Happy Holidays: The Rap

Note: this is not a Candian rap, it is American; but Remy has added a Multifaith and Multicultural inclusiveness, that's the True Color of Canada.

Australian definition of a Canadian (author: anonymous)

Adapted from a version* (written about an American) just as another literay piece in the Canadian media and this as a comment @ CBC's Website. [*"This appears to be a slightly modified version of a chain letter originally about America. That one was written by Peter Ferrera in the National Review, although the chain letter claimed that it was written by an Australian dentist." source]

Just read @ Don't Get Me Started / See also a comment at this blog
Note: The artist who picked up the American version has shown True Colors of Canada as well: "A Canadian may also be a Cree, Métis, Mohawk, Blackfoot, Sioux, or one of the many other tribes known as native Canadians." Much more adapted....
>>>bad typist: choose became chooses.


PS. if you didn't know, note that Santa has a Canadian postal address: In Canada, Santa's postal code is H0H 0H0.

Zellers Alphabet Commercial " Z to A" REVERSE

Canadian Experience: Myth or Reality Poll

This blog asked bloggers to vote. The results are:

Myth: Yes (18 %) / No (0 %)
Reality: Yes (43 %) / No (0 %)
Don't know (43 %)

On the same shelf:

Will the Canadian Experience Class program help ease the construction industry skills shortage? weekly poll

Employment Equity - Myths and Realities

The Canadian Model of Diversity in a Comparative Perspective

What does being Canadian mean to you? - Yahoo! Answers

No Canadian experience - no job : fact or myth? : a qualitative ...

CIBC & RBC say: Welcome to Canada

New rules to fast-track skilled immigrants

The revised list (eligible skilled workers' category) is now reduced (for e.g, removed from this category are:  0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers / 3131 Pharmacists ):

be a skilled worker who has had one year of continuous full-time or equivalent part-time paid work experience in at least one of the following eligible occupations within the last ten years:

• 0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers (Cap reached)
• 0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
• 1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management (Cap reached)
• 1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
• 2121 Biologists and Related Scientists
• 2151 Architects
• 3111 Specialist Physicians
• 3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians
• 3113 Dentists
• 3131 Pharmacists (Cap reached)
• 3142 Physiotherapists
• 3152 Registered Nurses (Cap reached)
• 3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
• 3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
• 3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
• 4151 Psychologists
• 4152 Social Workers
• 6241 Chefs
• 6242 Cooks
• 7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
• 7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades
• 7241 Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
• 7242 Industrial Electricians
• 7251 Plumbers
• 7265 Welders & Related Machine Operators
• 7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
• 7371 Crane Operators
• 7372 Drillers & Blasters - Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction
• 8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service

See also:

Dentists eligible for immigration to Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker program

38 job categories listed in bid to clear backlog; critics say the move offers'no solutions'
Nov 29, 2008 04:30 AM Toronto Star

If you're planning to move to Canada, you'll have to check the list first.
Thirty-eight in-demand occupations were unveiled by the Harper government yesterday, setting out a new selection criteria for skilled immigrants, allowing those with relevant skills to be fast-tracked into the country.
The occupations include jobs in the field of health, skilled trades and the finance sector. Details of the long-awaited "ministerial instructions" were posted on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website (http://www.cic.gc.ca/), and come into effect immediately. continue reading @ Toronto Star

See also:

• Fast-Track Occupations List

Not all opportunities are equal -- Canadian job market is no exception

Quotable quote: They came to Canada in 2002, but sadly, writes Rashid, "in terms of
finding jobs, up until now I have noticed that no place except McDonald's welcomed us." more extracts in The Story That Brought Me Here

NB. Before you read, there is a punchline now in 2008: The Canadian Experience Class
And the fine print says: "...when an employer tells you you have no Canadian experience, there is at least one thing you can say, “No, I don’t, but my training is considered to be equal to…. [PDF] No Canadian Experience?”

