Ontario Expands Bridge Training Programs for Newcomers

Building on the ongoing success of Ontario's bridge training program, the government is investing in 22 new bridge training programs and renewing nine others to help skilled newcomers become job-ready for the Ontario work force.  

More than 5,000 newcomers will have access to skills upgrading and job search training. Fifty per cent of participants will be trained for work in the new green economy. Six of the 31 programs announced today are research projects which will explore systemic changes in various professions that would make them more accessible to skilled newcomers. 

Ontario's bridge training programs have a proven track record of helping skilled newcomers get licensed and get work in their field. Training builds on existing skills, with supplemental training, job search assistance, profession-specific language training, mentoring, links with employers and more. 

Here are the organizations which will receive Bridge Training funding under today's announcement.

 

BRAMPTON

Skills for Change (Renewal)

• Trades Win Support Program

• Field: Trades

This program will provide employers in Peel Region with skilled trades workers to meet their labour shortage while educating them about the advantages of hiring skilled newcomers.

 

HAMILTON

Settlement and Integration Services Organization (SISO) (Renewal)

• Bridging for Accounting, Banking and Finance Professionals

• Field: Accounting and Financial Services

This program, for skilled newcomers in the accounting, banking and finance sectors, offers academic and skills development, occupation-specific language training and employment services.  

KITCHENER-WATERLOO

Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce

• New Canadian Employment Connections Project
• Field: Multiple

This program includes activities aimed at changing employer attitudes and practices towards hiring immigrants: seminars, workshops, networking opportunities and a marketing campaign. 

 

OTTAWA

Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology,

• Keeping It Current for Internationally Educated Nurses

• Field: Nursing

This program is for Internationally Educated Nurses seeking employment as Registered Practical Nurses or Registered Nurses.   

Catholic Immigration Centre (Renewal)

• Medical Licensing Bridging Program for International Medical Doctors

• Field: Medicine

This program offers internationally educated doctors training in medical communication, Canadian healthcare culture, familiarity with the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and on-the-job experience.     

La Cité Collégiale

• PRA-TIC

• Field: Information Technology

This program will help skilled newcomers in the information technology and communications field.  

University of Guelph - Alfred, Ontario campus

• Emplois Spécialisés en Soutien à l'Ontario Rural (ESSOR)/ Specialized Employment in Support of Rural Ontario (SESRO)

• Field:  Agrology

This program helps internationally trained Francophone agrologists find work in the field of agrifood and the environment, taking into consideration trends in the green rural economy.   

 

ST. CATHARINES

Niagara Workforce Planning Board

• Niagara Immigrant Connections Initiative
• Field: Multiple
• Systemic Change

This project will work with Niagara-area employers across the various levels of the biotechnology and green economy sectors.  

SUDBURY

Laurentian University

• Professions North/Nord: A Bridging Program for New Canadians

• Field: Financial Services

This bilingual program provides internationally trained accounting and finance professionals with skills upgrading and language, culture and workplace communications training.  

 

TORONTO & AREA     

Accessible Community Counseling and Employment Services (ACCES)

• Human Resources Connections

• Field: Human Resources

This program helps internationally trained human resources professionals find work. Participants will have access to professional networks, mentoring, guest speakers, as well as post-hire services.  

Accessible Community Counseling and Employment Services (ACCES)

• Financial Services Connections - Canadian Business Law

• Field: Financial Services

This program, in partnership with Ryerson, will pilot the development and delivery of an innovative four-week program for internationally trained financial professionals with training in Business Law.     

Accessible Community Counseling and Employment Services (ACCES)

• Engineering Connections: Project Management

• Field: Engineering

This program for internationally trained engineers seeking positions in Project Management includes fundamentals of project management, job search skills and post-employment supports.     

Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (Renewal)

• New Route for International Professionals to Become Ontario Land Surveyors

• Field: Land Surveying

This program will develop and pilot a new licensing process to help internationally trained land surveyors get licensed and find work in their field.

Community Microskills Development Centre

• Green Economy Bridging Program

• Field: Green Economy

This program will help internationally trained project managers, quality assurance technicians, civil engineers and research and development specialists obtain employment in the green economy.  

