Jessica Marcotte, Director,
Build ON pre-arrival settlement services
Pre-arrival services are available to help you prepare before arriving in Canada so that you are aware of the expectations and challenges that you will face.
If you've been sent an invitation to receive pre-arrival services before your departure, or another similar document outlining your approval to come to Canada as a Permanent Resident, this is where the Build ON program comes in! We are a free, bilingual, pre-arrival service funded by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for newcomers who are planning their lives in Canada. You are eligible if you are currently located outside of Canada and have been accepted to come to Canada as a permanent resident. Our services are of particular benefit for people interested in working in the skilled trades, engineering and construction sectors in Ontario, Canada; however, our services are universally beneficial even if you do not have a skilled trades or engineering background. If you meet our eligibility criteria, we encourage you to register with Build ON and take advantage of our services!
As soon as your eligibility is validated after your registration, you have immediate access to a broad range of online resources, such as workshop videos, downloadable documents, and webinars that provide valuable information on job searching and Canadian culture. These online resources are located in your dashboard where you can log in to use Build ON services. You are also assigned to an Employment Consultant who is specialized in employment preparation and serving you in your transition needs. We always strive to be as flexible as possible for all clients, therefore you can meet with your Employment Consultant through your preferred method of communication, be it WhatsApp, Viber, Teams, Skype, or Facetime. You simply need to indicate your preference and your assigned Employment Consultant will work to accommodate your needs.
Your Employment Consultant will provide you with a personalized Action Plan based off of the answers you’ve provided in your correspondence and will send you additional resources based on your conversations during your consultation session. The Action Plan contains information tailored to your specific needs and situation. It is a comprehensive document that is instrumental in helping you jump start your preparation and reaching your goals. Overall, it is a guide to help you prepare for Canada, before you officially step foot in Canada.
Additionally, you may also be connected to a mentor in your area of expertise. This connection to a mentor in your field can offer firsthand experience and concrete guidance on the realities of the Canadian workforce. By giving first-hand accounts of the realities of working in your field in Canada, mentors are an extremely useful resource in your preparation. Moving to a new country can be a stressful transition and mentors offer a realistic expectation.
More importantly, if you are in the skilled trades, engineering, or construction sectors, Build ON is definitely the place for you! The Build ON team offers specialized information about the above sectors and can help you with apprenticeship information, trade equivalency assessments, licensure and certification pathways, and everything trade and engineering-related.
If you need help to prepare for work in Ontario's Skilled Trades, Engineering or Construction Sectors before you arrive,
register with Build ON if you haven’t already!