Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Takes Off

A couple of moths ago, we wrote about the upcoming  Northern Ontario Immigration Pilot which is similar to the concept of Atlantic Immigration Pilot. 

Today, the program officially takes off which will be known as Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.

Yorkville University: $10,000 Exclusive Scholarship

If you are planning to study in Canada as International Student and you are considering a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, you may want to consider Yorkville University. Gateway to Canada qualified students may be eligible to a CAD 10,000 Scholarship Discount!

Fanshawe College - London, Ontario

Fanshawe College celebrated its 50 years anniversary of academic success in 2017! As of 2019, there are 184,000 graduates making a difference in communities across the world. It has approximately 6,000 international students from more than 95 countries!

Fanshawe is located in the beautiful "Forest City" of London, Ontario Canada. The population of London itself is 400,000 but the metropolitan area is home to more than 500,000 people. London is safe, vibrant and student-friendly city!

Do you want to earn P600/hour minimum wage?

With the passing of The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, the minimum wage in Ontario starting on January 2019 will be CAD15/hour! It will also provide at least two paid, job-protected sick days for all workers, increase holiday entitlement, and boost protections for temporary employment agency workers.  Read the news here.

Manufacturing Engineering Technology (Welding and Robotics) - Conestoga College

Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) - Welding and Robotics is a three years advance diploma offered by Conestoga College. In addition to a generic manufacturing technologist background, graduates of this program also acquire welding and robotics specialization. Their expected salary can be from around $40,000 to 55,000/year or $25-30/hr.  

OINP System Glitch - Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream

As of Nov 2, 2017, Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream is accepting new applications. If you have an active Express Entry Profile and you met the OINP Criteria, you should be receiving an invitation or Notification of Interest (NOI).

Ontario Faculty On Strike | How will it affect International Students?

The union representing full time and partial load faculty in Ontario’s 24 colleges, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), is on strike since October 16, 2017 and it is unlikely to end soon.

Opportunities for ICT Professionals in Ontario - OINP Express Entry Human Capital Priorities (HCP)

If you have an active Express Entry Profile, with work experience in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and that you included Ontario as your destination, you may qualify for Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities (HCP).

Ontario Basic Income | Free Money Up to $16,989 per year for a single person

Ontario will soon be launching a pilot project to provide basic income in selected Ontario regions: Thunder Bay, Hamilton and Lindsay.  Through this experiment Ontario will make an assessment wether a basic income can better support vulnerable workers, improve health and education outcomes for people on low incomes.

Ontario FSW Pilot Program | Opportunities Ontario

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has asked provinces and territories for assistance in reducing the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) backlog of applications submitted before February 2008 through the FSW Backlog Reduction Pilot (FSW Pilot) initiative.



The province of Ontario identified five (5) occupations in which applicants destined to the province will get an opportunity to apply for an Ontario nomination leading to permanent residency on an expedited basis.

If you submitted an application for permanent residence in Canada under the FSW program and that you declared Ontario as your destination, you will receive an invitation to apply as nominee if your occupation is any of the following:

Computer Analysts and Consultants (NOC 2171)
Software Developers (NOC 2173)
Interactive Media Programmers and Developers (NOC 2174)
Financial and Investment Analysts (NOC 1112)
Mathematicians (NOC 2161)

Applicant to Opportunities Ontario under the FSW Pilot must meet the following criteria:

1. Intend to live and work in Ontario.

2. Be in one of the five occupations identified by Ontario (Computer Analysts and Consultants/NOC 2171, Software Developers/NOC 2173, Interactive Media Programmers and Developers/NOC 2174, Financial and Investment Analysts/NOC 1112, Mathematicians/NOC 2161).

3. Have a minimum of 3 years of related, paid, full-time verifiable experience in that occupation within the past 5 years.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

4. Have a minimum of a 3-year degree from a post-secondary institution.

5. Have a minimum language proficiency of 6.5 for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or 4.5 for the Test d’evaluation du français (TEF).

6. Demonstrate a minimum level of savings/income to support yourself and your dependants. See 2011 Updated Settlement Funds Schedule for the amount you need.

If you received an invitation to apply under Ontario FSW Pilot Program, you must submit your application on or before May 4, 2012. Opportunities Ontario can only nominate 600 applicants under this initiative.

