TRIEC is pleased to announce that the Achēv (formerly known as Centre for Education & Training), a newcomer settlement service provider, became TRIEC Mentoring Partnership’s newest Community Partner in April 2020.
Established in 1996, Achēv services approximately 110,000 clients each year through settlement services, training, career exploration and coaching in the Greater Toronto Area. They employ 400 people at nine locations including Toronto, Brampton, Malton, Mississauga, Oakville and Richmond Hill.
In this blog, Moya MacKinnon, Vice President, Employment & Newcomer Services at Achēv, talks about the important role immigrants play in Canada and how Achēv will make a change with TRIEC.
Why did you decide to become a community partner in TRIEC Mentoring Partnership?
Achēv brings together employment, settlement and language services under one roof. We see this as an incredible opportunity to further serve and support our clients with services that expedite their integration and connection to success in all of our program areas.
As a Community Partner with TRIEC, our dedicated coaches work to ensure that the appropriate mentee/mentor matches are made. As a result, our clients will be 2.5 times more likely to be in good quality jobs (according to new research). This made the decision to become a TRIEC partner an easy decision. TRIEC Mentoring Partnership helps our teams assist our immigrant and refugee clients to thrive in their communities.
Do you think that immigration is important for growth in Canada? Why?
Canada relies on immigration to fill jobs and support the economy. According to recent research conducted by the Conference Board of Canada, 25% of the country’s population will be over the age of 65 by 2035 and 5,000,000 people will be set to retire. At that time, Canada’s worker-to-retiree ratio is expected to be 2:1, half of what it is today. The demands for highly skilled immigrant talent will be necessary if we wish to remain competitive around the world and help support the aging demographic.
Immigrants bring skills, education, valuable experience that are in demand by Canadian employers; immigration offers a blend of rich cultures and diversity and that enriches the Canadian society.
How do you think the program will help you meet your diversity and inclusion/CSR/Community Engagement goals?
Appreciating diversity is a core value at Achēv. We are champions of newcomers and work collaboratively with (over 3,000) employers to make full use of newcomers’ untapped skills, encourage career advancement and promotion as well as support the development of skilled talent eager to work and thrive in our communities. We believe that we can help our employer partners increase employee engagement while helping their staff gain coaching and leadership experience. Mentors may also use this opportunity to support talent acquisition while helping high-skilled immigrants in their professions.
What would you say to another organization that is thinking about signing up for TRIEC Mentoring Partnership?
Mentoring is a vital component for newcomer service organizations to have as part of its suite of offerings and it provides unique opportunities for newcomer clients and employers, as well as for the organization. This is a highly successful proven model that meets the needs of newcomer mentees and mentors that is often the missing wrap-around support that allows immigrants and employers to thrive.