Who's at the top?
Article adapted and/or reprinted with permission from the Toronto Star.
Here are the top 20 Best Companies for New Canadians, according to a new survey by MediaCorp., and why they're the tops:
i3DVR INTERNATIONAL INC.(Toronto)
i3dvr.ca
- Hiring policy dictates that they hire the most qualified applicant, no matter what school, country or length of time in Canada
- Gives new Canadian candidates a technical skills test to evaluate their suitability for positions
- Encourages new Canadian hires to develop their English skills on the job Ñ English-language fluency is not a prerequisite for some positions
- New Canadians make up 50 per cent of the head office workforce
WARDROP ENGINEERING INC. (Winnipeg)
wardrop.com
- Helps new Canadian employees obtain their P.Eng. designation with formal technical mentoring and development programs
UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN (Saskatoon)
usask.ca
- Recently introduced an international medical graduate residency program to help new immigrant physicians obtain their licences in Saskatchewan
TORONTO TRANSIT COMMISSION (Toronto)
ttc.ca
- Encourages internationally trained employees to have their credentials assessed by World Education Services (WES)
- Reviews international credentials with WES for all maintenance employees
- Recently joined TRIEC's Mentoring Partnership program
- Conducts regular outreach employment presentations for community centres, programs and agencies that aid new Canadians
TD BANK FINANCIAL GROUP (Toronto)
td.com
- Provides the largest number of relationships in TRIEC's Mentoring Partnership program
Has hired more than half of their Career Bridge interns since the program's inception in 2003
- Developed the financial services industry component of Ryerson University's new Professional Communication for Employment program, which helps new Canadians improve their soft skills
- 50 per cent of trainees in management associate program are internationally trained professionals
ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL (Toronto)
stmichaelshospital.com
- Runs in-house mentorship program, which provides internationally trained professionals interview and communication skills training, and job shadowing opportunities in fields such as HR, laboratory technology, library science, IT and finance
- Published mentorship guidebook called Making Connections: A New Model of Mentoring or Internationally Trained Professionals
- Hired more than half of its Career Bridge interns in 2006
- Advises emerging mentorship programs for internationally educated health care providers, engineers and social workers
- Is a founding member of CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses, an agency that offers mentoring, job shadowing, work-related experience and exam preparation services to help foreign-trained nurses enter the nursing field more quickly
REPLICON INC. (Calgary)
replicon.com
- Provides six-week work placements in a corporate training program, which helps immigrants gain Canadian work experience in their field of expertise
- Provides on-site testing during the hiring process to evaluate the practical skills of new Canadian candidates in addition to considering their international credentials
PROVIDENCE HEALTH CARE (Vancouver)
providencehealthcare.org
- Encourages new Canadian hires to get their international credentials evaluated at point-of-hire by referring them to a provincially recognized evaluation service
- Includes international work experience when determining the starting wage rate of new Canadian employees
- Provides an intensive orientation and training program for internationally trained nurses
- Provides ESL tutoring
MANULIFE FINANCIAL CORP. (Toronto)
manulife.com
- Serves as a host employer with the Career Bridge internship program since its inception in 2003
Hired six former Career Bridge interns in 2006 and is currently hosting five Career Bridge interns
Serves as a host employer in TRIEC's Mentoring Partnership program
- CEO wrote an open letter to the prime minister in 2004 stressing the need for Canada to better integrate skilled immigrants into the workforce
MDS NORDION INC. (Ottawa)
mds.nordion.com
- Serves as an inaugural member of the employer council of champions for Hire Immigrants Ottawa
- Provides intercultural training and language programs to employees
KEANE CANADA INC. (Halifax)
keane.com
- Recognizes international education and work experience
Through local agencies, provides an English-in-the-workplace program for new Canadian employees in conjunction with the Halifax Immigrant Learning Centre and the Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association
- Manages an employee buddy program to help new hires adjust to life in Halifax
KPMG LLP (Toronto)
kpmg.ca
- Serves as a host employer with TRIEC's Mentoring Partnership program for more than two years
- Reimburses the cost of CA equivalency courses or assessments for new Canadian employees writing the CA reciprocity exam
- Operates a training pilot program on how to manage a culturally diverse workforce
ISLAND HEARING SERVICES (Victoria)
islandhearing.com
- Helps new Canadian employees obtain certification with Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA) or other bodies through supervisory work agreements
- Pays the licensing fees for new Canadians seeking to gain certification in Canada
- Provides supplementary training to help new Canadians achieve Canadian equivalency
ENBRIDGE INC.(Calgary)
enbridge.com
- Hired former Career Bridge interns to senior-level positions as project leaders, financial analysts, revenue analysts and IT and system support specialists
- Evaluates international credentials and education of new Canadian job applicants using services like WES
- Manages internal mentorship program that pairs new Canadian employees or interns with a mentor
- Provides an on-site multifaith room
ERNST & YOUNG LLP (Toronto)
ey.com/ca
- Screens candidates on technical skills prior to interview in order to eliminate cultural barriers during the hiring process
- Provides inclusiveness training workshops to all their recruiters
- Provides an in-house CA reciprocity exam for employees with international credentials
- Participates in TRIEC's Mentoring Partnership program
CIBC (Toronto)
cibc.com
- Created a Newcomers to Canada internet portal on its careers website, which provides information on foreign credential assessment
- Works with WES to speed up foreign credential assessment and verification
- Provides ESL classes to employees as part of the corporate training program
- Have hired several former Career Bridge interns as senior financial analysts
- Are active participants in TRIEC's Mentoring Partnership program
CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS CANADA INC. (Waterloo)
christiedigital.com
- Revised interview process to accommodate cultures that have difficulty talking about their strengths
- Interviewers ask candidates to describe their relevant international experience and education
- Attends recruitment fairs and networking breakfasts specifically for internationally educated professionals
- Provides on-site ESL tutors to help internationally trained engineers develop their technical vocabulary
CAE INC. (Montreal)
cae.com
- Is a leading manufacturer of advanced flight simulation systems for civil aviation companies and defence departments in over 100 countries
- Pays educational course fees for new Canadian employees looking to improve their skills or obtain Canadian equivalency
- Offers free in-house English- and French-language courses on weeknights
- Recognizes international undergraduate degrees on par with Canadian undergraduate degrees
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BANK OF CANADA (Montreal)
bdc.ca
- Recognizes foreign credentials and experience when screening applications
ASSOCIATED ENGINEERING GROUP LTD. (Edmonton)
ae.ca
- Provides training and educational support to internationally educated employees obtaining their professional registration
- Mentoring provided so employees can receive Canadian experience to become registered
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