edmonton mennonite centre for newcomers

Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers

• EMCN is a community organization that has been serving immigrants for over 30 years with a vision to assist all newcomers achieve full participation in Canadian society

Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers

• Over 35 programs• 120+ staff• 200 volunteers• Holistic Approach • One-Stop-Shop Services

for Newcomers to Canada

• Three locations in Edmonton

EMCN Services

• Settlement Services• Community Development• Centre for Survivors of Torture and Trauma • Helping Families, Schools and Communities• English as a Second Language• Employment Services• Bridging and Training Programs • Canadian Immigration and Integration Project (CIIP)

Professional Programs at EMCN

• Specialized bridging programs designed for internationally educated professionals who want to work in their field of expertise

• ETIP (Engineers’ and Technologists’ Integration Program)

• ABP (Accountants’ Bridging Program)

• PCP (Payroll Certificate Program)

CESI (Career & Employment Services for Immigrants)

• CESI Program supports immigrants that are low-skilled with little to no formal training or education

• Employer Liaison and Job Development • Exposure Courses• Workplace Training component • Support and financial incentive to employers who

are willing to take on the training or responsibility for EMCN clients

The Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP)

Realizing Newcomer Potential Through

Overseas Preparation

Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP)

• Helps immigrants under the Federal Skilled Worker Program prepare for integration to the Canadian labour market while they are still in their country of origin completing final immigration requirements

• Services are offered free of charge in the following locations:

1) Guangzhou, China

2) New Delhi, India

3) Manila, Philippines

4) London, United Kingdom


• CIIP - Modest Beginnings!

• CIIP established as a pilot project in 2005

• HRSDC - FCRP funds: 18 months of operations initiall

• 2006 Offices were established in Guangzhou, New Delhi and Manila. • Offices set up in India, China and the Philippines for on-site deliveries• Locally-engaged staff visited Canada and were trained/coached in the field

• 2007• LMI sessions + planning• No referral partners (and no $)• No client tracking in Canada• No platform


• History of Focal Point Partners!

• Feb 2007 quickly realized that referrals to Canadian organizations would offer great added-value

• March 2007 set about creating partnerships across the country without any funding support! – traveled across country [Kinds of partners: Governments, educational institutes, Immigrant-serving agencies, employers, sector councils, Credential Assessment Bodies, Regulatory Bodies]

• May 2007 Informal agreements in place with College and ISO FPPs for ON BC, AB, MB, AB, SK

• - provide information and guidance on credential assessment or licensure, language assessment, language and bridging programs, education and training requirements, settlement services and employment training programs; provide onward referrals


FPPs

British ColumbiaVancouver Community College (VCC)DiverseCity

OntarioGeorge Brown College (GBC)COSTI Immigrant ServicesGEO & HFO

SaskatchewanSIASTRODS

AlbertaBow Valley College (BVC)NorQuest CollegeCalgary Catholic ImmigrationSociety (CCIS)Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers (EMCN)

Manitoba

Entry Program - Manitoba Labour and Immigration Red River College

Atlantic ProvincesISIS (MISA/HILC)Atlantic Provinces Community College Consortium (APCCC)


THE PROCESS:

CIC sends letter, brochure and registration form to Federal Skilled Workers, Provincial Nominees and their families completing the immigration process-voluntary registration

Clients are invited to attend two-day sessionIn office, off site or online:

- Day 1 LMI- Day 2 Counselling

+ Referrals

Clients follow-up on action planResources and referrals toCanadian partners and employers


Network of partners in Northern Alberta

• raise awareness of CIIP among network of immigrant serving agencies in Northern Alberta

• explore settlement and pre-arrival employment opportunities in rural Alberta

• secure more inclusive and collaborative pre-arrival referral process in the province


• Northern Alberta Outreach Tour

• June 2012

• Edmonton - Whitecourt – Fairview – Piece River – Grande Prairie – Grande Cache – Hinton – Edson – Edmonton

http://goo.gl/maps/gtrW


Northern Alberta Outreach Tour

• Total days of the Tour: 10 • Total number of participants in all meetings: 22• Total number of organizations which confirmed interest for

future collaboration: 12

Community Learning Network:

• Northwest Peace Community Adult Learning Council, Fairview• Community Adult Learning, Grimshaw • Manning Community Adult Learning & Literacy• Peace River Association for Lifelong Learning• Grande Prairie Council for Lifelong Learning • Hinton Adult Learning Society • Edson Adult Learning Centre

Northern Alberta Outreach Tour(contacts)

Settlement Agencies:

• Grande Prairie Centre for Newcomers • The Work Place • ACFA (L’Association de tous les Francophones de l’Alberta)

Northern Alberta Outreach Tour(contacts)

Others:

• Kazem Mashkournia, Grande Prairie Regional College• Lena Bengston, private contractor • Jocelyn Reyes and Marlowe Maquiling, CIIP graduates

Northern Alberta Outreach Tour

(contacts)

• Network of contacts established in Northern Alberta • Online referrals before landing: possible• Settlement services in the province after landing: active • Employer Connection Network: in progress • CIIP Graduates Network: the future

Northern Alberta Outreach Tour(outcomes)

The Career Bridge Paid Internship Program www.careerbridge.ca

• Innovative internship program that responds to Canada’s

labour market demand for internationally qualified professionals and to aspirations of qualified immigrants eager to work in their professional fields in Canada.

• Career Bridge internships are mid-level professional paid positions that last 4, 6, 9 or 12 months and are available in a broad spectrum of non-regulated business functions.



ACCESS CIIP:www.ciip.accc.ca or www.newcomersuccess.caCIIP Ottawa (613) 746-2222

ACCESS EMCN: www.emcn.ab.ca

ACCESS CIIP Online Advisor for Northern Alberta [email protected]: 780-945-2285Skype : ciip_emcn