Employment Services

Bridge-To-Work Programs

At CIWA, our Employment Services team helps immigrant women prepare for meaningful employment in Canada through a variety of free bridge-to-work programs. Whether you are starting your career, changing careers, or building on your professional experience, our programs are designed to help you succeed.

Participants receive industry-specific training in a variety of fields, including childcare, customer service, administration, accounting, interpretation and translation, food services, retail, security, digital marketing, and more.

Our programs combine occupational training with essential workplace skills to help participants succeed in the Canadian labour market.

Participants will:

Build industry-specific and workplace skills
Gain hands-on training and practical experience
Learn about Canadian workplace culture and employer expectations
Improve communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management skills
Receive resume writing, interview preparation, and job search support
Develop networking skills and connect with employment opportunities
Receive personalized career planning and ongoing employment support

Our goal is to help immigrant women gain the skills, confidence, and support they need to build successful careers and contribute to Canada’s workforce.

To learn more, explore the programs below or contact us at: employmentservices@ciwa.org

“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

Office Skills Training for STEM Professionals

CIWA’s Office Skills Training for STEM Professionals program helps immigrant women with permanent resident or refugee status and a CLB 7 or higher join the Canadian workforce. Over 12 weeks of daily classroom training (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), participants improve their English, digital, and workplace skills while receiving personalized career planning, skill building, and job search support. The program launches three times a year in April, August, and November.

Next Intake: August 3, 2026

Training for Translators and Interpreters

The Training for Translators and Interpreters program offers mid-skilled immigrant women training in one of three tracks—Administrative Support, Front Line Customer Service, or Protection Skills (security guard)—along with individualized support and job skills training. It is open to multilingual immigrant women who are permanent residents with a CLB 5–6 and want to turn their language abilities into a paid profession in Canada. This free, 14-week full-time hybrid program runs Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with three annual start dates in April, August, and November.

Next Intake: August 3, 2026

Culinary Skills Training

Culinary Skills Training prepares low-to-mid-skilled immigrant women for entry-level food industry jobs through English, food safety certification, customer service, and kitchen training. Free for permanent residents with a CLB 3-4, this 12-week program offers practical cooking skills, hands-on experience, and one-on-one job search support. Classes run full-time Monday to Friday (9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) with intakes in April, August, and November, helping 50% of recent July 2026 graduates secure jobs before graduation.

Next Intake: August 10, 2026

Hospitality Training Program

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.

Next Intake: September 28, 2026

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.

Childcare Training Pathway

The Childcare Training Pathway helps low-skilled immigrant women earn a Child Development Assistant Certificate through English, essential, and employment training. It is open to women with less than 12 years of education and CLB 3-4, including permanent residents, refugees, and approved Canadian citizens with language or cultural barriers. Partnered with Bow Valley College, this free program combines classroom and hands-on learning to build confidence and workplace skills for a childcare career. Running from August 10, 2026, to March 19, 2027, this full-time, in-person program requires a 7-month commitment with classes Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This program is currently waitlisted due to high demand. We encourage you to register for the waitlist, and we will notify you as soon as a spot becomes available.