Ms. Laarni Abaya Visited Niagara Falls

Ms. Laarni Abaya at Niagara Falls

Ms. Laarani Abaya, a Registered Nurse moved to Canada just last month and is now working as a health care aide at a hospital in Toronto. She sent us her picture taken at Niagara falls when she visit the place last July 31, 2011.

The Niagara Falls are renowned both for beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. It is situated on the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario and forms the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. It's really beautiful and it's not surprising why many newly landed immigrants in Ontario seem to visit the place first before seriously looking for job. ;-)

Here's an excerpt from Ms. Laarni Abaya's email to Mr. Irene de Lara, who assisted Ms. Abaya with her Permanent Residence visa application:

I have visited Niagara falls on July 31, 2011. It was a great experience! It was really good to look at the wonders of the Lord. I suggest you visit niagara also at night, fantastic color effects for the falls.

Thanks to Canadian Immigration Consultancy, I am now experiencing a life like this in Canada - a work and a pleasure..

Interested to live and work in Canada? Click here for free online assessment or contact Ms. Irene de Lara at mob. no. 0928-2815634

SCAM: Town Inn Suites Hotel - Toronto

One of my blog readers sent me this email about an invitation from Town Inn Suites Hotel in Toronto. I'm not sure if there is actually such a hotel in Ontario, but the information that my blog reader sent me is enough to conclude that it is just a scam.

Recently I received invitation letter from Town Inn Suites Hotel in Toronto Canada for visit in Canada to apply the Position of Receiptionist. In the letter it included Visa Application Form issued by Visa Application Form completed by 2 authorized signature.I should complete the visa application form.It recommended that the visa application form to be sent to cic.gc.canadianimmigration.ca@yahoo.com. And then the Canada Immigration Bureau in Ottawa Canada response my letter and suggest to send Invitation Letter drom Town Inn Suites and Accomodation Receipt. I have sent it to the Canadian Immigration Bureau in Ottawa Canada through e mail.The response from Canadian Immigration Bureau is order letter to contact Canadian Zonal Tourist Department to include the code number to verification.The Canadian Zonal Tourist Department has issued a letter which asking me to send a money as much as US$ 295 to issue authorization letter.In the letter it is stated that after apyment the receipt should be sent to Canada Immigration Bureau in the time no longer than 2 days after payment .And then the Canadian Immigration Bureau issued a letter include visa number and sent to Canada embassy in Indonesia by DHL to issue the visa

I have reached the Canadian Zonal Tourist Department but not yet make a payment
I am very worry about the procedure and the fee.This is my reason to contact you immediately

I posted my blog reader's email here so that others may be informed. The best way to combat these scammers is to expose them. Be informed. Avoid being a victim!

Six organizations in Durham Region received funding from the government

The Durham Region is a regional municipality in Ontario, which is also a common destination for new comers in Canada. Six organizations in Durham Region recently received funding from the Government of Canada to help newcommers succed.

The funding of almost $6 million will go to the following organizations which deliver settlement services for newcomers:

Community Development Council Durham

Northern Lights Canada

Women’s Multicultural Resource and Counselling Centre of Durham

Durham Region Unemployed Help Centre

Durham District School Board

Durham Catholic District School Board

Here's a media release from Citizenship and Immigration Canada:

Government of Canada announces funding to help newcomers settle in Durham Region

Pickering, September 5, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced funding to help six organizations in Durham Region deliver settlement services to an estimated 2,400 newcomers in the community.

The funding of almost $6 million will go to the Community Development Council Durham, Northern Lights Canada, the Women’s Multicultural Resource and Counselling Centre of Durham, the Durham Region Unemployed Help Centre, Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board. These organizations deliver a number of settlement services for newcomers including: referrals to community resources, advice and guidance, language assessment, language training, general information, and help finding a job.[Source:cic.gc.ca]

For more information about the Durham Region, visit http://www.region.durham.on.ca

Rexdale Women's Centre

The Rexdale Women's Centre is an independent, not-for-profit, voluntary agency that serves high-need women and their family members residing in the Greater Toronto Area. It is the latese recipient of support from Government of Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Canada funds a number of programs that help newcomers settle, adapt and integrate into Canadian society.

Canada’s government announces support for Rexdale Women’s Centre in Toronto

Toronto, September 5, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced funding for the Rexdale Women’s Centre to deliver settlement and integration services to an estimated 1,100 newcomers in the community. [Source]

For more information about Rexdale Women's Center, visit www.rexdalewomen.org.

