All Work and No Play Makes Gautam a Dull Boy

July 29, 2014August 31, 2014CIEC Author

Source: Gautam Nath, Vice President – Balmoral Multicultural Marketing

Contact: (416) 364-0046 Ext. 234; [email protected]

Summer’s here and this is when the city transforms itself. And like every good Canadian, we too have to soak in the sun.

Building your brand is not only about resumes, not only about networking or even not only about volunteering.

One big part of building your brand in Canada is to get to know Canada.

This is now our mother-ship and we now have to take the time, the energy and the effort to learn about it.

Summer brings many events, activities and shows. Many are free and some cost so cut your coat according to your cloth.

Toronto is full of weekends when streets are blocked off to traffic and transformed into a carnival like setting – a bounty of food stalls, trinkets for sale and entertainment where large crowds gather.

Imbibe, that is what I do, visiting at least half a dozen such street fairs in the city every year. Watching, listening, eating and enjoying the ambiance. The variety of ethnicities and culture is amazing – that is Toronto and I expect that is also Vancouver, Calgary as many other big cities in the country.

Then comes the parades – a jamboree of floats, dancers, music and color exhibiting the diversity of our cities and our people.

All in the learning curve, different from back in the home country but essential learning’s for every New Canadian striving to acculturate in this new country of choice.

This makes us proud of our new home, this brings appreciation of the multitude of cultures and people and who knows perhaps your next boss, your peers or your juniors at some point of time in the future. We cannot live without them and they cannot live without us, we are all living happily together.

You cannot build your brand in this environment unless you know and appreciate the environment so while it looks like play, mind you me, it is an integral part of your strategy to move forward.

Summer brings long daylight hours and several opportunities for long weekends too – use them to explore the country outside your city.

Day trips or overnight trips and you will be amazed at what you learn.

The African Lion Safari is not a long flight away in South Africa but a 90 minutes drive from Toronto.

Cottage country has so many options to relax and enjoy a glass of wine under the stars sitting on a lake shore far from the maddening crowds listening to the wail of the loon. Ontario Parks offers camping facilities for the family and kids, learning all about living a rustic outdoor life for a few days – what great family bonding in this otherwise period of stress.

And the sports – baseball, basketball, swimming, jogging or merely walking along the Lakeshore – wonderful activities that come with the sun and the long daylight hours of the summer.

For those lucky enough to have some land to call their own – growing flowers in the front yard and a small vegetable patch in the back brings so much joy to the eye and the kitchen table.

This is summer – Learn to live a bit, live beyond networking and net-giving and worrying about tomorrow, live life today and tomorrow will take care of itself. If you are motivated, recharged and experience the new things around you, your next steps will have that much more energy and bounce. You deserve it, every bit.

Born of Czech and South Asian lineage, Gautam Nath now lives in Toronto. He is the Vice President at Balmoral Multicultural Marketing and serves on several Boards and Committees in the city. Gautam is also the recipient of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award of 2011.

Synergy 2014: Post Event Report

July 23, 2014March 29, 2016Canada India Education Council (CIEC)

November 17, 2014 • Westin Ottawa

On November 17, 2014 CIEC hosted the ‘Canada-India: Synergy in Education’ Conference 2014 in Ottawa. This year’s event took place before CBIE’s annual conference and explored the convergence of sports and entertainment in the education sector.. asking the question: Is India the next frontier? View event photos

Discussed sports management, sports marketing, sports scholarships, talent acquisition, scouting and related topics…
Exchanged ideas & experiences, explore opportunities, pitfalls & challenges, highlight your sports / entertainment programs, network with stakeholders active in both markets and create valuable connections…

With sessions by CBIE and DFATD, augmented by multiple workshop-style sessions led by the Hon. Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), this was a must-attend event for those active or interested in examining India as a possible frontier in this corridor. Hon. Bal Gosal outlined the $200 million set aside by the federal government for sports, including the athlete assistance program. He also discussed trade between Canada & India and projected that once the new trade agreements are in place trade between these nations will triple to $15 billion annually.

Patrick Brown, MP and Co-Chair of the Canada India Parliamentary Association presented on Ottawa’s role in this growing sector. He discussed India’s booming population, counting 500 million young people, and expressed his hopes that we see an influx of these young people coming into Canada. Jennifer Humphries, CBIE presented the details on CBIE’s plan for the future.

