CPAC Announces New and Renewed Bridge Training Programs
July 30, TORONTO – TORONTO – With new and renewed funding from the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada, the Chinese Professionals Association of Canada (CPAC) is launching two bridge training programs: Gateway for Internationally Educated Nurses Program (IEN) and Gateway for Accounting and Finance Professionals Program (AFP), announced Mr. Eric Xiao, the CPAC Board of Director and the Chair of CPAC Program Committee, here at a press conference at the CPAC Conference Hall. The IEN program is aimed at helping internationally educated nurses obtain registration with theCollegeofNurses Ontarioand subsequent employment in a health care setting, while the AFP program continues to assist immigrants with accounting or finance background in Certified General Accounting certification and employment in accounting or finance field. In addition, CPAC is also partnering withGlendonCollege,YorkUniversityto launch a new Graduate Diploma in General Interpreting for languages such as Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and French.
“For years CPAC has been serving internationally trained professionals in various professions, such as engineering, accounting and finance to obtain professional certification and employment in their field. And now we have moved into the health care sector and we will assist internationally educated nurses from different countries to return to their profession inOntario,” continued Mr. Xiao.
Soo Wong Member of Provincial Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt, who is also a Registered Nurse, praised CPAC’s effort for providing services to help internationally trained professionals. She further stated that “skilled newcomers in our community are an essential part of strengtheningOntario’s economy. Through these two bridge training programs, internationally trained professionals inOntariowill get the training, skills and support they need to help them find employment in their field.”
The Honourable Charles Sousa, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration also added “the Ontario Bridge Training Program helps skilled newcomers get jobs matching their education, qualifications and experience. When newcomers succeed,Ontariosucceeds.”
“Thanks to the support from the government, we have developed new programs and services to meet the ever-evolving needs of the community. We hope to further develop our partnership with the government to enhance our services,” said Dr. Zhao, the President of CPAC.
Ms. Helen Cheung, Manager of CPAC Career Service Centre, mentioned that the IEN program is designed to provide guidance, assistance and training in every step in the registration process and employment services as well. A series of lectures focusing on the differences in nursing practice betweenCanadaand other countries will help internationally educated nurses to understand how to integrate their experience and skills into Canadian context of nursing culture. Other main components of the program such as mentoring support, job shadowing, practice and job placement will give the participants valuable opportunity to gain Canadian experience, said Ms. Cheung.
The 3-year IEN program intends to help over 200 internationally educated nurses from all over the world. In cooperation with University of Toronto Faculty of Nursing, Registered Nurse Association Ontario and Registered Practical Nurse Association Ontario, Care for Nurse Center, Carefirst Seniors & Community Services Association, Skills for Change and Peel Chinese Community Service Hub, CPAC endeavors to provide IENs with strong support to develop their full potentials to reach their career goals and to contribute to the society.
CPAC’s role in the launch of the Glendon program is to reach out to potential participants who might be unfamiliar with interpreting as a career path. CPAC will also provide one-on-one counseling services to them towards the end of their 1st year program. “Our program will alleviate the shortage of interpreters in the medical fields where certified interpreters are in high demand. Moreover, through our partnership with CPAC, we will be able to reach out to immigrant communities, to recruit qualified program participants, and to provide high quality graduates to the labour market,” remarked Dr. Andrew Clifford, Coordinator of the new interpreting program at GlendonCollege.
Having extended to the end of March, 2013, the AFP program will add new components and make revisions to the existing training programs and services. In particular, CGA exam preparation training is added to ensure participants successfully pass the final exams for the certification. Mentoring is also new in the program that will provide one-on-one support and guidance to participants on CGA certification and job search. Now participants are able to select different course packages in the workplace culture and communication, which includes workplace culture and communication training, accounting/finance terminology and enhanced language training, based on their needs and schedule.
About CPAC
The Chinese Professionals Association of Canada (CPAC) is a federally registered not-for-profit organization with about 27,000 members across the country. It is one of the most active organizations that provide career development and training services for immigrant professionals. CPAC has been serving immigrant professionals since its inception in 1992. With growing needs from the increasing immigrant nurses looking for re-entry in nursing profession in Canada, CPAC is committed to deliver this Gateway for international educated nurses program to meet the new challenges.
Photo Gallery of the Press Conference