Community Microskills Development Centre (Renewal)

• Supply Chain Awareness Program for Employment

• Field: Supply Chain

This program responds to the growing labour market demand for supply chain professionals, particularly individuals with backgrounds in purchasing, transportation, engineering or health care. 

George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology

• Enhanced Academic Pathway for Nurses Graduate Certificate

• Field: Nursing

This program helps internationally educated nurses prepare for registration and employment with  course work, clinical placements, training workshops, mentoring and job search assistance.   

Human Resource Professionals Association of Ontario

• Stakeholder Conferences for Internationally Educated Human Resources Professionals

• Field: Human Resources

• Systemic Change

The Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) of Ontario will organize stakeholder conferences in three regions across Ontario to create employment opportunities for internationally educated human resource professionals and enhance awareness among employers.

Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

• .Net Solutions for Internationally Trained IT Professionals

• Field: Information Technology

This program is for internationally trained computer programming professionals seeking employment in the Information Technology sector.    

Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning (RENEWAL)

• Engineering Connections: Software Skills Enhancement Project 

• Field: Engineering

This program offers internationally trained civil and electrical engineers training in sector-specific skills, including engineering codes, workplace safety and relevant computer programs. 

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 353 (IBEW)

• Internationally Trained Electrical Workers' Bridging Program

• Field: Trades

This program is designed to help internationally trained electrical workers learn Canadian construction methods, health and safety standards and achieve technical proficiency. 

JVS Toronto - RENEWAL

• International Professionals Learning to Access Careers and Employment (IPLACE)

• Field: Human Resources

This program helps participants get work as job developers/employment specialists in the not-for-profit employment services sector.    

Mennonite New Life Centre of Toronto

• Bridge Training for Internationally Trained Psychologists and Allied Mental Health Professionals

• Field: Psychology/Mental Health

This program for internationally trained mental health professionals includes academic training,  supervised work experience and clinical supervision in settlement and community health agencies.

Ontario Hospital Association

• A Framework for Integrating Internationally Educated Nurses into the Health Care Workforce

• Field: Nursing

• Systemic Change

This project will enhance the effective integration of internationally educated nurses (IENs) into the health care workplace through the creation and implementation of a practice guide for employers. 

Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE)

• Bridging Internationally Trained Engineers to Job Readiness in the Green Economy

• Field: Green Economy

This program will prepare internationally educated engineers for engineering positions throughout the green economy sector.  

Royal College of Dentists of Canada

• Levelling Access Assessment for National Dental Specialty Examination Eligibility

• Field: Dental Science

• Systemic Change

This project will address the challenges faced by internationally-trained dental specialists (ITDS) in passing the NDSE and becoming eligible for licensure in Ontario and in Canada to work in their field.  

Ryerson University (Renewal)

• International Accounting and Finance Professionals (IAFP) Program

• Field: Finance and Accounting

This program helps internationally trained accountants and financial professionals get licensed and find jobs.   

Ryerson University

• Embedding Cultural Competency Curriculum Within Organizations

• Field: Multiple

• Systemic Change

Ryerson offers a Workplace Communication in Canada (WCC) course to provide participants from any profession with the language and communications training needed to find a job in their field.  

Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology

• Bridging to Green Careers

• Field: Green Economy

This initiative will assist internationally trained professionals with backgrounds in engineering and the natural sciences to secure jobs in the environmental or green sector. 

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (Renewal)

• Professional Access and Integration Enhancement (PAIE III) Program: Environmental Engineers and Geoscientists for a Green Economy

• Field: Engineering/Geoscience

This program helps internationally trained environmental engineers and geoscientists get licensed and employed in their field.    

Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC)

• The Mentoring Partnership

• Field: Multiple

• Funding for systemic change

This project will build the professional networks and knowledge of the Canadian professional environment for up to 1,200 internationally trained individuals annually.

York University

• Building Internationally Educated Nurses' Intercultural Competence Through Technologically Enhanced Learning

• Field: Health Care

This program, available to students in York's Nursing Program for Internationally Educated Nurses, is designed to increase awareness of technology-enhanced learning.