Making Connections
The right connection for foreign-trained engineersReywen "Rey" Bigirimana can barely contain the pride and joy he feels at his new job. A newcomer to Canada in 2000, the Burundi native spent the better part of the last five years struggling to find work as an engineer in Toronto. ANDY LEVY-AJZENKOPF |
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 [ 2006-07-26 ] |
Reywen Bigirimana and Janet Kun at Aker Kvaerner.
Now a full-time scheduler and estimator with world-renowned engineering firm Aker Kvaerner, Bigirimana is all smiles and grateful he has finally been given the chance to put his skills to work in his adopted country. He happily points out that he owes much of this success to the staff at Accessible Community Counseling and Employment Services (ACCES).
MUCH-NEEDED PROJECT
Already known to many newcomers as a crucial point of contact for job skills training and support services in the GTA, ACCES has, in partnership with the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) and the Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, put together a new initiative designed specifically to help foreign-trained engineers find relevant work in Canada. The pilot project is called Engineering Connections and will be officially launched in August.
"They helped me tremendously with my job search. ACCES helped me change [my resume] to better reflect what is needed in Canadian culture," Bigirimana says. "Afterwards they trained me to conduct myself properly during a job interview and they worked hard to find companies who would be genuinely interested in my skills and training. Then they connected me with [Aker Kvaerner]. The whole process took about six months."
It's a process in which many foreign-trained engineers living in Toronto are eager to participate.
Manjeet Dhiman, regional director for ACCES, is confident that this project will be a welcome addition to ACCES's proven stable of services. "Using our experience with delivering our Job Connect program, we wanted to create a comprehensive program that would provide participants with an in-depth understanding of the engineering sector in Canada," she says.
It will also be a vital service for those seeking an engineering licence in this country.
"The Canadian process for licensing requires that engineers be working in their field. So that's our focus -- employment," Dhiman says.
As such, ACCES looks to have another successful initiative on their hands. Just ask Bigirimana.
"I am now working in an area of project management [learning] cost control, estimating, planning, scheduling -- all this new knowledge combined with my prior experience will, I believe, soon give me a chance to achieve my dream of becoming a project manager," he says. "I know I am now on the right path to make this come true."
His employer couldn't be happier either.
Janet Kun is director of human resources at Aker Kvaerner Toronto. Her company instantly recognized the benefits of becoming an employer-partner for this initiative. "Our association with ACCES has benefited us a great deal," she says. "There is a wealth of talent out there that we need to develop and the people we've brought in with ACCES's help are all excellent. As employers we need to work hard to find the best way to select the talent available in the form of newcomers. They are the future of Canada."
Other partners echo that sentiment.
Lois Wilson, associate Dean of planning and government relations at the Humber Institute sees nothing but positives for the program. "I think the right partners are at the table to make this a success," she says. "From what I've seen, the Engineering Connections program will be very useful. It has good components and should be very successful for ACCES's clients. It will help them on the path to getting their licences as engineers."
PRACTICAL TRAINING
Here's how it works.
Engineering Connections is a six-week program that will offer insight and practical knowledge to internationally trained engineers newly arrived to Canada. The workshop will usher 17 or 18 participants at a time through practical training and lectures on topics such as understanding Canadian workplace communications and culture; dealing with customers, managers and business associates; and preparing work experience reports.
They will also receive an orientation to Canadian Engineering Codes and Standards and other technical aspects of their profession in Canada from the Humber Institute for Technology and Advanced Learning.
The program will be available at ACCES locations in Scarborough and Mississauga.
Dhiman notes that even after clients complete the six-week workshop, ACCES will be there to provide ongoing support and follow-up.
"Our goal is to place at least 70% of our participants in jobs after the course," she says.
For more information about ACCES services and locations, visit their website at www.accesstrain.com or call their Scarborough location at 416-431-5326 or the Mississauga location at 905-361-2522.
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