How to Live and Work in Canada
By Stevie Kremer, eHow Editor
Canadian laws restrict who may immigrate to the country. To qualify for an immigration visa, you must prove that you are skilled or educated in a field that is in demand in Canada (Skilled Worker Class Immigration), prove that you have the money and the know-how to start a new business or buy an existing one in Canada (Business Class Immigration), immediately contribute as a Provincial Nominee who has the education and skills to make an immediate impact to the province or territory or you may be sponsored by a relative who is already a Canadian citizen (Family Class Immigration). Canada, one of the richest nations in the world, does not allow people who are potential drains on its welfare system to enter the country.
How to Live & Work in Canada Step1Hire an immigration lawyer to help you fill out immigration application papers, or read the Canadian government website information, such as that found on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website (see Resources). Step2Determine whether you qualify to enter as a skilled worker. To do this, you must have at least one year of continuous full time work experience in the past ten years, and that work experience must be in a managerial, professional or technical occupation or skilled trade on the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC). Step3Determine whether you qualify to enter as an investor, entrepreneur or self-employed person. Canada expects business immigrants to make at least a $400,000 investment or to own and manage a business in Canada. Canada recognizes three classes of business immigrants: investors (who invest at least $400,000), entrepreneurs (who have a net worth of $300,000 and business experience) and self-employed persons (who have "relevant experience that will make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada or experience in farm management and the intention and ability to purchase and manage a farm in Canada"--Citizenship and Immigration Canada website). Step4Determine whether you qualify to enter as a Provincial Nominee (one who has the "skills, education, and work experience to make an immediate economic contribution to the province or territory that nominates them. They are ready to establish themselves successfully as permanent residents in Canada"--Citizenship and Immigration Canada website). Step5Determine whether you qualify to enter as a sponsored individual. Canada recognizes it is important to help families from other countries reunite in Canada. "If you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, you can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, dependent child (including adopted child) or other eligible relative (such as a parent or grandparent) to become a permanent resident"--Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. Step6Pass a medical exam and background check after you have qualified as an immigrant or been granted a work visa. Then you must apply for a Social Insurance Card, similar to the U.S.'s Social Security Card. You will be expected to pay both Canadian and U.S. employment taxes as long as you remain a U.S. citizen.
Nursing Schools in Canada
By nursing-school-degrees.com
Nursing schools in Canada have not been able to accept as many students a they would like due to the shortage of nursing faculty plaguing nursing programs across the country. This trend has added to the severe nursing shortage in Canada. Nursing schools in Canada have been recruiting 8000 to 9000 annually but it is not enough to keep up with demand. Nursing schools in Canada should be recruiting 12000 students a year.
Hospitals in Canada, where over 94% of RNs are employed, are now seeking registered nurses with baccalaureate degrees in nursing. This evolution in nursing education came about as a result of several factors, including: changing technology, increased patient complexity and acuity, increased responsibility and accountability for RNs, changes in scopes of practice, changes in health care delivery, and particular requirements for specialized care. As of 2005, 66% of registered nurses in Canada held a diploma, 31.5% held a BSN and only 2.4% held a masters degree. Salary studies of registered nurses in Canada confirm that RNs holding baccalaureate degrees in nursing or master’s degrees in nursing earn significantly more than those holding a diploma in nursing.
To help alleviate the backlog of registered nurses waiting to be accepted to post-basic baccalaureate nursing programs (RN to BSN) in Canada and to also offer an online option to those registered nurses seeking to continue working while earning an RN to BSN or MSN, we have put together the most well known and tenured online nursing programs in Canada. These online Canadian nursing schools are fully accredited and offer RN to BSN, RN to MSN and a variety of MSN nursing programs. Take a minute to request free information from our featured online nursing schools to learn more about how they can help you reach your personal and professional goals.
Nursing job Outlook and Nursing Salary Information in Canada
Due to the nursing shortage Canada is experiencing, job security in the field of nursing is great. Nursing schools in Canada are doing more to recruit applicants and fill nursing faculty vacancies but it will be a long time before the number of graduates from Canada’s nursing schools can meet the demand for nurses in the work force. For the present, if you are a registered nurse with a diploma go earn your post-basic baccalaureate nursing degree or RN to BSN to open up new job opportunities that will pay significantly more money. Since many provinces are requiring a baccalaureate in Nursing for a entry-to-practice competency, the influx of baccalaureate nursing degree holders will continue to increase each year. They will be qualified for nursing positions that diploma holders are not. There has not been a better time to start or advance your career in nursing. Request free information from the featured nursing schools in Canada you’ll find below.
Average hourly wages for registered nurses in Canada are listed below:
Ontario hourly wage range: $26.80 to $38.74
Alberta hourly wage range: $27.93 to $36.67
British Columbia hourly wage range: $29.30 to $38.46
Featured Online Nursing Schools in Canada
Chinese New Year in Canada - Learn about Chinese New Year in Canada
By Jane McLean, About.com
How is Chinese New Year Celebrated in Canada?: Canada has a significant Chinese population, with major cities like Vancouver, Montreal and particularly Toronto featuring a bustling Chinatown (or in the case of Toronto, multiple Chinatowns).
