Earlier this week, an inaugural meeting between mentors from four federal government departments in B.C. and 11 skilled new Canadians marked the start of a mentoring program led by the Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC-BC).
Over the next four months, immigrant professionals will work with their Canadian peers to learn about local business practices, increase their understanding of the B.C. workplace culture, access professional networks and boost their cross-cultural communication and career-search skills.
According to IEC-BC, by spring 2012, up to 40 mentors from various federal government departments across the province could be helping skilled immigrants gain valuable local labour market experience.
Kelly Pollack, IEC-BC executive director, said, “Mentoring is one of IEC-BC's key initiatives that is based on a proven national model, but having this many federal government departments in B.C. participate is a first for Canada."
The mentoring program brings together immigrant talent and established Canadian professionals in occupation-specific, one-on-one relationships.
Through this employment-focused program, IEC-BC connects employers with a skilled immigrant talent pool.
Canadian Heritage, along with Passport Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and Western Economic Diversification Canada are participating in the first program phase.
Two more phases are planned for 2012, and it is expected that other federal departments will join the IEC-BC Mentoring Program as well.
Jennifer Harrison
@JHarrisonBIV