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Written by CNM
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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 01:36 |
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Strong community ties have provided a solid foundation to a successful career as a Sun Life Financial advisor for Sonia Del Rosario. “I believe that working with my ethnic community has provided me with a natural niche. Not only can I serve them in their first language but I also understand what keeps them awake at night and helping them rest easily is the key to success,” she says.
From skill to skill
Sonia came to Canada from the Philippines, where she was a regional manager for a pharmaceutical company. With significant sales experience behind her, the choice to become an advisor was an easy one to make. “My cousin referred me. He remembered that I enjoyed sales and thought I would be good at the job,” she explains.
As it turns out Sonia was far more than “good” as an advisor. Ottawa financial centre manager Darren Howe explains, “Sonia has accomplished some unbelievable things. She was Sun Life Financial’s first ever female recipient of the Order of Merit Blazer (an award for career achievement), she was flown to the Philippines in 2002 to receive the Most Outstanding Filipino Award from the President of the Philippines, and she was named Canada’s Asian Business Person of the Year in 2008 by the Honourable Sheila Copps. She has become an inspiration to other new arrivals in Canada, a true testament that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible at Sun Life Financial.”
Hand in hand with the community
Sonia’s dedication to her community is a big part of her achievements; a fact that she is happy to explain. “My community work and my business are intertwined. I am currently the chairperson of the Philippine Centre Canada and have been the leader of many other associations. Although I do not explicitly ask for business, people in this community know what I do and will approach me. They know how dedicated I am to my community and they trust that.”
If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a Sun Life Financial advisor, please send an e-mail to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or visit www.sunlife.ca/careers/advisor.
Sun Life Financial advisors are contracted with Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc., registered in Quebec as a financial services firm. |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 02 March 2010 10:18 |
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From finding information on how to start a new business to opening a bank account, there are many steps newcomers take to successfully make their way in Canada. Now, an internet resource has been created for newcomers to help them quickly and easily find a range of government services, in addition to settlement services, in their communities, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. This resource is easy to find at www.servicesfornewcomers.cic.gc.ca.
"The Services for Newcomers resource has been put in place to help newcomers find the private sector and government services they need to succeed. With this resource, newcomers will easily find the many services available to them, such as how to buy their first home," said Minister Kenney. "This can only increase their chance of successful integration within their new communities, and this is an important goal for Canada."
The Services for Newcomers resource helps newcomers to Canada locate settlement services in their community, as well as find a range of other federal, provincial, and territorial government services. Newcomers will be able to e-mail the results of their searches to themselves, family members or other newcomers, making it easier to keep track of their search results. This on-line resource will be updated and expanded continually to add more information on services newcomers will likely be searching for when they first arrive.
Settlement services are an essential part of the federal government's immigration program. CIC funds a number of services, including language training, employment related assistance and community service referrals to help newcomers settle, adapt and integrate into Canadian society. These services are delivered in partnership with provinces, territories and community-based organizations. Since 2006, the Government of Canada has tripled immigrant settlement funding, after it had been previously frozen for years.
For more information on CIC programs, please visit www.cic.gc.ca. |
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Written by Press Release
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Thursday, 18 February 2010 16:09 |
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More skilled immigrants to Canada will be able to access the help needed to jump-start their credential recognition process through expanded overseas orientation services in China, India, the Philippines and the United Kingdom, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced.
"We want newcomers to be able to use their skills as soon as possible in Canada,” said Minister Kenney. “This funding will help them jump-start the credential recognition process before they arrive in Canada. It’s good for them and good for the Canadian economy.”
The Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP), run by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC), will receive additional funding of $15 million over the next three years to expand services in India, China and the Philippines. A new office will also open in London, United Kingdom, in the fall of 2011, which will also serve various Nordic and Arab states according to demand.
"Our government is committed to helping newcomers succeed in Canada," said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. "Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is improving foreign credential recognition so that newcomers can maximize their skills. Attracting the best international talent is important to Canada’s long-term economic success."
The CIIP, run by the ACCC, began offering orientation services in the Philippines, China and India on a pilot basis in early 2007. The existing sites, along with the London office, will offer access to more than 70% of the selected federal skilled workers around the world. These locations will also offer access to approximately 44% of selected provincial nominees around the world.
"To date, close to 7,000 people have graduated from the CIIP pilot program overseas," said James Knight, President and CEO, ACCC. "As a result, they are better prepared to contribute to Canada’s prosperity through employment or by starting a new business. ACCC will work with our member institutions and our many partners to expand and enrich CIIP, bringing even greater benefits to newcomers and to Canada."
Newcomers report foreign credential recognition as one of their top challenges once they immigrate to Canada. As part of the Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada has allocated $50M over two years (2009-2010) to support a common approach to foreign credential recognition to better integrate immigrants into the Canadian labour market.
Minister Kenney also spoke of advancements and successes of the federal government in the area of foreign credential recognition in Canada, including the recent announcement of the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications – a landmark agreement between the federal, provincial and territorial governments to speed up foreign credential recognition for newcomers to Canada.
In addition, today Minister Kenney announced the release of the report, A Commitment to Foreign Credential Recognition: Government of Canada Progress Report 2009. To read the report and find further information on the Government of Canada’s services to accelerate the recognition of foreign credentials in Canada, visit www.credentials.gc.ca. |
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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 10:50 |
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La Maison d'hébergement francophone de Toronto will construct a new 20-bed shelter, which will be the first in Toronto for francophone women and their children fleeing domestic violence. This new accessible shelter will give francophone women and their children an opportunity to rebuild their lives, free of violence, through support from a variety of services provided in their own language.
"Francophone women in Toronto have been expecting this shelter for a long time. All women who have lived through episodes of violence can testify to this," says Julie Lassonde, Board Chair, La Maison d'hébergement francophone de Toronto. "The healing process can only take place in one's own language. We will now have a better resource, adapted to our needs and that will help us eliminate violence against women."
The province is investing $5.2 million to support construction of the new shelter. These funds are part of a $50-million province-wide investment in nearly 1,000 infrastructure projects. The projects will improve facilities at social service agencies, and create an estimated 450 jobs throughout Ontario.
"Making the decision to leave an abusive situation takes courage. By providing shelter and counselling to women in their own language and cultural context, we can make that decision an easier one for them to make," Madeleine Meilleur, Ontario Minister of Community and Social Services, said. |
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