Funding for Thurder Bay Multicultural Association

The Thunder Bay Multicultural Association is a non-profit organization whose objective is to encourage and facilitate co-operation among ethnic organizations in promoting the concept of multiculturalism. It provides the following services:

immigrant settlement including referral, information and orientation for job preparation, housing, education, Citizenship, etc.

interpretation and translation in over 40 languages for documents/certificates, medical appointments/emergencies, immigration, etc.

community programs for recent newcomers including English as a Second Language, Citizenship Preparation, Drivers Education Preparation, Community Development, etc.

cross-cultural/race relations information on cultural adjustments of newcomers, etc.

language instruction for newcomers to Canada assessments to rate English language levels according to the Canadian Language Benchmark assessment

matching newcomers with volunteers to assist with adjustment to Canadian society.

Thurder Bay Multicultural Association recently received support from the Government of Canada.

Canada’s government provides support to Thunder Bay to help newcomers settle

Thunder Bay, August 27, 2008 — Joe Comuzzi, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Superior North, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced support for the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association to help settle and integrate newcomers in northern Ontario.

Funding of $2 million will go toward providing settlement services such as language training, a mentorship program, referrals to community resources and employment-related services. Approximately 800 newcomers to Thunder Bay will be able to benefit from these services.[Source]

If you are considering to settle in Ontario, Thunder Bay Multicultural Association is of big help. Their official website is http://www.thunderbay.org.

Ontario

If you're planning to apply for Canada Visa to live and work in Canada and is considering Ontario as your destination, this entry is for you. This is the fifth in the series of entries featuring provinces and territories in Canada, aiming to help you decide where to settle in Canada.

Ontario is the 2nd largest province in Canada in total area. The Capital of Ontario is Toronto, the largest city in Canada. Ottawa, the capital of Canada is also part of Ontario.

There are many famous artists originating from Ontario like film director Neil Young, musician Avril Lavigne, singer Alanis Morissette and actor Jim Carrey to name a few.

Ontario is a study in contrasts.

The varied landscape includes the vast, rocky and mineral-rich Canadian Shield, which separates the fertile farmland in the south and the grassy lowlands of the north.

There are over 250,000 lakes in Ontario -- they make up about one-third of the world's fresh water.

In summer, temperatures can soar above 30°C (86°F), while in winter they can drop to below -40°C (-40°F).

Ontario's industries range from cultivating crops, to mining minerals, to manufacturing automobiles, to designing software and leading-edge technology.

Cultures from around the world thrive and are celebrated in Ontario with festivals such as Caribana (West Indian) and Oktoberfest (German).

Travellers can enjoy the many experiences Ontario has to offer, from a wilderness expedition in the north, to a "shop till you drop into your theatre seat" city excursion.

Ontario’s Pilot Provincial Nominee Program
Ontario's PNP Pilot Program is employer driven. This means that you can only apply if your employer is pre-screened, the position is approved, and your employer provides you with a nominee application package from the Pilot PNP. The Pilot PNP has two Categories: an Employer Category and a Multinational Investor Category.

For Employer Category application process, click here. For Multinational Investor Process, click here.

Quality of Life
The government of Ontario is indeed comitted to improving the quality of life of Ontarians. On its 2008 budget, it proposed the following measures and strategy:

The government is proposing to invest $135 million over three years to provide dental services to low-income Ontarians, with investments starting in 2008-09.

In July 2008, the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) will be delivered through the personal income tax system and will assist over 600,000 low-income families with children under 18. For 2008, the maximum OCB payment will be $600 annually per child.

The government is raising the minimum wage to $10.25 by 2010, with consecutive annual increases of 75 cents on March 31, 2008 and onwards. After a nine-year period during which the minimum wage was frozen, the government has increased it five times from $6.85 per hour in 2003 to $8.75 at March 31, 2008.

The government is providing an additional investment of $2 million in the 2008-09 school year to establish 34 more Parenting and Family Literacy Centres in the province. These centres help prepare children for successful school entry.[source]

For more information about cost living in Ontario, click here and here

Need driving direction? Here's MapQuest Canada: Driving Direction and Map of Canada.

Settlement.Org
The Settlement.Org website provides newcomers with information and resources to settle in Ontario, Canada. A very useful website, I would say. The development of this website was in fact funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Government of Ontario. It contains almost all the information you need if you're planning to settle in Canada - from finding a job, rent informatin, education, getting your health card, etc. It also has a forum where you may interact with other Ontarains who are providing helpful tips.