Those who are living in this land of opportunities, must remember the bottomline: immigrants are not just born, nor they are kids (only adults immigrate, kids are sponsored).
Positive outlook: To be an immigrant doesn’t mean that you have to limit your life and keep away from “ordinary” activities that most of the settled people do. This sounds a two way approach in helping new immigrants, and new immigrants making use of all opportunities to get settled as early as possible.
See also:

• Employment Equity - Myths and Realities

Related post: Not all transitions are equal -- Canadian educational scenario is no exception
On the same shelf:

• All Qualifications Are Not Equal @ Many Immigrants to Canada Are Falling Behind

A little bit of Oz in the icy land of the Canuck, eh

I’m 30-something Australian “sheila” and have made my home in a small town (its claim to fame is that it's the “Smallest City in Canada”) in British Columbia, Canada.
I came here 3 years ago to be with the love of my life, and no, I aint gonna get all soppy and tell you how wonderful he is, although…. he is.
When I came here, I thought I would have a problem with the language since Canada is bi lingual, and I only speak one language…..and apparently, that’s Australian….not English as I used to think.
Now, my Canadian bloke understands me very well, in spite of the accent, although there have been times when he has that blank look on his face, and I just know that he didn’t understand a bloody thing I just said….(or maybe…. that’s just a bloke thing?)

continue reading A Sheila in Canada

See also:

• PODcast: How To Speak Australian - A Guide For Yanks and Canucks
• Translation Of Australian Outback Words to Other Languages

Canadian Resume is Unique: Is this uniqueness hype or hope?

What do you do if you wish to apply for a job in Canada?

For Tips, Sample Resume, Canadian format (aka Canadian style resume, Canadian acceptable standard), Helpful Advice & Related Services contact me  

Canadian oldies are shocked if they hadn't applied for a job in the last ten years or so--they learn that writing a resume is a rocket science. New Canadians learn very soon that they have to be educated: all-about-the-RESUME writing, wording, phrasing and polishing their own expressions.

You may say, need a job, go submit a job application (aka resume, CV, Bio, profile, portfolio, etc.).
But, how different is this Canadian application form, from the rest of the world, and different from the American mosaic?

Recap: Canadian job market looks for a resume's format (word), size (3 pages only, including cover letter), language (Canadian English), style (bulleted, indented, textual), content (objective, education and professional background, skills--soft and hard, etc., etc.), and much more...*

And what are the experiences of the Canadians in this regard? Read the following opinions / statements and leave a comment, so that others know what you think on this subject:

• "Your value proposition, Graham explains in her book, is made up of three components: your employer's buying motivators (the reasons an employer will want to hire someone), your supporting qualifications (credentials that validate your claim to resolve the employer's buying motivator) and the added value (special talents and contributions) you bring.
  Until very recently, the value proposition was one of the greatest differences between Canadian resumes and American resumes" "Canadian resumes are becoming much more like marketing brochures. People are starting to distinguish themselves from other job seekers and are steering away from the templates you find online or in many books. They're using colour, charts, graphs, pictures, interesting bullets and lines." [Canadian resume book a first of its kind] ...Written by and for Canadians, this book will enable you to: ... Comply with Canadian legislative requirements*** related to résumé writing [Best Canadian Résumés, by Sharon Graham]
• "The format for the Canadian Resume is similar to the Chronological CV with the length generally being 2 sides of A4. Your name and contact details would be at the top centre followed by your career history and work experience in reverse chronological order with the most recent job detailed first." Note: "There are some differences within Canada itself with regard to job search. In English-speaking Canada you have to actively market yourself but in the French part of Canada it is more formal." [Canadian resume]
• "Most International Résumés contain private and personal information that goes against Anti-Discrimination laws in both Canada and the United States. If any of the following are included in an existing Résumé, it may be overlooked by the hiring Manager or Human Resource Specialist, losing the opportunity to be selected for an interview." [How to live in Canada]
• "We send immigrants to workshops on writing Canadian resumes, Canadian interviewing and Canadian workplace communications, and still we watch as they spend months looking for work. Some simply give up." [Mercado de trabalho para imigrantes no Canadá, Najia Alavi]
• "Our CVs in Venezuela are VERY different to Canadian resumes, we have to have a picture in the CV, our marital status, our age, and every little thing you can think up that Canadian resumes don't have and don't want." [Canadian resume @ A new life in Canada]
• "German resumes feature some additional information that would be "unwanted" in Canadian resumes. for example, it is expected that the German resume includes a photo of the applicant, his/her date of birth, his/her place of birth, ..." [interesting differences]
• "One of the most important tools that will help you find a job in Canada is your resume. The way you prepare this relevant document may be a CRUCIAL factor when you look for a job in Canada." [Three Crucial Elements to Prepare a Resume]
• "Turning your Canadian-style resume into a CV should not be a much-dreaded ordeal."[Turning a Resume into a CV]
• "employer likes the cover letter they'll move on to the resume, if not both will go to the recycle bin. ..." [Research: Employers, Salaries, Relocation]