Across Canada, every January / February - although the date changes year to year - we celebrate Chinese New Year with parades (see parade photos), performances and food. In 2009, Chinese New Year begins January 26 when we'll be ringing in the Year of the Ox.
Cities in Canada will often have a Chinese community or cultural centre; check these for related events. You may also try tourism websites for events.
Chinese New Year, Vancouver, British Columbia: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden offers a variety of Chinese New Year celebrations, including a parade on the day of Chinese new year.
Chinese New Year, Calgary, Alberta: The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre offers a 3-day celebration of Chinese New Year that culminates in a gala evening that includes the Dragon and Lions Dance.
Chinese New Year, Ottawa, Ontario: The Divine Performing Arts: 2009 World Tour (formerly the Chinese New Year Spectacular) celebrates classical Chinese dance and music inspired by the myths, legends, and beauty of 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture. Shows are at the Ottawa National Arts Centre. See the NAC website for details. The Ottawa Chamber Orchestra presents Chinese New Year Celebrations.
Chinese New Year, Toronto, Ontario: The Divine Performing Arts: 2009 World Tour in Toronto has shows in Toronto in January at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Taste of the World Neighbourhood Bicycle Tours & Walks specializes in food and historical tours, especially in Chinatown and ethnic areas of Toronto. Guide Shirley Lum has special Chinese New Year events planned. Check the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto website for more Chinese New Year events in Toronto
Chinese New Year, Montreal, Quebec: The Divine Performing Arts: 2009 World Tour comes to Montreal in January. The About Guide to Montreal has listed Chinese New Year Events in Montreal . Check the Chinese Community and Cultural Centre and for more Chinese New Year events in Montreal.
Find Your Chinese Zodiac Sign and Learn More about Chinese New Year : Go China Guide, Sara Naumann, gives a nice overview of Chinese New Year, including how to find out your Chinese Zodiac sign. Learn more about Chinese New Year.
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by Gean Oliveira on January 10, 2009
Most people are interested in work and live in Canada. Sometimes, that’s our dream but we really don’t know what to expect, how’s the day-to-day activities and of course, how can we integrate ourselves. I can’t talk for every immigrant living in Canada, but I’d like to say that I am very happy with my experience. If you don’t know this is my second job in Canada and of course I do remember what happened to me during my first day at work in both companies.
I was living in Toronto (still live) and I found a job in Mississauga. Mississauga is part of GTA (Grand Toronto Area). It is a city close to Toronto. I’d say 25-30 minutes by car. We have access to Mississauga using public transportation as well. On my first day at work, I woke up early (I’d say I did not sleep at all), took the bus and then, got at the company around 7:45. Usually, you work in Canadian companies from 9-5. As you could see, more than 1 hour before. It was great, I could relax and think about things that I should say. At 8:45 I went to the office and announced myself to the receptionist that I’d like to talk with Mr. Scott. Scott is his real name. Scott was a very nice guy and even during my interview helped me with some resume mistakes. See how lucky I was? This was not supposed to happens. Some IT terms that I was using were not correct and he asked me if he could make some changes to my resume.
Anyway, the company has 2 floors and while I was at the reception, I could see people coming back and forth and passing by me saying good morning. After 10 minutes, Tommy come by and introduced himself to me. Scott was sick and couldn’t come to work on that day. So, everything that I was planning to say to Scott didn’t work at all. I was greeted by someone else and it was a shock! However, Tommy was also a great person, asked me to go with him to see more about the company, showed me the washrooms, cafeteria and my curb.
We went to a room where I’ve got my ID Card. So, I’ve got my ID and now it is time to see your coworkers. He introduced me to the department and then, as my name is not common in Canada, they started asking me questions on how to pronounce correctly. I tried and tried, but at the end, they’re pronouncing my name like they usually speak - with accent and of course wrong. This could happens to you, too! Remember when you are having an English class? Like pronunciation class? How your teacher spells every single word and you think to yourself: this is not important, as I am not going to use this. My friend, you are completely wrong. This is something that you will say a lot, and of course, spell a lot. So, don’t do what I did and practice.
After that, I went to my curb and Tommy was showing me how to access the internet, the programs that I’d like to use and so on. At the lunch time, he invited me to go out and have lunch with everybody. It was great, we could talk more and you’re the center of the conversation. Be friendly and smile. It is always great when you smile for them. Sometimes I was not even understanding the conversation, but as everybody was laughing, so I was
Even to answer the phone was a problem. Not that I did not know how to answer the phone, but I was nervous in answering questions that possibly I did not know the answer. Took me 3-4 days to create my voice mail. I tried, tried, tried and every time that I saved the message, when I was listening, I was not happy. Things like this, we think that it is simple, but if you’re not comfortable with your English skills, makes a lot of difference.
Finally the first day was gone and I was able to go home. But go home at 5pm? Or stay until 6pm? (In Brazil, we usually work from 8-6). See, another thing that we need to understand, too. As it was summer, people in Canada usually enjoy a lot. Now I understand why - it is too short! After the first weeks of work, I felt more confortable but even with all the help I was receiving, I’d say that only within one month at the company I could enjoy more and really part of a team.
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