Employment Services

Bridge-To-Work Programs

Employment Services at CIWA is dedicated to empowering newcomers through a comprehensive suite of bridge-to-work programs. These programs are tailored to meet the diverse needs of newcomers, whether they have low-skills, mid-skills, or professional backgrounds. Participants in our programs receive specialized training and support in a wide range of industries, including childcare, retail, food service, security, customer service, administration, accounting, interpretation and translation, and more. Our aim is to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to secure meaningful employment opportunities.

In our bridge-to-work programs, participants not only develop occupational skills but also enhance their essential skills and gain insights into Canadian workplace culture and the local labour market. They receive hands-on training, allowing them to build practical skills that are relevant to their desired fields. Moreover, our programs focus on developing essential skills such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and time management, which are crucial for success in any workplace setting.

We understand that securing employment requires more than just skills training. Therefore, our programs also provide comprehensive support in job search and networking skills. Participants benefit from resume writing workshops, interview preparation sessions, and guidance on leveraging professional networks and online job platforms. By equipping newcomers with these vital job search strategies, we aim to enhance their employment prospects and help them navigate the Canadian job market successfully.

Overall, Employment Services at CIWA offers a holistic approach to support newcomers on their journey towards employment. Through our bridge-to-work programs, participants receive specialized training, develop essential skills, gain insights into Canadian workplace culture and the labour market, and receive comprehensive support in their job search efforts. We are committed to empowering newcomers and assisting them in their integration into the Canadian workforce.

Program information below or email employmentservices@ciwa-online.com.

“My participation in the program has equipped me with significant skills to pursue my career and conduct my life in a more meaningful way than before.”

– Success participant

Career Services for Foreign Trained Professionals

CIWA’s Career Services for Foreign Trained Professionals supports immigrant women in Calgary to practice their skills and gain experience needed to enter the Canadian workplace. Clients receive English language enhancement, essential skill training including digital skill building. Career planning includes individualized labour market assessment, employment skill building and job search support. Eleven weeks of classroom training is followed by 12 weeks of Canadian work experience. The program is available to immigrant women who are permanent residents or refugees with a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or higher.

Childcare Training Pathway

Childcare Training Pathway trains and assists low skilled immigrant women to obtain a Child Development Assistant Certificate. Clients receive English language enhancement, essential skill and employment skills training. The program is available to immigrant women with less than twelve years of education and Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 3-4. Eligible clients include permanent residents, refugees and Canadian citizens with language and cultural barriers as approved by Alberta’s Learner Income Support Office.

Early Childhood Educator Employment Training – Level 1

This free part-time employment training, delivered online across Alberta, prepares participants to successfully complete the Level 1 Early Childhood Educator certification delivered by Bow Valley College through CIWA.This project is available to immigrant women who are permanent residents, refugees, Canadian citizens, or CUAET holders. Eligible clients must be over 18 years old and able to work in Alberta, have High school education or higher.

Early Childhood Educator Employment Training – Level 2

This online training prepares participants to successfully complete the Early Childhood Education and Development Certificate Course (ECED) and earn their Level 2 ECE Certificate through the Ministry of Children’s Services. The training is available for immigrant women across Alberta and is delivered by Bow Valley College through CIWA. This project is available to immigrant women who are permanent residents, refugees, Canadian citizens, or CUAET holders have Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7 or higher. Eligible clients must be over 18 years old and able to work in Alberta, have High school education or higher.

Fast Track Employment Training for Immigrant Women

Fast Track Employment Training for Immigrant Women provides mid-skilled immigrant women training in one of 3 tracks, individualized support and employment skills training. The three tracks are Administrative Support Skills, Front Line Customer Service Skills and Protection Skills (security guard). The program is available to immigrant women who are permanent residents with Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5-6.

Food Service Training

Food Service Training provides low to mid skilled immigrant women with training to enter the quick service industry. Clients receive English language enhancement, essential skill and employment skills training. Training includes food safe handling and certification, customer service and cash register handling. The program is available to immigrant women who are permanent residents with Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 3-4.

Labour Market Bridging for Volunteers: Interpretation and Translation

Labour Market Bridging for Volunteers: Interpretation and Translation provides training is a full-time 20-week employment training program which supports bilingual professional women. Participants build skills to become community interpreters as well as translators and gain knowledge and skill to function as freelance interpreters and translators in a self-employed or contractual environment. Training includes the curriculum of Cultural Interpretation Services for Our Communities (CISOC). Clients obtain certification through the Community Interpreter Language Interpreting Skills Assessment Tool (CILISAT). The program follows a social enterprise model, collaborates with businesses and agencies to offer paid interpretation and translation work to program graduates. Eligible clients include permanent residents who currently volunteer with CIWA or who are interested in working with Language Venture: Interpretation and Translation Services. Candidates must have Canadian Language Benchmark of 7 and higher as well as oral and written proficiency in a second language.

Level Up Early Childhood Educator Training Program (formerly Child Development Worker Training for Immigrant Women)

This is a 13-month part-time program offered in collaboration with Bow Valley College. The program prepares CIWA clients, currently working at early learning and child care centers, to provide quality child care in a wide variety of settings and complete the Level 2 Early Childhood Educator Certification. Throughout the program, clients are offered professional support to advance in their careers and to positively impact the lives of children in their care.

Line Cook Training

Line Cook Training provides mid skilled immigrant women with training to enter cook, prep cook and kitchen help roles. Clients receive English language enhancement, essential skill and employment skills training. Training focuses on professionalism, safety and sanitation, kitchen operation, preparation and cooking. The program is available to immigrant women who are permanent residents with Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4-6.

Links to Young Adult Employment

Links to Young Adult Employment provides young immigrant and refugee mothers with training and support to develop a long-term career plans and to enter meaningful employment. Clients receive essential skill training, including digital skill building, Canadian workplace preparation, one-on-one career planning, one-one-one mentoring and employment skill training. The program is available to immigrant mothers who are permanent residents or refugees with and a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 or higher. Ten weeks of classroom training is followed by 14 weeks of Canadian work experience.

Modular Employment

Modular Employment Training provides low skilled immigrant women training to enter housekeeping, room attendant and kitchen help roles. Training includes health and safety, working with others, workplace expectations, customer service, schedules and phones, kitchen help, WHMIS, and room attendant skills. Clients receive one on one resume and job search assistance. The program accepts new clients every Monday year round. The program is available to immigrant women who are permanent residents with Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 2 and higher.

Hospitality Training Program for Immigrant Women

Hositality Training For Immigrant Women is customized training in partnership with SAIT that will provide the knowledge, skills and practical experience to find employment in the hospitality and tourism industry.The program is available to immigrant women who are permanent residents, refugees, or Canadian citizens and have Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLBs) of 6 or higher.

Retail Training Program

Retail Training provides low skilled immigrant women training to enter retail roles. Clients receive English language enhancement, essential skill and employment skills training. Training focuses on customer service, cash handling, health and safety, working with others, food demonstration and entry level job access primarily focused on the grocery sector. The program is available to immigrant women who are permanent residents with twelve years or less of education and a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 3-4.