Oh Jimmi, you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind, hey Jimmi! Hey Jimmi!
Brits in Toronto previewed and reviewed the last British Isles Show back in November, and we all had a jolly good time!
Now it’s on again from April 11-13 so get the cucumber sarnies and weak lemon drink packed lunch ready, and head on out.
See you there? Possibly. Might be busy, we’ll see. Will try and make it though. Cheers.
Ooooh, they’re a bit touchy
So, you arrived in Toronto to start a new life, but the job is just not cutting it. You’re thinking about getting some training for a new career path.
How about becoming an immigration consultant? Helping others as you were once helped?
We scouted around and found this course at Herzing College in Toronto: The Immigration Consultant Diploma program.
We have no idea how good the course is, so are just linking it here for your information and not an endorsement.
Shaun wears this T-shirt 24/7 and never takes it off
Shaun contacted Brits in Toronto and bribed us with this opening sentence: “Firstly, big props for the site. As a Yorkshireman who is planning to independently move to Toronto in August, it’s reassuring to see that the city has a small community of fellow Brits who have taken to Toronto as their new home. Also pleasing to see that, despite being across the pond, Brits in Toronto still enjoy a pint and going out to watch the football.”
Shaun is now our new best friend. Which is why he’s today’s “let’s all help a fellow Brit find a job” blog subject.
Here’s what Shaun had to say:
“I am entering Canada on an IEC 12-month working holiday visa, as such I’ve already started researching potential work opportunities in the Toronto area. I currently work for a national youth and community charity in London. I have extensive experience in programme management, youth work and inclusion/access/diversity practice. My current role as an Inclusion Associate Manager requires me to ensure that the community engagement programmes we run are fully accessible to all young people regardless of any physical, societal, cultural or religious barrier.
“I am looking to get into a similar field of work in the non-profit sector, ideally with an organisation that has a youth and community focus, although I am open to other opportunities. I have already identified the recruitment website, Charity Village, which seems to have a good amount of opportunities in the sector I am interested in working in. However, if anyone has any tips or good contacts in Toronto, I would love to hear from them.”
So, there you have it. A forward-planning, caring Brit with an excellent T-shirt is coming to Toronto and looking for job leads and contacts. You can e-mail him at shauncornfoot AT hotmail DOT co DOT uk if you — or a colleague — wants to reach out.
Good luck, Shaun!
Here’s all the deets you need
When you get that curry craving and don’t mind grabbing the passport, jumping in the motor and heading to Mississauga, there’s a place for you to scratch that spicy itch and raise the heat levels a little.
Apni Havelly is located by Dundas Street East and Dixie Road and is worth the drive, I believe.
Because it’s a mix of Pakistani and Indian cuisine, some — not all — of the dishes are extra spicy. Not “blow your head off” levels, but enough to make you want to refill your glass (with the personal big jug of water they give you) more often and blow your nose frequently.
Also, because it’s a Muslim eaterie, alcohol is not an option, so no worries asking a friend to be designated driver — they won’t miss out.
Here’s the menu, but I recommend going on a Friday or Saturday night as they do an excellent buffet, including a generous selection of vegetarian choices and a barbecue section for Tandoori Chicken and spicy sausage.
A few words of caution. It can get quite busy with families on those evenings, so avoid if you are averse to small children running around hot food. Some of the dishes also contain quite a bit of ghee (clarified butter) so although very tasty, they can be quite oily. That may put some diners off.
A DJ/singer starts around 7:00 p.m. on a Saturday night, so leave the restaurant earlier than that if Bollywood songs as you eat are also not your thing.
Having said all that, the food really is delicious. There’s a good salad and dessert section too, and a nice mix of different types of curries. The staff are also extremely friendly and willing to accommodate any special requests.
So, go to the buffet with a very empty stomach and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Apni Havelly gets a Brits in Toronto 4/5 stars.
Canada wants you here, but it will be harder
Two opposing snippets of news the Brits in Toronto crew spotted this week …
Attracting Skilled Newcomers to Canada
“Federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) immigration ministers today reiterated their commitment to actively recruit economic immigrants that have the skills the Canadian economy needs most.
“Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander and Alberta’s Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour Minister Thomas Lukaszuk co-chaired the meeting of FPT ministers responsible for immigration. Economic immigration was a top priority for all ministers around the table.
“Ministers agreed to continue collaborating on building the new active recruitment model which is known as the Expression of Interest (or EOI) system. It is intended to transform Canada’s immigration system into one that is more responsive to labour market needs.”
Proposed Changes By Canadian Government Will Make Getting Citizenship More Difficult
“On February 6, 2014 Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander introduced into Parliament the first comprehensive changes to the Citizenship Act since 1977. Following Conservative government’s practice of giving political names to its legislation, Bill C-24, is titled ‘Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act.’
