Mentorship

Our mentoring program assists newcomers, builds inclusive workplaces, and strengthens the ability of Calgary organizations to attract and retain talent.

Whether you are an internationally educated professional living in Calgary or in the process of pre-arrival preparation, we offer mentorship programs that will support you to settle, live, and work in Canada. 

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  • Mentorship
  • I needed an insider's view of my industry, its current state...what courses would benefit me, what seminars and networking circles offered better value, which video conferences and industry magazines to subscribe to, which associations to join. And I was fortunate to get all that from my mentor!
    Vijay Panchmatia
    Mentoring Program Participant

Audio Conversations: Pathways to Belonging and Influence

Strategies and skills of flourishing Canadians, born abroad

Pathways to Belonging and Influence: Strategies and skills of the flourishing Canadians, born abroad is a joint applied research project between Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council (CRIEC) and Bow Valley College. The goal of this research project was to identify common trends, practices and tactics among successful immigrants and determine effective strategies for establishing oneself in Canada. This project is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 

The first part of this project includes a series of audio conversations with immigrants who have successfully established themselves and are flourishing in Canada. The conversations reflect a diversity of experiences. Each person has unique life lessons to share with you. Listen to these conversations or read the transcripts to learn strategies and tips for establishing yourself and experiencing success in Canada.  The second part of this project resulted in a report which summarizes common strategies and practices among successful immigrants.

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Audio and Transcripts

Report

The goal of this research project was to identify common trends, practices, and strategies among successful immigrants for establishing oneself in Canada.

The report highlights ten key strategies identified for success.

View Report

Audio and Transcripts

Report

The goal of this research project was to identify common trends, practices, and strategies among successful immigrants for establishing oneself in Canada.

The report highlights ten key strategies identified for success.

View Report

BVC Partners with CRIEC

Mentoring Initiatives

Bow Valley College, in partnership with the Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council (CRIEC), offers mentorship programs for internationally educated professionals (IEPs). The goal of the program is to connect immigrant professionals with Canadian experienced working professionals in a mentoring partnership.

CRIEC is part of a network of Immigrant Employment Councils (IEC) across the country that support newcomers with career path planning, mentoring, and other strategies to assist newcomers.

 

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Learn about CRIEC

Learn about CRIEC

SmartPathways: Pre-Arrival Mentorship Program

We prepare internationally educated professionals to arrive in Calgary.

This program has been designed to prepare internationally educated immigrants (IEPs) to arrive in Calgary with the tools and information they will need to start building their new career. 

The program includes:

  • 15-20 hours of online training modules facilitated by a Career Coach to prepare IEPs to find a job
  • the opportunity to connect online with a mentor working in a similar field in Calgary 

Program partners include:

Contact SmartPathways@bowvalleycollege.ca for more information and to begin the registration process. 

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Program Overview

Watch this recorded webinar to learn more about the SmartPathways program.

Program Overview

Watch this recorded webinar to learn more about the SmartPathways program.

Face-to-Face Mentoring

A mentorship program with a proven track record

Internationally Educated Professionals (IEPs) face a variety of obstacles when arriving in Canada. The information and guidance they receive can impact their ability to find meaningful employment and be critical to their career and skill-development related decisions.

By participating in a mentoring program, IEPs develop a professional network, learn effective job-search strategies, gain a better understanding of Canadian workplace culture, and obtain industry and occupation-specific information.

This program is made possible through an investment by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. 

For more information on mentorship, email mentorship@bowvalleycollege.ca

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Program Description

The goals of the program are to connect immigrant professionals with Canadian experienced working professionals in a mentoring partnership, build inclusive workplaces, and strengthen the ability of Calgary organizations to attract and retain talent.

This four month structured program includes:

  • 16 weekly meetings over four months - approximately 1-1.5 hours each
  • mentee and mentor orientation session
  • ongoing support by the Mentoring Coordinator
  • opportunities to provide feedback on the program

The one-on-one program is supported by the following sessions:

  • MentorShare sessions - regular gatherings of mentors from across the city who have the opportunity to learn from a mentoring "expert", share mentoring successes and challenges and network amongst themselves
  • MenteeShare sessions - regular gatherings of mentees from across our system who also have the opportunity to learn from a mentoring "expert", share mentoring successes and challenges and network amongst themselves
Become a Mentor

Mentors are established professionals eager and willing to set aside time to develop a supportive professional relationship with a mentee. Mentors must have:

  • at least five years of experience in their fields in Canada
  • a strong understanding of the Canadian workplace culture and knowledge of the skills required to meet the market demands
  • an interest in and an understanding of other cultures
  • previous mentoring experience

To register to be a mentor, visit the CRIEC website for more information.

Become a Mentee

A mentee is a skilled immigrant who is seeking guidance to find employment in Calgary. Mentees will be interviewed as part of the selection process and must:

  • have a total of at least three years of experience in their area of expertise
  • have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 in reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
  • be a permanent resident
  • be able to meet with a mentor during regular work hours

To register, email mentorship@bowvalleycollege.ca. In your email include a copy of your resume and your CLB results or equivalent.

Program Description

The goals of the program are to connect immigrant professionals with Canadian experienced working professionals in a mentoring partnership, build inclusive workplaces, and strengthen the ability of Calgary organizations to attract and retain talent.

This four month structured program includes:

  • 16 weekly meetings over four months - approximately 1-1.5 hours each
  • mentee and mentor orientation session
  • ongoing support by the Mentoring Coordinator
  • opportunities to provide feedback on the program

The one-on-one program is supported by the following sessions:

  • MentorShare sessions - regular gatherings of mentors from across the city who have the opportunity to learn from a mentoring "expert", share mentoring successes and challenges and network amongst themselves
  • MenteeShare sessions - regular gatherings of mentees from across our system who also have the opportunity to learn from a mentoring "expert", share mentoring successes and challenges and network amongst themselves

Become a Mentor

Mentors are established professionals eager and willing to set aside time to develop a supportive professional relationship with a mentee. Mentors must have:

  • at least five years of experience in their fields in Canada
  • a strong understanding of the Canadian workplace culture and knowledge of the skills required to meet the market demands
  • an interest in and an understanding of other cultures
  • previous mentoring experience

To register to be a mentor, visit the CRIEC website for more information.

Become a Mentee

A mentee is a skilled immigrant who is seeking guidance to find employment in Calgary. Mentees will be interviewed as part of the selection process and must:

  • have a total of at least three years of experience in their area of expertise
  • have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 in reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
  • be a permanent resident
  • be able to meet with a mentor during regular work hours

To register, email mentorship@bowvalleycollege.ca. In your email include a copy of your resume and your CLB results or equivalent.

SmartPathways: Pre-Arrival Mentorship Program

SmartPathways: Pre‐Arrival Mentorship Program is not currently accepting new clients. 

Please consider the following pre-arrival support options.

If you plan to arrive to Canada in the next 3 to 12 months:
Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA)

If you plan to arrive to Canada in the next 3 months:
Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council (CRIEC) 
Directions for Immigrants
Corporate Readiness Training Program 

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Program Overview

Watch this recorded webinar to learn more about the SmartPathways program.

Program Overview

Watch this recorded webinar to learn more about the SmartPathways program.

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