• Its a myth that there's one standard prescribed Canadian format for a resume which will guarantee success. No such thing that I know of. Making a good resume is a continual process of refinement and you'll just know when you have one that works for you.[Canadian Desi: Canadian style CV]
  

Despite all-of-the-above stated requirements, in reality you may or may not get a job. PERIOD. On this very significant step of applying (with a unique Canadian resume i.e, "A resume fit by the Canadian requirements, complied meticulously by every applicant"), there are no figures to show actual the return-on-investment for an individuals' time, money, energies and other resources.**

Q. All this marathon is hype (with the drafting, compiling, focused, and loaded with Situation, Action, Result Synergies) or hope for a change?
A. No idea. Even if there is an answer, who will bell the cat, and when?
See also:

• Librarian faces racism at trial if extradited, lawyer tells court
• How To Prepare For An Interview
• Introvert and Looking for a Job - You are not alone
• Job Pathfinder - Join the race
• Show Your Business Plan
• A Cover Letter Pinpointing Their Needs and Your Skills (e.g., Canadian librarian)

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
*Most job seekers are reminded the formula in searching (and the time they must be willing to allocate): full time search for a full time job, part time search for a part time job, and a casual approach to this may result in a casual job.

**Did the resume got a job, or a job came because of the Network? Interestingly, there is another factor to find an opportunity. Ironically, resume --job search engines, job workshops, coop, soft-skills, hard-skills, and if you have paid $250 for a beautifully crafted three pager, etc.--are not the be-all and end-all. The other factor, i.e., NETWORK, is common here: "it's not what you know, but who you know that counts..." Source. Read a testimony on this best practice.

Dealing with Discrimination During Your Job Hunt

"In an ideal workplace, staff would be hired based on work ethic, education and experience. Unfortunately, some employers may still be behind the times." By Jennifer McFee, @ Toronto sun

For new immigrants to Canada, employment experts offer five key pieces of advice on how to handle the sensitive situation of prejudice during a job hunt.
1. Assess the situation.
2. Eliminate objections.
3. Address the issue.
4. Develop a support system.
5. Keep positive.
Continue reading

See also Amazon's related titles:

Ethnics and immigrants vs. New Canadians (Change please!)

Books on politics list, by Andrew Steele

Andrew Steele, November 14, 2008 @ globeandmail.com

"This may seem a bit petty, but I dislike when people use “immigrant” and “ethnic” interchangeably.
Tom Flanagan, an academic I admire enough to put his book on game theory on my 10 books on politics list, is the latest to do this in print.
I agree with Flanagan's central tenet here: The Liberals are in deep trouble if they continue to take new Canadians for granted.
However, Flanagan does what I have seen a lot of conservatives who are courting new Canadians do: He labels them “immigrants” or “ethnics” and does it as if the terms are interchangeable.
No term is perfect. “Immigrant” includes only those who have themselves immigrated. “Ethnic” I have never really been comfortable employing because it implies a third-generation Chinese-Canadian engineering student at U of T and a first-generation Sikh-Canadian construction worker in Burnaby have some great bond because their ancestors aren't from Britain or France (or First Nations.)
I prefer to use “new Canadian” to mean those who are new to the country and perhaps their children, and then individual ethnicity groups (Chinese-Canadian, Indo-Canadian, etc.) to denote existing sets of voters with a shared and particular cultural community. " continue reading

