Headlines & Frontlines
Headlines & Frontlines is the latest news of interest to job seekers, career changers, employment specialists and those interested in the world of work. Please note that it is largely a curated collection of information coming from secondary media sources.
Program geared to newcomer women
Are you a newcomer woman who wants to improve your leadership and community research skills and help develop your neighbourhood? If so, consider applying for the upcoming Immigrant Women's Integration Program. IWIP aims to help newcomer women become more engaged with their community, to advocate for themselves, and to develop social networks and connections with local agencies, said Alison Chan, manager of operations and development for the Centre for Community Learning and Development (CCL&D), in an interview last year. This free 12-month skills training course is geared to immigrant women living in St. James Town, Moss Park and Regent Park and Toronto’s http://www.tccld.org/programs/immigrant-women-integration-program/" target="_blank">13 priority neighbourhoods. It starts in September and runs Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants need good oral and written communication skills in English and fluency in a language other than English plus intermediate-level (or higher) computer skills. Applicants must submit a resumé to iwip@tccld.org by July 12.
Work can stress you out
Almost half of working Canadians say that work is the most stressful part of their lives, and many find work is a source of depression and anxiety, according to an Ipsos Reid poll.The online survey of more than 1,000 working Canadians was conducted in April for the Ottawa-based Partners for Mental Health, a nonprofit organization which aims to improve how Canadians deal with mental health issues.The survey found that 16 per cent of working Canadians feel their job is a frequent or ongoing source of feelings of depression, anxiety or other mental health symptoms. The survey also found that two in three Canadians said they would not have an open discussion with their boss about their mental illness.
Canadian Tire is hiring
Canadian Tire is hiring for its Leslie and Lakeshore location as well as for a new store opening soon near Pape and Danforth. Find out about available positions through the Toronto Employment and Social Services’ Employment Opportunities System (EOS). Search using the keywords "Canadian Tire." To apply for these positions, you need an EOS profile. If you have not yet set up your profile, come in to any TESS location or call Shannon Duffy at 416-392-3231 or Sharon Cumberbatch at 416-392-3256. Positions are limited — apply as soon as possible before May 28.
Network with 50 BMO mentors
CultureLink Career Mentoring Club is rolling out this year’s blockbuster event — Networking with 50 BMO Mentors — on June 5. If you are looking for a job with a bank, this event is a great opportunity for you to network with people in the industry. The 50 mentors represent the following professions:
- Banking generalist (two)
- Business consultant (five)
- HR (seven)
- Legal (two)
- Marketing and communications (four)
- Operations (four)
- Private banking (four)
- BMO Products (six)
- Purchasing and procurement (three)
- Risk management (one)
- Technology (seven)
- Wealth management (five)
You must join the Career Mentoring Club to attend — membership is free. The event will be held at St. James Cathedral Centre at 65 Church St. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Members can sign up online.
Volunteer with the PanAm Games
You could be one of 17,000 volunteers supporting the delivery of the PanAm Games when it comes to the GTA in 2015. With various roles available and an exciting training program, volunteers will have the opportunity to make new connections, build their skills and welcome athletes and visitors from across the Americas and the Caribbean. Contact information is being collected now and when the registration process is launched (2014) for volunteers you will be notified to send in your application. If you would like to receive a volunteer notification and updates on the volunteer program, please complete this form.
Calling all would-be food entrepreneurs
Learn the ins and the outs of starting a food business in Toronto at this workshop from 9:30 a.m. to noon on June 10. You’ll hear about how to find a licensed industrial kitchen, develop your business plan and make sure your financing is in place. As well, the City of Toronto’s food and beverage sector specialist Michael Wolfson will talk about branding and developing your products. And, finally, you will hear directly from a food service expert about the paths and pitfalls of setting up a new restaurant, café or catering operation. For more information, contact Michael Wolfson at mwolfso@toronto.ca or 416-392-3830. The $20 registration fee for the How to Start a Food Business workshop covers up to three attendees. The workshop, which is being hosted by The City of Toronto Economic Development and Culture Division in partnership with Enterprise Toronto, will also be held Sept. 13 and Dec. 2. All sessions will be held at the North York Civic Centre Council Chambers at 5100 Yonge St.
Skills shortage in oil and gas companies
Canadian oil and gas companies are being squeezed by skills shortages and a lack of young professionals entering the labour force, according to this press release that discusses the findings of the 2013 Oil and Gas Global Salary Guide, produced by recruiters Hays Oil & Gas. “The Canadian oil and gas industry is watching its talent supply dry up,” said Jim Fearon, of Hays Canada. “A high volume of oil and gas employees are approaching retirement and without attracting a younger work force and addressing skills shortages this sector is facing major challenges to meet its growth potential.”
Feds promote training program that isn’t running yet
The Harper government is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars advertising the new federal Canada Jobs Grant a program that does not yet exist, according to this article from the CBC. Prime-time ads began airing this week during NHL playoff games but “the freshly announced program is at present little more than a concept that has yet to be negotiated with provincial governments, and requires buy-in from employers as well.” The concept requires that Ottawa, the province and the employer kick in up to $5,000 each toward the training of a worker. Legislation to create the federal training grant is still months away from even being considered by Parliament — which is why the TV ads note in fine print that the program is “subject to parliamentary approval.”
Transgendered ex-employee awarded $22,000
A male labourer at a Mississauga factory who was fired while undergoing sex change therapy has been awarded $22,000 and eight months pay by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO), according to this article in the Toronto Star. The case of Maria VanderPutten and Seydaco Packing Corp. is the first of its kind in Ontario looking at how employers must deal with issues related to transgendered employees. In 2008, Vanderputten, who started the sex reassignment process at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, began arriving at work dressed as a woman. According to testimony at a tribunal hearing, once she began doing this other employees began harassing her and the company told her to continue using the men’s washroom and changing room. After Vanderputten was fired in May 2010, she filed a complaint with the HRTO claiming that she was fired due to discrimination based on sex.
Unpaid interships expanding into retail sector
A Queen West clothing store recently posted an advertisement looking for unpaid interns, which probably violates the Employment Standards Act, according to Toronto lawyer Andrew Langille. In his Youth and Work blog post, Langille points out that the circumstances where an employer can get away without paying the minimum wage are extremely limited. “I fail to see the educational benefits of working in retail store,” writes Langille in his post, which suggests that the Ministry of Labour needs to step up enforcement efforts around unpaid internships.
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