World Skills Employment Centre

09/30/2026

✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼.

Last night, September 29, 2026, we welcomed graduates of our Job Search Workshop (JSW) to our office for our quarterly JSW Alumni Networking Event, and once again, the energy in the room reminded us why these gatherings are so special.

Because the JSW is delivered virtually, these events give participants an opportunity to meet in person, reconnect with program staff, expand their networks and, most importantly, celebrate each other’s progress. And progress looks different for everyone.

Some alumni shared that they've found employment. Others are landing interviews, completing technical assessments or pursuing opportunities in their fields. Many spoke about something equally important: greater confidence, stronger professional communication and networking skills, renewed motivation, and a better understanding of how to navigate the Canadian job market.

One story from last night captured the spirit of JSW beautifully.
A client shared that she and her daughter completed the workshop together. After their cohort finished, one participant created a WhatsApp group so everyone could continue sharing job postings, resources and information and even visit other organizations together.
Her daughter, being younger than the other participants, chose not to join the group, but her mother continued passing along the information being shared, including job opportunities.
One of those opportunities led to an interview.
And her daughter got the job. 🎉
That is what community can do.

It was also very meaningful to hear alumni describe the sense of belonging and genuine support they experienced at World Skills. As one of our team members said last night: “The success of our clients is our success.”

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗢𝘁𝘁𝗮𝘄𝗮 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀, we have an invitation for you.
The talent in the room last night represented ICT, engineering, HR, legal and consulting services, accounting, architecture, health care and social services, government and public administration, education and research, finance, real estate, manufacturing, construction, transportation, etc. Many are also fully bilingual in English and French.

These are internationally trained professionals who bring education, experience, diverse perspectives and knowledge of international best practices to our labour market. They are ready to contribute.
We invite you to connect with us. Your organization’s next great hire may already be part of the World Skills community.

Thank you to our clients who joined us last night and shared their journey so generously. Your perseverance, mutual support and successes inspire us to keep doing this work.

And a huge shout-out to our amazing JSW Program team!

Here’s to many more connections, opportunities and success stories! 💙

09/30/2026

🧡 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Today, September 30, World Skills joins people across Canada in observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

We honour the children who never returned home from residential schools, the Survivors, their families and communities, and we recognize the lasting and intergenerational impacts of the residential school system on First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.

For World Skills, this day also carries an important responsibility. As an organization that welcomes and supports newcomers as they build their careers and lives in Canada, we believe that becoming part of Canada also means learning about and understanding the histories, cultures and experiences of Indigenous Peoples, and the truths that are fundamental to understanding this country.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation reminds us that reconciliation begins with truth, learning and listening. It calls on all of us, including those who are newer to Canada, to deepen our understanding of the history and legacy of residential schools and the ongoing journey toward reconciliation.

Today, we remember. We honour. We learn. And we reaffirm our commitment to building communities grounded in respect, inclusion and understanding.

Every Child Matters. 🧡

To learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, click here: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html

09/25/2026

📣 Registration is now open for the 9th Annual World Skills Job Fair!

We’re pleased to invite newcomers, internationally trained professionals and all Canadian job seekers to the 9th Annual World Skills Job Fair.

We look forward to bringing employers, job seekers, and community partners together for another opportunity to connect, explore and build meaningful career connections.

📅 Thursday, October 8, 2026
📍 Horticulture Building, Lansdowne Park, Ottawa
👉 Register today: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=u4keRacsGUGAG_oQTswuf1oZUC_iYuRNqDMOtmnitvtUNjFMUjZHNDBaUzM0VFpKSERYU1lGSDVKMCQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl

09/22/2026

🛠️ Invitation to Skilled Trades Lunch & Learn 🛠️

Are you internationally trained and thinking about a career in the Skilled Trades?

Then join us for a virtual Skilled Trades Lunch & Learn to discover career opportunities, learn about available supports, and better understand the pathways to building a rewarding career in the skilled trades.

During this session, you will have the opportunity to:
➡️ Discover skilled trades and in-demand career opportunities
➡️ Learn about available supports, resources, and services
➡️ Hear first-hand experiences from a skilled trades professional
➡️ Explore pathways to apprenticeship, certification, and employment
➡️ Learn about practical next steps to start or advance your skilled trades career

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: Virtual

Whether you are new to the skilled trades, considering a career change, have previous trades experience, or are looking to advance your career, this session is an opportunity to learn more and connect with valuable resources.