Canada's 'country brand' No. 2

James Cowan, National Post, November 11, 2008
Canada now has the second best "country brand" in the world, according to a study that suggests only Australia has done a better job of shaping its image as a travel destination. continue reading

See also:

• When a nation becomes a commodity: The Country Brand Index 2008
  by Anna Brones Nov 11th 2008,
  The 2008 study conducted by Future Brand, a global brand consulting firm, used rankings from 30 different categories to come up with the final index. Among the categories were History, Standard of Living, Friendly Locals and Environmentalism. It's like a beauty pageant for countries, with the most well-rounded coming out on top. Here are the top ten:
  Australia
  Canada
  USA
  Italy
  Switzerland
  France
  New Zealand
  United Kingdom
  Japan
  Sweden continue reading
• Country as Brand: Unveiling the Country ...

Zellers "Everything from A to Z" alphabet commercial

Not all transitions are equal -- Canadian educational scenario is no exception

The relationship between a) inequality of educational opportunities and b) inequality of educational outcomes is a dictum (or punchline) true for both the Canadian educated and those educated abroad.

Some of the profressions require Canadian certification (see Regulated occupation). For example, if an engineer qualified in a foreign country comes to Canada, he has to complete his professional competency test in Canada.
But, there are many jobs --skilled and professional -- that donot have a certification and local assessment (see Non-regulated occupation, Skill Types, Skill Levels, plus much more). Such professionals must be tested and hired in other ways.

Interesting quote on how to find a solution for the Canadian new comers:

"...Controversially, it would make sense to assign newcomers to a particular geographic area, e.g. if you want in to our country, you must have "x" type of skills and can only live in a certain city or town. You must live there for at least five years and use your skills there, or else "no soup for you" (e.g. no landed status, no access to government benefits). Sounds rather harsh. And useless unless our government expedites the recognition of pre-existing credentials, and provides more supported "Canadian experience" programs so that employers will hire these newcomers..." Mark Swartz @ Any Canadians out there? - Secrets of the Job Hunt Network.

Please join our poll (poll is right up in this blog--right column, top side) on Canadian experience: Myth or reality. The poll is open now and your opinion is highly appreciated.

See also:

• Statistics Canada. The Dynamics of Overqualification: Canada’s Underemployed University Graduate
  More than one-half (52%) of recent immigrants with a university degree worked in a job requiring only high school education at some point during the six-year period. This was almost twice the proportion of 28% among their Canadian-born counterparts. April, 2006.
  
• Alberta Federation of Labour. Background Information on Temporary Foreign Workers
  
  
• [pdf] Like Sons and Daughters of Hong Kong: The Return of the Young Generation, Janet Salaff, Professor Emerita, Department of Sociology, University of Toronto, Honorary Research Fellow CAS, HKU, (corresponding author, contactsalaff@chass.utoronto.ca) [There is global competition for skilled labor, and as a result, transnational migrants have become important resources. The term “transnational” refers to people’s connections between different global locations, as manifested in their personal moves and flows of in- formation in which they are involved. In this sense, transnationalism is a concrete embod-iment of globalism. Our qualitative research studies 24 transnational young adults, who migrated with their families from Hong Kong to Toronto (1985-1996, at ages 8-19). Ten years after the Handover, many children of immigrant families who obtained overseas citizenship and education and are now facing the choice of where to work and live. This paper analyses the factors that contribute to the residency decisions being made by the children of those who left. Our analysis incorporates: (1) Macro-level processes: the citizenship rights of this younger generation in two countries and how labour markets re- cognize their training, credentials, and experience; (2) Meso-level processes: the family, social networks, and organizations that create transnational contacts; (3) Micro-level pro- cesses: personal definitions of the situation that include their notion of home and identity.
  We find that while some of the younger generation chose between Hong Kong and Canada, many are transnational in their intentions, not choosing to permanently return to Hong Kong nor to permanently remain in Canada. We find that their social networks greatly influence their settlement decisions. Having roots in Hong Kong they are able to fit easily into society, but their return should not be taken for granted. They need to be motivated to return, their complex needs should be addressed.]

