August 2008

Immigrating to Canada can be a difficult journey. But there are services available in Fort McMurray to help you. Settlement services are available to landed immigrants, refugees and live-in caregivers. In this bulletin, we provide information on where and how to find those services.

Learning a new language

Adjusting to a new country is much easier if you know the language. In Fort McMurray, you can get language training at Keyano College.

Keyano offers Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) and classes are offered during the day. The LINC program is free to landed immigrants, refugees and live-in caregivers (not temporary foreign workers). LINC helps students gain an intermediate level of English.

Other courses that Keyano College offers are General English as a Second Language (ESL), English for Professional Purposes and English for Skilled Immigrants (ESI). When a newcomer goes to the college looking for language training, staff will determine which program fits each person. Some courses are free, depending on your immigration status.

“(Newcomers) have made a big decision to come to Canada. They’re very eager to get settled and get their lives back together,” says Liliam Vasquez, English language program coordinator with Keyano College. “It’s very rewarding helping these people—they’re all here to succeed.”

YMCA Immigrant Settlement Services also offers interpretation and translating services for about 11 languages.

“Right now we have 16 volunteers (interpreters and translators) and we can provide services in the following languages: Italian, Russian, Arabic, Somali, Mandarin, Spanish, Portuguese, Gujarati, Hindi, French and German,” says Myra MacKay, programs director at YMCA Immigrant Settlement Services.

YMCA Immigrant Settlement Services:
(780) 791-1115,
#201, 10011 Franklin Avenue

Keyano College:
(780) 751-3903,
8115 Franklin Avenue

Settling into a new home: Finding housing

Finding a place to live in Fort McMurray is difficult for anyone. Housing prices are high and availability is low. But, it is not impossible—there are options available.

In Fort McMurray, you can rent a house, an apartment, or even a room. Some of the best places to look for rental accommodations are the local newspaper, online rental websites and by just keeping your eyes open for “For Rent” signs. For average monthly rental prices (and average monthly real estate prices) in Fort McMurray, visit Wood Buffalo Labour Market Information.

Wood Buffalo Labour Market Information: www.woodbuffalo.net/AboutCostHouse.html, (780) 715-0222

Where to find rentals?

Fort McMurray Today newspaper: (www.fortmcmurraytoday.com),
(780) 743-8186, 8550 Franklin Avenue
Places for Rent website (www.places4rent.com)

For affordable home rental or ownership, contact the Wood Buffalo Housing and Development Corporation. Originally created by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to help residents with the rising housing costs, the organization has helped over 700 clients since 2001.

Online, good places to look for a home to purchase are the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and ComFree. MLS lists all of the homes for sale that are through a real estate agent and Com Free lists private sales (not through a real estate agent). You will need a lawyer either way.

Wood Buffalo Housing and Development Corporation: www.wbhadc.ca, (780) 799-4050, 9th floor, 9915 Franklin Avenue
MLS: www.mls.ca
ComFree: www.comfree.com

Finding a new job: Accreditation and education

An important thing to consider in making the move to Canada is whether your training and education will be recognized here. While you should do this before you move, once you are here, you can access the International Qualification Assessment Service (IQAS). It is a program that looks at the education of internationally-trained people and issues certificates of comparison to Alberta standards.

All tradespeople working in Alberta must have their Alberta certification from Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) or have the Interprovincial Red Seal.

IQAS: employment.alberta.ca/IQAS, (780) 743-7192, 9915 Franklin Avenue
AIT: www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca, (780) 743-7150, 7th floor, 9915 Franklin Avenue
Red Seal: www.red-seal.ca
Keyano College: www.keyano.ca, (780) 791-4800, 8115 Franklin Avenue
Wood Buffalo Labour Market Information (Education resources): www.woodbuffalo.net/linksRESEd.html, (780) 715-0222

Finding a new job: Looking for work

There are many resources in Fort McMurray for finding employment. The Government of Alberta Labour Market Information Centre (LMIC) is a good place to conduct your job search. It provides free access to fax, phone, computers, Internet and photocopiers for your job search.

Another good resource is the Wood Buffalo Labour Market Information website and hotline. Other resources and contact information are found on page 4.

LMIC: employment.alberta.ca, (780) 743-7149, 9915 Franklin Avenue (ask for the Labour Market Information Advisor)
Wood Buffalo Labour Market Information:www.woodbuffalo.net, (780) 715-0222

Settling into a new home:
Community resources

To find settlement services, start with the Multicultural Association of Fort McMurray or YMCA Immigrant Settlement Services. They provide the services available to make settling here easier.

The Host Program at the YMCA partners volunteer residents of Fort McMurray with newcomers so they can adjust to life in Canada and learn about Canadian culture and the community.

“It’s important that (newcomers) are educated about the community and the resources that are here to help them,” says Donna McKeough, project/resource coordinator with the Multicultural Association of Fort McMurray.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo website has information such as transit information, maps, libraries, parks, licensing, social support services, emergency services and events and festivals.

Fort McMurray is in the Northern Lights Health Region (NLHR). Contact them for public health centre locations or for information on doctors who are accepting patients.

Multicultural Association of Fort McMurray: www.mcaonline.ca, (780) 791-5186, 10003 Gordon Avenue
YMCA Immigrant Settlement Services: www.ymca.woodbuffalo.org, (780) 743-2970, #201, 10011 Franklin Avenue
NLHR: www.nlhr.ca, (780) 791-6161
RMWB: www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca, (780) 743-7000, 9909 Franklin Avenue
My McMurray: mymcmurray.com
Wood Buffalo Labour Market Information: www.woodbuffalo.net/linksRESIntro.html, (780) 715-0222

“A lot of the challenges you face coming here are not specifically a newcomer challenge,” says MacKay from the YMCA. “There’s housing, education, access, daycare, busing challenges, and a lack of resources—all of those things (that everyone faces).”

YMCA Immigrant Settlement Services: (780) 743-2970,
#201, 10011 Franklin Avenue

The information in this issue of Labour Market News was current as of the date shown. Employment outlook, salaries and educational programs may change. Please verify the information with additional sources before making career or business investment decisions. Contact us for more information.