Join us and take the next step toward your skilled trades career!

Follow this link to register: b783d799-d151-4d71-9ed5-4664926565cd@451e89bb-2ca7-4119-801b-fa104ecc2e7f?source=copyLinkOneEventsShareDialog" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b783d799-d151-4d71-9ed5-4664926565cd@451e89bb-2ca7-4119-801b-fa104ecc2e7f?source=copyLinkOneEventsShareDialog

We look forward to seeing you there.

09/21/2026

✴️ On September 15, 2026, we were honoured to welcome staff from United Way East Ontario - Centraide de l'Est de l'Ontario and more than 20 professionals from the Ottawa community as part of United Way’s Seeing is Believing Tour.

Our Executive Director, Mengistab Tsegaye, and Ledianis Rivero-Sosa, CCDP®, Director of Client Services, welcomed the group and shared an overview of World Skills’ work, highlighting how we support newcomers, immigrants and refugees in overcoming employment and integration barriers as they build their careers and establish their lives in Ottawa.

We were especially pleased to highlight our longstanding partnership with United Way East Ontario and the impact of its support for our Career Access for Newcomers (CAN) program. Each year, CAN enables World Skills to support close to 700 newcomers through job search training, individualized employment counselling, and opportunities to connect directly with employers.

Importantly, United Way funding also helps us reach newcomers who may not be eligible for federally funded settlement and employment programs, helping ensure that more people can access the support they need to move forward in their careers.

A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us today. And a special thank you to the United Way East Ontario team for including World Skills in this year’s Seeing is Believing Tours and for continuing to invest in our shared community.

🤝 We are grateful for a partnership that helps turn opportunity into meaningful career pathways for newcomers.

09/21/2026

👉 Supporting newcomers goes beyond helping them find a job. It also means helping them understand the systems, services, and resources that support their successful integration into Canadian society and the labour market.

At World Skills Employment Centre, we are committed to helping newcomers in Ottawa build the knowledge, confidence, and connections they need to move forward in their careers and daily lives.

On September 15 we had the pleasure of co-hosting an informative session with Service Canada En and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), focused on essential government services and benefits for newcomers to Canada.

The session covered important topics, including:
🔹 Social Insurance Numbers (SIN) and how to protect this confidential information
🔹 Employment Insurance and other available benefits
🔹 Job Bank and employment-related resources
🔹 Work permits and the rights of temporary foreign workers
🔹 Canadian Dental Care Plan, Canada Pension Plan, and Old Age Security
🔹 Tax filing responsibilities and benefits available to newcomers
🔹 Canada Child Benefit and other financial supports
🔹 Free tax preparation services and resources for newcomers

Our presenters, Carrie from Service Canada and Charlaine from CRA, shared valuable information and answered participants’ questions, helping them better understand how to access the services available to them.

Sessions like this can make a meaningful difference in a newcomer’s settlement journey. Understanding how to apply for benefits, file taxes, protect personal information, and access employment resources helps newcomers make informed decisions, avoid confusion, and feel more confident as they build their lives in Canada.

At World Skills, we believe that access to the right information is an important part of employment and settlement success. Through our employment counselling, workshops, information sessions, and partnerships with community and government organizations, we help newcomers navigate the Canadian job market, understand workplace expectations, explore career opportunities, and connect with resources that support their goals.

A big thank you to Service Canada and CRA for sharing their expertise and to all the participants who joined us and asked thoughtful questions.
Together, we are helping newcomers in Ottawa take informed steps toward greater independence, confidence, and participation in the Canadian labour market.

08/05/2026

📢 We have a very exciting announcement!

Effective August 1, 2026, World Skills Employment Centre is officially part of the Employment Ontario’s Integrated Employment Services (IES) system.

More information about when we will start offering Employment Ontario services will be available soon.

For the complete news release, check our website: https://ottawa-worldskills.org/world-skills-to-deliver-employment-ontario-integrated-employment-services/

07/28/2026

📢 We're hiring!

👉 Are you passionate about building employer partnerships and creating meaningful employment opportunities for newcomers?

We are looking for an 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 to join our Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA) team. If you have experience in employer engagement, business development, or partnership building and want to make a real impact, we'd love to hear from you.

🗓️ Application deadline: Monday, August 3, 2026.

