Useful websites
Immigration
Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada website
And the new website from the Government of Canada specifically developed to assist those planning to come to work, study of visit Canada:
Direction Canada website
Getting Started in Canada
Settlement.org - A website sponsored by Immigration Canada and the Province of Ontario to provide newcomers to Ontario with information and answers to questions they may have on settling in Ontario.
Settlement website
Skills for Change - Provides learning and training opportunities for immigrants and refugees so that they can participate in the workplace and wider community.
Skills for Change website
Ontario Ministry of Citizenship Access to Professions and Trades website
Centre for Foreign Trained Professionals and Tradespeople - This organization assists internationally trained professionals in finding work related to their skills or professional background.
Centre for Foreign Trained Professionals and Tradespeople website
COSTI - Provides educational, social and employment services to help all immigrants in the greater Toronto area attain self-sufficiency in Canadian society.
COSTI website
Resources for 'New Canadians'
The government and large Canadian employers have become very aware of the difficulties many new immigrants to Canada face and the need of the Canadian economy to integrate these new Canadians rapidly into the workforce. As a result many resources have been developed, especially in the Greater Toronto Area, to assist foreign-trained professionals.
Job Preparation Programs
The first thing 'new Canadians' need to do is attend and complete a Job Preparation Program to give them the job search and other related skills to be able to properly look for and find suitable positions in their local economy. These programs are usually government or community agency funded and available through Human Resource Development Canada (HRDC) or any of the following agencies: JobStart, COSTI, ACCES, Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre, JVS, Brampton Neighbourhood Centre, Caledon Community Services, Malton Neighbourhood Services, Skills for Change, Humber College and Seneca College. This is a vital first step as you cannot hope to be successful in Canada if you rely on posted and advertised jobs and need to learn the skills given here to help you access the more than 70% of Canadian jobs, in what is called, the 'hidden job market', in Canada.
Internships and Mentoring
The Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) is a multi-stakeholder council that is working to improve access to employment for immigrants in the Toronto region, so they are better able to use the skills, education and experience they bring with them to Canada: TRIEC website. From this site you can contact two other primary resources:
Career Bridge creates paid internship opportunities with employers that are committed to providing relevant work experience to professional-level newcomers
The Mentoring Partnership website which matches skilled immigrants with established professionals who share the same occupation.
ACCA Canada is a corporate partner of TRIEC and The Mentoring Partnership and has also utilized this program to assist us in running our own mentoring program for members in Canada. Members who have established themselves in Canada can satisfy their CPD requirements by mentoring more junior ACCA members. Members who are "New Canadians" can gain help from this program so they are better able to use the skills, education and experience they bring with them to Canada.
Mentees need to meet specific screening requirements and to have completed a Job Preparation Program as detailed above to qualify. Please see the Mentoring Partnership website for full details on this program.
Members who are interested in becoming mentors and mentees can contact the ACCA Canada office to be placed on a list for the next partnering of 10 ACCA mentors with 10 ACCA mentees that will be organized by the ACCA Canada office in conjunction with The Mentoring Partnership.
Other Co-Op Opportunities
North American College - Provides mentoring, experience and exposure to the preparation of financial statements in Canada, operating a Canadian Experience Reference Building program:
North American College website
Volunteer Board Experience
Please be advised that BoardMatch orientation session for prospective board candidates are generally available every few weeks at Metro Hall, Room 307, 55 John St. Toronto (south-east corner of King and John sts). Please check their website or contact them directly for details of the next live orientaton session.
One can register online at the above web address or by calling 905-696-5139 and leaving your name, phone number and e-mail address. Interested persons also have the option of completing the orientation online at the BoardMatch website. Light dinner fare is provided to those attending the live session.
If you would like to join a special orientation for BoardMatch provided to ACCA members, please contact Nigel Hall at the ACCA Canada Offices (416) 966-2225.
BoardMatch also has expanded its operations to the Greater Vancouver area. Contact information for the organization in Vancouver is:
BoardMatch Fundamentals Greater Vancouver
c/o Volunteer Vancouver
301 - 3102 Main Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V5T 3G7
Tel: 604-873-3813
Fax: 604-875-0710
E-mail: BoardMatch@volunteervancouver.ca
Recruitment Consultants
Please note: a full listing of individual recruiters familiar with the ACCA designation and willing to look for positions for ACCAs is also available on this website under 'Members' and 'Students' and 'Employment Information'
Accountemps website (across Canada)
Ajilon Finance website (Formerly Accountants on Call) (Greater Toronto Area)
Dulay Burke Financial Recruitment website (Vancouver)
Hays Accountancy Personnel website (Greater Toronto Area)
Creative Financial Staffing website (Greater Toronto Area)
Robert Half website (across Canada)
The Finance Department Limited website (Southern Ontario)
PTC Financial Staffing website
Staffworks Employment Solutions website