“According to the Minister Alexander the Bill ‘will protect the value of Canadian citizenship for those who have it while creating a faster and more efficient process for those applying to get it.’ The cost of applying for Canadian Citizenship is also increasing to $400 from $200. This increase is effective immediately.
“Citizenship and Immigration Minister Alexander in a prepared statement also said, ‘Our government is strengthening the value of Canadian citizenship. Canadians understand that citizenship should not be simply a passport of convenience. Citizenship is a pledge of mutual responsibility and a shared commitment to values rooted in our history. I am pleased to bring forward the first comprehensive and overdue reforms of the Citizenship Act in more than a generation.’
So … Canada has programs in place on one hand to attract good people, but makes it harder for them to become citizens? Are we missing something here?
Tools of the trade
An interesting article today in HR Reporter:
“A new international study that will help British- and Irish-trained tradespeople assess their skills against Canadian criteria is being supported by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
“The project is a component of the CIC-funded Canadian Immigrant Integration Program, which provides newcomers with labour market information and helps them gain employment that reflects their skills, credentials and experience.”
Read the full article here.
Aw civil, ooh threw her name in the hat today to be Toronto’s next mayor
The REAL campaign to become Toronto’s next mayor kicked off today when — as widely predicted — Olivia Chow officially announced she’s running for the job.
Brits in Toronto has no political allegiance or bias. We may “crack” the odd joke here and there, but in all honesty, just want to live in a great city like Toronto that is being run well, not costing us a fortune and has some respect.
Not too much to ask, eh?
There are 37 candidates so far, but here’s a quick list of the top prospects (in alphabetical order), links to their policies, agendas and websites and handy anagrams of their names you can break the ice at parties with.
Morgan Baskin = Barking moans
Jeff Billard = Bad jell! Riff?
Olivia Chow = Aw civil, ooh!
Rob Ford = Total clown
David Soknacki = Vodka and sick, I
Karen Stintz = Arts? Zen? Knit!
John Tory = Horny jot
Good luck to all the candidates and may you keep the promises you make during this campaign!
Sometimes it’s smart to do your job search before heading to Canada
Christopher contacted Brits in Toronto to get the word out that he’s heading to Canada, and has wisely started the job search process now. He currently works in an oil refinery, so any leads, tips etc. would be greatly appreciated.
Brits in Toronto has no knowledge whatsoever of that industry, so we could use some help for Christopher! Here is a summary of his resume and contact e-mail:
E-mail: cdp2003 AT btinternet DOT com
Professional Profile
A dedicated, enthusiastic and highly-skilled Supervisory Professional, boasting 25 years’ experience within the petrochemical plant and mechanical engineering industries. Possesses exceptional managerial promise, consistently and effectively co-ordinating and motivating multiple teams of over 20 personnel to meet targets and objectives. A strategic thinker, is adept at problem-solving and thrives in challenging working environments, operating in full adherence to regulations on health and safety. Above all, relishes a dynamic, fast-paced working environment.
Objective
Currently seeking a challenging new position as a Manager, to build on existing supervisory skills and experience.
Career Summary
– Playing a pivotal role as Lead Process Operator within a busy oil refinery, tasked with senior supervisory responsibilities over 2 Control Operators, 5 Unit Operators and up to 20 Trades Personnel
– Heading operations, ensuring that units adhere to operating instructions and meet operational specifications; coordinating outside field positions and training on the TDC 3000 control systems
– Interviewing, training and mentoring new staff into the company; regularly testing team knowledge and signing off on training competency packages, proving key motivational and communication skills
– Ensuring that the preparation of equipment is completed safely and to a set timescale; monitoring, reviewing and approving handheld device routines and resolving issues, using strong problem solving ability
– Responsible for day to day permitry for the authorisation of maintenance work; supervising and signing off on work when complete, demonstrating exceptional managerial skills
– Maintaining utmost levels of health and safety; ensuring that associated security and load documentation is up-to-date at all times, showing sound organisation and time management skills
So, there you have it. Any leads in the petrochemical plant or mechanical engineering industry would be appreciated. Good luck, Christopher!
It might be harder to get one of these in the future
Earlier this month, Minister of Citizenship Chris Alexander tabled Bill C-24, an overhaul to Canada’s citizenship policy. The bill would make it more difficult to obtain Canadian citizenship, by increasing the residency and language requirements, while also increasing penalties for individuals who cheat the system.
Broadly, the bill intends to eliminate citizenship of convenience. It restricts Canadian citizenship to individuals who expect to live and work in Canada.
Brits In Toronto 