Resources
Finding accurate information that is relevant to their chosen occupation; getting foreign credentials recognized; accessing additional training and employment opportunities – there are many paths new immigrants must navigate in order to launch a successful career in Canada. This process, compounded by all the other challenges that come with moving to a new country, can become increasingly overwhelming and discouraging.
Fortunately, there are many resources available to immigrants that can make the transition easier. Here you’ll find a list of organizations and websites to help you get settled in Canada, and begin pursuing a rewarding career in the seniors’ care and living sector.
Occupation-specific resources
Choose2Care
Choose2care is an informational website that provides details for career seekers interested in education/training programs, registration, and employment options for health care assistants in British Columbia.
Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants - Health | Douglas College
This program is for newcomers living in any B.C. community with training and skills as a nurse (RN/LPN/RPN) or health care assistant (HCA). Working one-to-one with knowledgeable career coaches, you will gain valuable resources needed to launch your career in Canada’s health care system.
Nursing Jobs BC
The government of British Columbia has launched an initiative to make it easier for eligible internationally educated nurses (IENs) to find employment in the healthcare sector.
Together with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM), the Nursing Community Assessment Service (NCAS), and Health Match BC (HMBC), the Province is supporting international nurses who want to work in B.C. by:
- consolidating the provincially based assessment processes for IEN candidates;
- offering approximately $9 million in bursaries to help with assessment fees, which is expected to benefit approximately 1,500 IENs in the first year; and
- creating new navigational supports to help IENs navigate the assessment and licensing process.
Regulatory colleges
B.C.’s regulatory colleges ensure their registrants are qualified, competent, and continue to meet the established standards of practice and ethics.
British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)
BCCNM is the provincial regulator for all nurses and midwives in British Columbia. They regulate four nursing designations – licensed practical nurses (LPN), nurse practitioners (NP), registered nurses (RN), and registered psychiatric nurses (RPN) – as well as registered midwives (RM).
BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry
The Registry is a database of credentialed or registered care aides and community health workers working for or wanting to work for, publicly funded employers in B.C. This includes acute care, assisted living care, long-term care, and home and community care. To work in a publicly funded health care organization, all care aides and community health workers are required to register.
College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC)
CPTBC is a not-for-profit organization responsible for regulating the practice of physical therapists in B.C. in the public interest.
College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC)
The College of Occupational Therapists of BC is responsible for ensuring the safe, ethical, and competent practice of occupational therapy in British Columbia.
British Columbia College of Social Workers (BCCSW)
The BC College of Social Workers is the regulatory body for the practice of social work in British Columbia. Their mandate is to protect the public interest by establishing and supporting high standards for qualified registered social workers.
Immigration and integration resources
Government of Canada
A unified website of federal government’s departments and agencies with useful information on jobs, immigration, travel, business, benefits, health, taxes, and government services.
Province of British Columbia
An A–Z of services, organizations, and forms that provides useful information on jobs, immigration, travel, business, benefits, health, taxes, and government services.
HelloBC
HelloBC offers a glimpse of B.C.’s rich history and cultural diversity.
Pre-Arrival
IRCC Pre-Arrival Services
Free in-person and online services to help new immigrants get their education, work experience, and credentials recognized in Canada; connect with employers to find a job; and connect with free services after they arrive in Canada.
Next Stop Canada
A free, online pre-arrival service offering personalized information and orientation to immigrant families on topics such as settlement, education, housing, health, language, and more.
The Active Engagement and Integration Project (AEIP)
AEIP provides free pre-departure services for individuals moving to Canada.
Canadian Orientation Abroad (COA)
COA is a pre-arrival orientation initiative for refugees, federal skilled workers, provincial nominees, family class immigrants, caregivers, and spouses and dependents.
The Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP)
CIIP prepares newcomers to Canada for economic integration before their arrival in Canada.
India2Canada
India2Canada provides pre-arrival guidance to ease the transition to settlement and integration for immigration applicants who have been approved for permanent resident status.
In-TAC Pre-Arrival Services
In-TAC Pre-Arrival Services help to prepare clients who are about to immigrate to Canada so they have faster, more efficient economic and social integration and a seamless connection with post-arrival services in Canada.
