Desi News Corp - Index

Desi News Corp - Desi News - July 2009 - Index

2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
2345678901234567890123456789012123456
While the final figures are
still being tabulated, the
campaign, by all accounts,
was a big success in getting
youth to volunteer and get
active in their community.
While Agarwal is not one
to seek the spotlight, his
commitment to volunteering
has not gone unnoticed.
He was one of 20 individuals
and groups to receive
this year’s June Callwood Outstanding
Achievement Awards
for Volunteerism in Ontario.
The award recognizes
volunteers for exceptional
leadership, innovation and
creativity and significant contributions
to their community
and the province.
“I was very humbled to
receive this award; it truly
was an honour,” said Agarwal.
“It encourages me to do more
and it recognizes the fact that
youth are getting involved in
the community.”
The Ministry of Citizenship
and Immigration provides many
programs and services to support
volunteers and volunteerism
in Ontario.
Learn more by visiting www.
citizenship.gov.on.ca.
– COURTESY ONTARIO MINISTR Y
OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION
Free job search workshop for newcomers
India Rainbow has designed a free job search workshop
specifically for newcomers. This workshop will facilitate the
employment of new immigrants in Ontario by familiarizing them
with effective job-search practices and techniques such as
interview preparation, assistance with resumé and cover letter,
career counseling and skills assessment.
For more information, please call 905-275-1976.
Getting settled in, the information you need
Social Insurance Number
To work in Canada and to
receive government benefits
you must have a nine-digit
Social Insurance Number or
SIN number. You can get an
application form through the
Human Resources Centre, run
by the federal government near
you or through your local immigrant-serving
organization, the
post office, or online at www www.ser
ser
vicecan ada.gc.ca/en/sc/sin/
in-dex.shtml. The SIN card will
be sent to you in the mail. There
is a small processing fee.
Health Card
Visit the Ontario Health
Insurance Plan (OHIP) web
site for the most up-to-date
information about health care
coverage in Ontario.
You can also call the Ministry
of Health infoline at 1-800-268-
1153
153 (toll-free in Ontario). In
Toronto, call 416-314-5518.
Your OHIP Health Card
covers...
Examination and treatment
by family physician. Many, but
not all, types of surgery. Referrals
to, and most treatments by,
specialists. X-Rays, many laboratory
tests and vaccinations,
hospital care.
Your OHIP Health Card
does not cover...
Prescription drugs, dental
care, glasses and contact
lenses.
Driver’s licence
You can use a foreign
driver’s licence for 60 days after
you arrive in Canada. After
that, you need to take a driving
test and get an Ontario driver’s
licence.
Contact the Ontario Ministry
of Transportation at 1-800-387-
3445.
ARRIVAL LOUNGE
• Giridhar (holding Vyas) and Rekha Rao flank his brother Baskar and
sister-in-law Sushma. The Raos’ son Aditya is in the centre.
“We chose Canada because it’s so special”
• Date of arrival: I came to Moncton, NB, from Mysore,
India, in October 1996 on a work permit and then moved to
the US.
• We chose Canada because: Canada was known territory.
I was working on a H1 visa in the US. Rekha and I decided to
apply for Canadian immigration so we could work without
worrying about visa issues. We were lucky to get our permanent
resident papers within three months, in January 2001.
• We were GIRIDHAR: I was in IT and am now working in
Toronto with Scotiabank as a senior programmer analyst in
their Information Technology and Solutions division.
REKHA: I am an associate broker at Aon Reed Stenhouse,
an insurance brokerage company.
• The hardest thing for us to adjust to: Was moving without
a job in hand. We moved lock, stock and barrel from Philly on
a U-Haul truck. The first few days were fun as we were excited
about the new place. I started applying through Workopolis
and Monster. It was not the best time to get an IT job just after
Y2K! Within two or three weeks, we were debating if we’d
done a wise thing, immigrating. Those were the toughest days.
Fortunately, I had a job in week five! Rekha got her first job in
about four months. Having lived in Moncton and in Philly, the
Canadian winter did not bother us!
• The best part of moving: The healthcare system. Things
are more systematic here. Toronto is also full of immigrants
– you don’t get the feeling that you are an outsider. We have
people from different parts of the world which makes it diverse
and so special.
• Tip for newcomers: Patience and perseverance! I know
that is easier said than done, but I have gone through it I
speak from first-hand experience. Getting the first break is
difficult – some people are lucky and some are not so
lucky, but most of us have gone through the process.
It might take time to get a job in your field, but
stay focused, keep trying and never give up.Build
your friends’ circle and network. Refer to
web forums before moving here.
iMIGRATE