tried and true strategies don’t work here. Other times, it’s about who you know. This is where our career mentoring program comes in.

Our Community Connections Career Mentoring Program offers you personalized support and recommendations for your job search alongside valuable networking opportunities to build business connections. Once you apply, you’ll be invited to our speed mentoring events and informational interview nights, where you’ll build important skills. You’ll also be matched with a long-term mentor who will offer guidance and support for 3-6 months.

With help from our team of experienced volunteer mentors and speed networking mentors, you’ll gain important skills that put you on the path to employment.

Benefits

• Learn about your industry in Canada with accurate, up-to-date information.
• Make connections with people working in your desired role.
• Set a career goal and create a practical action plan to achieve it.
• Understand how to improve your English communication skills.
• Build your knowledge of Canadian workplace culture.
• Develop effective job search and self-marketing strategies that work in Canada.
• Start building professional networks.
• Gain peer support and networking through group mentoring sessions.

Eligibility

• Open to newcomers with Permanent Resident status.
• You must have professional qualifications (relevant degree or industry qualification) internationally, but no experience in your profession in Canada.
• You need to speak English well enough to start a job and have a basic knowledge of the Canadian labour market.
• You’re able to commit to at least 30 hours of participation over the next six months.
• You need to be highly motivated and dedicated to finding work in your profession.

How to join

• For upcoming sessions, see the program’s event calendar.

Arriving as a newcomer to Canada can be hugely daunting and it can feel like there’s a lot to get your head around. Our Citizen Education Circle can be a big help.

When you join our Citizen Education Circle, you’ll take part in weekly sessions to learn all about Canada while also having a chance to practise your English skills. During the program, you will also use and work through the “Discover Canada” guide, a Government of Canada document designed to teach you what you need to know to become a citizen. It covers topics like Canadian history, geography and government, as well as citizenship rights and responsibilities.

The main part of the course is a weekly 2-hour circle time, involving using basic English in a small group setting. This is led by one of our staff members and a team of trained citizenship education mentors. As part of the program, you’ll also be matched with a mentor for extra support with your learning.

Benefits

• Practise your English vocabulary and conversation.
• Prepare for the Citizenship test.
• Make connections in your new community.
• Take a free guided tour of a Canadian site of national and political importance upon completion of the course.

Eligibility

Permanent residents or convention refugees.

How to join

• For upcoming sessions, see the program’s event calendar.

Are you a newcomer to Canada aspiring to overcome the language barrier? Would you like the opportunity to practise your English in a safe and welcoming space? Our English Conversation Circle could be the perfect place for you.

The best way to quickly pick up a new language is to use it regularly, but we know that this isn’t always easy, especially if you haven’t yet got a strong social network in place. 

Our English Conversation Circle makes studying English fun. It’s an informal group setting which provides lots of learning opportunities, as well as support from our great mentors. 

Benefits

• Practise your English in a non-judgmental setting.
• Get support and feedback from experienced mentors.
• Make connections in your new community.

Eligibility

Permanent residents and convention refugees.

How to join

• For upcoming sessions, see the program’s event calendar.

As a newcomer you may have enjoyed some of our NEAT activities, but did you know that you can become a NEAT event planner too? 

As a volunteer planner, you’ll gain hands-on Canadian work experience that can be really helpful when securing a job. You’ll also have the opportunity to build your confidence and take on the challenge of thinking creatively about how to put on a great event for your fellow newcomers. If this all sounds exciting, we’d love you to volunteer with us.

Benefits

• Gain Canadian work experience in event planning, project management and marketing.
• Learn more about Toronto and your local area.
• Enjoy history, architecture and nature, as well as share your knowledge with others.
• Meet new people in your community.
• Enhance your public speaking skills.
• Give back to the newcomer community.
• Receive a volunteering certificate (as well as a general reference letter if required).

Eligibility

We’re looking for landed immigrants or convention refugees over the age of 18. 

You need to be happy to travel within Toronto and spend time outdoors during the winter. 

We recommend that you have English language level 4 or above and that you have experience with technology, or a willingness to learn. 

You’ll need to commit to 4-6 months of volunteering and organize at least two events or activities.

Once accepted as a volunteer, you’ll also need to sign a media release and liability waiver, as well as a volunteer agreement before you get started.

How to join

To volunteer as an event planner, please fill out the NEAT registration form and we’ll be in touch.