Related post: Not all opportunities are equal -- Canadian job market is no exception

Speaking Canadian - Talking Canadian Eh to Zed

On the same shelf:

EH IS CANADIAN, EH?: USAGE, FUNCTIONS AND THE IDENTITY CRISIS OF EH, By Kailin Wright

How to Speak Canadian ~~ How to Speak American

How to Speak Canadian

Guess Who is a True Canadian: With Malice Towards None

You know you are Canadian when...

• You have Canadian Tire money in your kitchen drawers; You use a red pen on your non-Canadian textbooks and fill in the missing 'u's from labor, honor, and color. . Much more @ WOW Stories Wish Only Well

All-0f-the-above + You may be a little too Canadian if...

• You automatically read 'Z' as 'Zed' and don't give a damn that it doesn't rhyme with "now I know my abcs"; "Eh?" is a very important part of your vocabulary and more polite than, "Huh?" More by Istvan

You Know You are Canadian When…: This little video brings back childhood memories.

Canada: The land of opportunity and hope

Welcome. Bonjour.

Canada as we all know is a great land of opportunity and hope. It is bestowed with economic prosperity, educational institutions that produce highly skilled professionals, a quality of life based on excellent health care, and a country that is endowed with a vast land, clean air and fresh water, all synchronized for a safe and secure environment. Canada has a democratic civil society, a society in which universal human rights and individual political representation are guaranteed. It is hoped that as a new comer, you will carve your own future and bring forth the heritage of your own to Canada, where you will be proud to refer to as home and soon say O' Canada!

This Blog is a humble attempt by one who wants to pay back for all that Canada gave to an immigrant. This blog, then, aims to help the new comers find suitable sources of information, sources that help make their ends meet--easily, effectively and efficiently.

Your suggestions are most welcome to improve the content, context and communication. Mail your comments to the blogmaster.

Q. Why do we need another blog, when there are so many sites doing this?

A. This blog will supplement and compliment information posted on our Website--described below. While the Website has a slant towards South Asians, in this blog, we will focus on all immigrants (irrespective of their country).

Our Website collects all relevant information to facilitate an easy way for the new landed immigrants to find what they need most: http://dear.to/toronto.

Title of our Website:
A Pathfinder for Immigrants to Canada (esp., Toronto).

Description:
Website for desi, by desi and with desi relevance. It is a guide for all immigrants in Toronto, esp. South Asians. In the first section are links to find jobs (survival jobs, professional job hunt services), employment and career resources and resource centres (HRDC, ERC, TPL, etc.), job workshop and co-op opportunities, credential evaluation, and much more.

In another section are the Websites that connect desi society and with links to community centres. The last section-A MUST READ BEFORE LANDING-includes alerts about what works, and what does not work for new immigrants--be aware of scams, frauds, etc. In addition are desi news resources, such as, Employment News, Immigrant Newsline and E-DesiNews.com.

URL:
http://akbanis.freeservers.com/guide.htm shortcut: http://dear.to/toronto

This Web site is indexed in:
: Canadian Desi Links - Canada Immigration

Toronto and Vancouver bound: the location choice of new Canadian

Amazon.com's Listmania: "Canadian (local) Experience a MUST"

Described in: Immigrant Newsline

Those who come to Canada as immigrants, bring new luck, most of the time. Thanks to the free and open door policy of Canada.