sgnoticias

(Posted in the Parkdale United Church newsletter "The Messenger") “There are not good refugees or bad refugees, just people in need.” By Sergio Granillo It was the night of April 29, in the premises of the Lawrence Park Community Church of Toronto. In a sober environment, refined and tasteful meals were served: Pasta cooked on the spot, beef kabob dipped in blue cheese, roast beef, sushi, breaded shrimp, surimi salad and wine; a chocolate fountain to dip fruit and marshmallows, pastries and cakes for dessert. There was some entertainment too, live music, a radio and TV personality hosted the night and did some interviews with the organizers; a silent auction took place at the end. All of that was the Gala, the most important event in the year to raise funds by the Anglican United Refugee Alliance (AURA), an ecumenical organization dedicated to facilitate the private sponsorship of refugees. For over 25 years, AURA has sponsored refugees from more than 25 countries. Mary Ito, ...

Short courses in finance and banking (Published in The Canadian Newcomer) By Sergio Granillo One of the main concerns when you come to Canada is to get your credentials recognized, to make valid your University degree and your professional experience. It is hard to accept that, at least for a while, you have to start a new career. And the fact of thinking of developing new skills in a different professional area makes a big difference between getting a ‘survival job’ –and staying there for a long time- and making that job a new career path. This is about my personal experience. I have a degree in Communications, more than 15 years working in marketing, public relations and journalism. Shortly after my arrival, I approached to some orientation centres and workshops to learn how to make a resume according to the Canadian workplace. Networking, a word new to me, came across in this workshop; a very useful tactic to get a job and to move up in the workplace. Luckily, I started my networkin...

(Publicado en El Correo Canadiense) Por Sergio Granillo La tolerancia es una de las mayores virtudes en una cultura, sobre todo en un mundo donde crece día con día la movilidad de personas de una nación a otra, en busca de mejores condiciones de vida. Un mundo global es un mundo sin fronteras, o debería serlo. Canadá es una de las naciones más abiertas a la inmigración de personas de todo el mundo, debido a su dinámica economía, su enorme territorio -el segundo más grande del mundo- y una reducida población -que además está envejeciendo-. No obstante, el proceso de asimilación sigue enfrentando problemas como la falta de conciencia entre empleadores, resistencia al cambio entre algunos grupos y ahora la ‘necia realidad’ que impone nuevos escenarios... El gobierno canadiense recientemente dio a conocer que el total de inmigrantes asentados en el país ya superó los cinco millones, equivalente al 16.2% de todos los habitantes. En la Gran Area de Toronto (GTA por sus siglas en inglés), las...