Ottawa, Ontario-The Government of Canada is working hard to resettle at least 40,000 Afghan nationals as quickly and safely as possible. Canada has now welcomed 9,560 Afghan refugees, with more arriving every week.
For many newcomers, getting a job and entering the labour market is a crucial first step to their new life in Canada. It contributes to their successful integration and provides them with self-confidence and a sense of belonging.
ACCES Employment, a service provider organization in the Greater Toronto Area, is a leader in connecting job seekers from diverse backgrounds with employers, such as Maple Leaf Foods, CGI, and Rogers, who have all stepped up to support Afghan refugees.
ACCES offers:
- mentoring support
- translation and language support
- job search workshops, including resume writing and interview preparation
- work placements
- onboarding and post-hire support
To date, ACCES has held 7 virtual job fairs, working with Afghan refugees to explore their work interests and where they want to settle. Through one-on-one virtual conversations with prospective employers, many Afghan newcomers have been given follow-up interviews and have received job offers.
Expanding their reach beyond the Greater Toronto Area, ACCES is beginning to work with TalentPool in Calgary to deliver larger-scale job fairs across Canada. They've also teamed up with IKEA Canada to launch a national Customer Experience Training Program. This program is designed for refugees interested in customer experience strategies, as well as work placements and mentorship opportunities with IKEA.
Photos of previous arrivals of Afghan refugees are available in Dropbox for use by media. You can also monitor Canada's progress on welcoming Afghan refugees to Canada.
