Desi News Corp - Index

Desi News Corp - Desi News - June 2009 - Index

Learning English or French
Many newcomers, like you,
want to learn or improve their
English or French to help them in the
workplace and in the community.
A variety of adult language
training programs are available so
you can gain the language skills you
need to work and live in Ontario.
You can learn or improve your
English or French in Adult Non-
Credit ESL/FSL classes.
Classes from beginner to
advanced levels are offered at over
400 locations during the day, at
night, and on weekends to fit your
schedule.
If you are an internationallytrained
individual, you may be
interested in language training that
applies specifically to your profession.
Some school boards also offer
occupation-specific language training
courses. This training is focused on a
wide range of occupational sectors.
Looking for a job?
You’ll find many of these websites
useful:
• www www.hotjobs.ca
.hotjobs.ca
• www www.employcanada.com
.employcanada.com
• www www.monster
.monster.ca
.ca
• www www.canjobs.com
.canjobs.com
• www www.careerexchange.com
.careerexchange.com
• www www.jobboom.com
.jobboom.com
• www www.workopolis.com
.workopolis.com
Search federal government’s
Employment Centres by province
or territory, city or town, or postal
code, at www www.hrsdc.gc.ca.
.hrsdc.gc.ca. Click
on ‘Services where you live’.
Starting your own business
Planning on starting a business?
Go to www www.sbe.gov
.sbe.gov.on.
.on.
ca. If you have a great business idea
and don’t know where to start, look
up www. canadabusiness.ca.
Lawyer Referral Service
The Lawyer Referral Service
(LRS ) can give you the phone number
of a lawyer in your area who
practises the type of law related to
your situation. You can also ask the
LRS to ensure that the lawyer they
suggest speaks your first language.
Calling 1-900-565-4577 has a
service charge of $6 per referral.
This fee is added to your phone bill.
You can call the LRS lawyer for
a free consultation of 30 minutes
maximum. You can decide not to
hire this person as your lawyer,
but you cannot ask the LRS for
another referral for the same legal
problem.
Useful websites
• www www.ontarioimmigration.ca
.ontarioimmigration.ca
• Finding school for your
children: www www.edu.gov
.edu.gov.on.ca
.on.ca
• Getting recognition for education
outside Canada: www www.wes.org
.wes.org
• Learning about the labour
market: www www.ontario.ca,
.ontario.ca, click
on “looking for a job”
• Ontario Workplace Gateway:
www www.labour
.labour.gov
.gov .gov.on.ca
.on.ca
Useful numbers
• Federal Govt Information
(Service Canada)1-800-622-6232
1-800-622-6232
• Ontario Govt Information
(Service Ontario)1-800-267-8097
1-800-267-8097
• To locate a family doctor: 416-
967-2626 in Toronto, or 1-800-
268-7096, ext. 626, from elsewhere
in Ontario.
• Ontario Health Insurance Plan
(OHIP): 1-800-268-1153
153 (toll-free
in Ontario). In Toronto, 416-314-5518.
1-866-797-0000 from anywhere
in Ontario.
• For Telehealth – a free, confidential
telephone service providing health
advice from a registered nurse,
24 hours a day – call 1-866-797-
0000 in Ontario.
• Ontario Driver’s Licence1-800-
1-800-
387-3445
• Employment Standards 1-800-
531-5551
• Citizenship and Immigration
Canada: 1-888-242-2100
• Health INFOline 1-800-268-1153
• Legal Aid 1-800-668-8258
• Centre for Equality Rights in
Accommodation, Ontario-wide:
1-800-263-1139, 139, ext. 29
• Landlord and Tenant Board
1-888-332-3234
• Canada Child Tax Benefit Service 1-
800-387-1193
193
• Canada Customs and Revenue
Agency - Income Tax 1-800-959-8281
• Ontario Seniors’ Info Line
1-888-910-1999
• Ontario Birth/Death Certificates
1-800-461-2156
• Assaulted Women’s Helpline 1-
866-863-0511
• Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868
• AIDS and Sexual Health Information
Line1-800-668-2437
1-800-668-2437
ARRIVAL LOUNGE
Siddhant Nitin Sawant,
better known as Sid, came
to Canada with his parents
Nitin and Jasmine and
brother Aniruddh from
Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
The family is originally
from Mumbai, India.
• Date of arrival May 6, 1996.
• My parents chose Canada
because They wanted us
to move to a place where my
brother and I could receive a
great education. Life in Saudi
Arabia was definitely luxurious,
but the social and
political restrictions were
intense. As friendly as it was,
it was a different way of life,
much more conservative,
especially as we are a liberalminded
family where per-
NARI MAVALWALLA/DESI NEWS
“We chose Canada for education”
sonal freedom and expression is a priority.
• Right now I am holding my breath on my university applications.
Otherwise, I am busy with my duties as President on
my student council, DJ-ing fashion shows, participating in the
dance showcase and preparing for my absurd theatre piece for
my final drama showcase. I work part time in photography and
as a webmaster. Both jobs require a fair deal of creativity and
hard work, both of which I enjoy immensely.
I participated in a South Asian fashion show for a community
organization and am working on my cinematography and
photo editing skills. I am also dedicating a fair amount of time
to original concept scripts. I play the lead in a comedic 30minute
short film by Lily Ahluwalia titled I Do, Do I? about a
young South Asian man who has second thoughts about his
commitment to marriage on the eve of his engagement.
Without any previous experience of an engagement or marriage,
this role was a huge challenge.
• Tips for other young desis on fitting in Don’t be ashamed
of who you are or try to hide your heritage, but also don’t act
like this is India. Participate enthusiastically in all activities in
and out of school – these are opportunities to gain new
skills or better existing ones. Engage in both cultures
in a balanced way, be Canadian with a distinctly
desi flavour. Being brown brings a bit of spice
and flair that enhance the mosaic of this
great country!
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