Prepare for Canada
Destination Canada Information Inc.’s “Prepare for Canada” program helps prospective immigrants to prepare for success in Canada by delivering quality seminars and information focusing on job preparedness and settlement first steps, operating overseas and in Canada through online and in-person activities.
Settlement
WelcomeBC and the WelcomeBC Newcomers’ Guide
WelcomeBC helps ensure that new British Columbians can settle in, gain employment, become active members of their communities, and contribute fully to the social and economic prosperity of B.C.
The B.C. Newcomers’ Guide will give you the information you and your family need to settle in B.C. quickly and easily.
DIVERSEcity
DIVERSEcity assists immigrants and refugees to become self-sufficient and active participants in the local community.
S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is one of B.C.’s largest social-service agencies assisting new immigrants at all stages of their Canadian experience.
MOSAIC
MOSAIC is a multilingual non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the issues that affect immigrants and refugees in the course of their settlement and integration into Canadian society.
NewtoBC
NewtoBC connects new Canadians with programs and services available to immigrants.
SOICS
SOICS is a registered non-profit organization that offers a range of services and programs to all immigrants and refugees in order to assist in their settlement and integration in the South-Okanagan Similkameen region.
Recognition of international credentials
The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials offers resources on the recognition of academic and occupational credentials for working and studying in Canada.
The Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre
The Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre helps newcomers to Canada find the information they need to get a job or explore careers.
Language and learning assessment/upgrading
Windmill Microlending
Windmill Microlending is Canada’s largest and most successful microlending charity for skilled immigrants and refugees. Windmill addresses the underemployment of skilled newcomers by offering low-interest loans of up to $15,000 to pay for the credentials, licensing, retraining, or professional development needed to achieve career success in Canada. It is a registered charity supported by donors, government, sponsors, and granting agencies.
CLB-OSA
CLB-OSA is an online tool for people who are interested in assessing their English as a Second Language (ESL) skills.
Employment resources
WorkBC
WorkBC helps all current and future residents to navigate B.C.’s labour market.
jobGurus
jobGurus is the most comprehensive job search site for Canada. They include jobs from over 10,000 distinct sources such as employer sites, government agencies, recruiters, and numerous job boards.
ISSofBC
ISSofBC provides free immigrant services including settlement support, employment programs, English classes, and more throughout Metro Vancouver, Squamish and the Okanagan.
Service Canada
Service Canada is the place where Canadians can access the programs, services, and benefits they need from the Government of Canada and its many partners.
Canada JobBank
JobBank is the Canadian government's leading source for jobs and labour market information.
BC Jobs
BCJobs is an online job site listing vacancies in the province.
The Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment
The Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment offers tools and resources for those preparing to work in Canada.
Neuvoo
Neuvoo is a free job search engine that indexes jobs directly for free from companies' career websites, placement agencies, and job boards. The site centralizes all jobs available on the web to help people find new career opportunities.
Indeed Job Search
Indeed Job Search gives you an opportunity to browse vacancies and learn about current industry trends across Canada.
Simply Hired
Simply Hired job site provides an overview of current vacancies for various trades and professions across Canada.
Workopolis
Workopolis is Canada's largest and most popular online job site.
WowJobs
WowJobs allows you to search through thousands of jobs from career and employment sites in Canada.
Employability Skills 2000+
Employability Skills 2000+ are the employability skills, attitudes, and behaviours you need to participate and progress in today’s dynamic world of work.
Workplace culture
Canadian Workplace Culture
Canadian Workplace Culture provides a few tips about communication and behavior standards in a Canadian workplace.
The Canadian Expectations of Work
The Canadian Expectations of Work provides a few tips to help you fit into the Canadian work environment.
10 Tips for Adapting to Canadian Workplace Culture
Helpful tips for adapting to working in Canada.
Canadian workplace values
Canadian workplace values compared with the values of some other countries.
Health and safety resources
WorkSafeBC
WorkSafeBC promotes workplace health and safety for B.C.’s workers and employers.
SafeCare BC
SafeCare BC is the workplace health and safety association for B.C.'s continuing care sector. They help organizations foster a culture of safety by providing evidence-based education and training to seniors’ care workers.
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety provides useful resources on healthy workplaces for employers and employees.
Health Canada
Health Canada offers information on common workplace hazards as well as workplace health and safety.