View the full job posting and apply today! ⤵️

https://ottawa-worldskills.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/SOPA-Employer-Engagement-Coordinator-July2026.pdf

07/10/2026

On July 9, 2026, we hosted an engaging and informative in-person session, "𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮’𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁" bringing together newcomer job seekers eager to better understand how to navigate the Canadian employment landscape with confidence.

Led by Diego De Fabio, Senior IT Project Manager and long-time mentor to newcomer professionals, the session provided practical insights into both public and private sector recruitment, helping participants better understand the differences between the two hiring processes and how to position themselves for success in each.

Diego started with an overview of Canada's growing IT sector, and the discussion expanded to include valuable strategies that apply across all professions. He also shared tips about resume and LinkedIn optimization, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), interview preparation, networking, and practical approaches to standing out in today's competitive Canadian job market.

One of the highlights of the evening was Diego's passion for mentoring internationally trained professionals and his commitment to sharing practical advice drawn from years of leadership experience across the public sector, banking, and technology industries. His real-world insights and encouragement inspired attendees to approach their job search with greater confidence and a clearer understanding of employer expectations.

At World Skills, we remain committed to equipping newcomers with the knowledge, tools, and connections they need to successfully integrate into the Canadian workforce. Sessions like these are an important part of our mission to empower internationally trained professionals and help them build meaningful careers in Canada.

A sincere thank you to Diego de Fabio for generously sharing his expertise, experience, and time with newcomer job seekers. His dedication to supporting newcomer talent continues to make a meaningful difference for our clients. A shout-out to our team as well, especially Rana Ghandour who organized and coordinated the session.

If your organization would like to support newcomer professionals by sharing industry insights, hosting career talks, participating in networking events, or mentoring internationally trained talent, we would love to hear from you.

📩 Contact World Skills Employment Centre to learn how you can get involved: https://lnkd.in/dGtwdTY

For newcomers interested in our services and sessions like this, visit our website to learn how you can become a client: https://lnkd.in/gunRgQzR

07/01/2026

✨ Celebrating the Employers and Leaders who Make Newcomer Success Possible ✨

On June 25, 2026 we had the privilege of hosting our inaugural 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁, an evening dedicated to celebrating the remarkable organizations and individuals whose leadership, partnership, and generosity continue to transform the lives of newcomers across our community.

From meaningful conversations and new connections to interactive games, networking, and heartfelt moments of recognition, the evening was a true celebration of what can be achieved when employers, community leaders, and employment professionals come together with a shared purpose: creating opportunities for internationally trained professionals to thrive in Canada.

We were honoured to recognize four outstanding Employer Champions: World University Services Canada (WUSC), IBM Canada, the University of Ottawa, and Ottawa Safety Council, along with five inspiring Leadership Champions: Allison Janota, Mike DesLauriers, Mark Carmosino, Sari Cantor, and Mayank Sharma , Executive MBA, for their exceptional commitment to newcomer workforce integration. Their leadership reminds us that inclusive hiring, mentorship, and community collaboration change lives every day.

This event was also the culmination of months of planning and collaboration, and it would not have been possible without the dedication of so many people behind the scenes. A very special thank you goes to Gemma Follini, whose leadership, and tireless coordination brought this event to life. We are equally grateful to our incredible Employer Engagement Team, our Empowering Racialized Newcomer Women (ERNW) Team, and the many World Skills staff members who contributed their time, creativity, and energy to ensure every detail reflected the spirit of appreciation and excellence that defines our organization.

A very special thank you also goes to Sylvia McDonald, Workforce Development Coordinator at the Ontario Training Board / Commission de formation de l'Est Ontarien, for her partnership and support. As one of our event sponsors, Sylvia and the EOTB team helped make this celebration possible through their generous contributions. We are truly grateful for her collaboration and for EOTB's ongoing commitment to workforce development and creating opportunities for newcomers across our region.

To our award recipients, employer partners, community leaders, and everyone who joined us that evening, thank you. Your commitment continues to create pathways to meaningful employment and strengthens a more inclusive workforce for everyone.

📖 We invite you to read our blog and learn more about the remarkable people and partnerships behind this unforgettable evening: https://ottawa-worldskills.org/celebrating-the-employers-and-leaders-who-make-newcomer-success-possible/

World Skills Employment Centre proudly celebrated the employers and community leaders whose commitment to newcomer employment continues to transform lives and strengthen Canada's workforce. Discover how our 2026 Employer Appreciation & Networking Event honoured four outstanding Employer Champions an...