“I want to work… Any work would be OK,” said Omar, 56, who chose Hamilton because of its substantial Yemeni community. “I don’t want to (receive) welfare, but I need it right now to survive.” After hearing about the Immigrants Working Centre from a member of his community, Omar became the first person to sign… Continue reading TradesLink prepares newcomers for jobs in construction
Tag: trades
Hamilton: get ready to meet a new cohort of welders
Mohamad Alshami is a professional welder from Syria – and is ready to launch in the Hamilton workforce. He’s worked for 10 years doing oil pipeline welding and heavy equipment repair. He comes from a long line of welders – his father was a welder, his grandfather was a welder – his great grandfather too. Their family business that was once very successful – is now in ruins.
Beyond Survival: One immigrant’s triumphant journey to self-employment
With over 30 years of automechanic experience in his home country, Nusrat Mehmood did not want to settle for a ‘survival job’ in Canada. Now the owner of Hamilton’s Ustad Kar Kare, Mehmood opened his automobile repair shop just four years after immigrating to Canada. / MICHELLE BOTH By Michelle Both “You have a lot… Continue reading Beyond Survival: One immigrant’s triumphant journey to self-employment
Can women succeed in the skilled trades?
Newcomers to Canada often face multiple challenges when it comes to finding work. For many newcomers, the challenge hinges on red tape – credentials may not be recognized in Canada, or work visas may be denied. When Cornelia Lindsay came to Canada from England, she had problems finding work in her field, but those problems may have been the opportunity she was looking for. Before… Continue reading Can women succeed in the skilled trades?