Record Attendance At Career, Education and Settlement Fair

TORONTO, Ontario – More than 1500 newcomers and internationally trained professionals flocked to the 3rd Annual Scotiabank Career, Education and Settlement Fair which took place at Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Tuesday, June 25 2013.

The event, which was presented by Scotiabank in association with Centennial College, saw record attendance by new immigrants who were assisted by more than 60 settlement agencies, educational institutes, employers and recruiters.

Speaking to the media at the event, Ontario Minister for Citizenship and Immigration, Hon. Michael Coteau said, “As an immigrant, I know the difference career, education and settlement services make in the lives of newcomers. Ontario is implementing a long-term strategy to make immigration work better for employers, newcomers and the province. When we help newcomers succeed, Ontario succeeds.”

“At Scotiabank, we believe that we benefit from the new perspectives and insights that diversity brings, which is why we are so proud to once again sponsor the Canadian Immigrant Career, Education & Settlement Fair,” said Grant Mick, Senior Vice President and Chief Auditor at Scotiabank. “Our customers come from all walks of life, so we know that by celebrating differences, we can provide leading service to help them become financially better off.”

This year saw an added feature that attendees made a beeline for- a mentoring session with employment consultants from ACCES Employment, a leader in connecting employers with qualified employees from diverse backgrounds.

Participating in this year’s fair were prominent employers like Public Mobile, UPS Canada, Maxxam Analytics, and Staples among others. Top career management portal, Monster.ca and leading job recruitment agencies, like Top Notch Executive Staffing, were on hand with valuable tips on interviews, resumes, networking, and researching employers.

“With a three-pronged approach of settlement, careers and education, the 2013 Fair brings to life our mission to inform, educate and motivate new Canadians,” said Gautam Sharma, Publisher of Canadian Immigrant magazine.

There were more than 1000 registrations for the interactive sessions that were held by industry experts, educators and career consultants who spoke on topics ranging from resume dos and don’ts to preparing for in-demand jobs in the Canadian market.

“We welcome newcomers into our college community and provide a nurturing environment to help them achieve new academic credentials and prepare them for the Canadian job market. The Career, Education and Settlement Fair is the perfect complement to our efforts,” said Prafulla Prabhu, Director Marketing and Communications, Centennial College. “All of this activity is fundamental to our mission to educate students for career success within the context of global citizenship and equity.”

Every year, thousands of immigrants arrive in Canada, particularly during the summer months, with great ambitions for their family’s future. However, many of them have little knowledge about the reality of Canadian living — from continuing education to obtaining employment and getting settled. Canadian Immigrant has been a guiding star for such newcomers since its inception through its print as well as online publications.