New Mentoring Program for Hamilton’s Internationally Trained Immigrants

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Hamilton, October 31, 2006 – SISO (Settlement & Integration Service Organization) announced today that the Hamilton Mentoring Program for the Banking Sector will continue with a second round, which will include 4 financial institutions and 20 internationally-trained professionals in the area.

The success of the pilot program conducted by SISO and TD Canada Trust in spring, including 6 job offers in the banking sector, has demonstrated that mentoring is an efficient tool for financial institutions to recruit and select internationally-trained professionals who demonstrate the skills and abilities to perform in the Personal and Retail banking industry in Canada and prompted 3 more banks to pledge their commitment for the second round.

Dave May, District Vice President TD Bank Financial Group for Hamilton says” this initiative is an exciting opportunity for TD Bank to take a leadership role in helping new citizens to Hamilton consider employment opportunities consistent with their education and experience. Many of our customers are new to Canada and it is critical the Financial Institutions in Hamilton staff our branches with employees who represent the changing ethnic background of our clients. We see initiatives such as this as a positive and progressive signal that Hamilton should be a place of choice for new immigrants to Canada”.

The second round of the program starts in November with 20 professional matches. Mentors will help internationally-trained professionals gain a solid understanding of the Canadian Personal and Commercial retail banking system, provide access to professional networks and information regarding workplace expectations for the industry. Mentees will be screened and registered through SISO, who also provides on-going follow-up and support for both mentor and mentee during the process. To qualify for the program, internationally-trained professionals need to meet certain eligibility criteria.

Morteza Jafarpour, Executive Director of SISO says, “We new this would be a success and that other companies would follow the example that TD Canada Trust has set in the spring. It is our hope now that the second round will set the stage to expand the Mentoring Program into other occupations next year. SISO’s Employment Programs have a mandate to link internationally-trained professionals and skilled trades people with opportunities to get back into their field and mentoring is a program that has proved successful.”

For more information or to register, call:

Aurelia Tokaci, Manager, Employment Services, SISO at: 905-667-7478.

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