Job Fair Specifically for Refugees Gives Hope to Those Having Trouble Finding Work

CBC News November 13, 2019 employment, immigration, refugees

In this article we hear from Mariam Ajuya , who fled Nigeria with her two children in 2016. This event gave her the chance to meet face to face with employers. Making the personal connection translated in to job offers for Mariam.

For Senator Ratna Omidvar, who fled Iran decades ago, helping refugees navigate the system has always been near and dear to her heart. “Refugees are resilient,” said Omidvar. “Getting ready for the Canadian job market with all of its written and unwritten rules is stressful … but getting the first job is the first stepping stone to success.”

Nearly 150 newcomers with various backgrounds came to the fair. They got to sit down with 15 different prospective employers, including Ikea, Starbucks and FedEx.

All of the companies were chosen because they expressed an interest in hiring refugees and between them, have about 100 positions that need to be filled immediately. The hope is to bring similar refugee job fairs to cities across Canada.