Attendees also heard ex- NHL’er Doug Smith lend his expertise and a decade of high performance playing at the elite level. He discussed sport DSmith s injuries as well as athletic programming & how it can benefit academic institutiions. Doug Smith also shared stories of his fascinating life, recovery, and the impact of trauma and injury on sports performance. He also described how behavior drives culture in sports.
Dr. Brian Mcpherson, with 30 years experience in leading government relations, sport marketing and innovative initiatives, described Commonwealth Games Canada and its 3 programs

Participants of Synergy 2014 explored this exciting new frontier and mingled with sports and entertainment figures & key stakeholders in this thought-provoking Conference.

View Synergy 2014 photos.

View previous presentations & photos or view all past events.

Useful links regarding obtaining a VISA

Agenda

Conferences, such as this one, are crucial to Canada-India relations, because they allow for growth and promoting knowledge between the two countries….’

– Hon. Deepak Obhrai, P.C., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights

Events such as this remind us that when many come together for a single cause, much can be accomplished. Prime Minister Harper said: “There is s tremendous amount of potential in our relationship with India. We share a history of cooperation in the Commonwealth and the United Nations, as well as a shared commitment to pluralism, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Our goal is to build a stronger, more dynamic partnership based on shared commercial, political and regional interests.”

As Minister for Multiculturalism, I would like to thank the members of the Canada India Education Council for your ongoing work in support of cooperation between Canada and India in the field of education.

– Hon. Jason Kenney, PC, MP Minister of Employment and Social Development & Minister for Multiculturalism

Click here to view Speaker Profiles

Dalhousie’s Pilot Program Helps Put International Students in NS Workplaces

July 23, 2014August 27, 2014CIEC Author

Source: Chronicle Herald via Academica | July 23, 2014

Dalhousie University has launched a pilot program to help international students establish themselves in Nova Scotia’s workplaces. “We’ve noticed that many [international students] are having to go back to their home countries to do their work terms in order to stay on track… and graduate with our [commerce] program,” said Anna Cranston, Director of Management Career Services at Dal. The new workplace experience program helps international students establish contacts and build their confidence in the Canadian workplace. Students and employers alike learn more about cultural differences as well as the challenges faced by international students looking to join the Canadian workforce. “It’s only a small way but if there’s a way that we can find to make international students feel more comfortable in the workplace and out getting jobs, then maybe there’s a chance that they’re going to stay when they graduate,” said Robert Everist, Chief Operating Officer for Cox & Palmer, a firm that hosted a student this summer. NS recently created pathways to encourage international students to stay in the province post-graduation.

Study Identifies Barriers Experienced by International Students Looking to Work in Canada

July 22, 2014August 27, 2014CIEC Author

Source: Research Findings via Academica | July 22, 2014

A recently-released research project out of the University of Guelph [CIEC Academic Member] and York University examines the experiences of international students transitioning to the Canadian labour market and identifies a number of barriers these students must overcome in order to integrate into employment. The researchers framed the study around the new International Education Strategy, which aims to double the number of international students studying in Canada, and Ontario’s focus on international students as potentially filling labour gaps. The study found that difficulties finding work in one’s field of study, prejudice against international students, and “inconsistency of information and lack of clarity on constantly changing immigration policies and processes” were some of the barriers experienced by international students. The study also found that the respondents viewed the educational experience at Ontario’s PSE institutions very highly, and often found support and employment within the PSE sector after graduation. The report makes several recommendations for PSE, policy makers, and employers to help ease the transition for international students, including creating more internships and co-op employment opportunities.

194 GTU Students Attending Classes in Foreign Universities

July 3, 2014August 27, 2014CIEC Author

Source: Gujarat Technological University Press Release | July 2, 2014

On 18^th June, 2014 GTU honored His Excellency Mr. Steward Beck, High Commissioner of Canada to India at Hotel Courtyard Marriott where a small gathering was organized as a part of his farewell visit to Ahmedabad. GTU initiated its first international experience program with University of Alberta, Canada in the year 2011. Visa Denial can restrict such program to grow. Since 2011 most of the students were granted visa to fly to Canada for IEP. GTU honored High Commissioner of Canada to India for his support and contribution towards the development of the International Experience Program of GTU.

On the occasion Dr. Akshai Aggarwal, Vice Chancellor of GTU said that His Excellency Mr. Steward Beck has always been very pro-active in contributing to the success of GTU IEP. First the Deputy High Commissioner visited GTU and interacted with the students, who wanted to go to Canada. Then H.E. Mr. Steward Beck personally visited GTU. Dr Aggarwal said that GTU was thankful to H.E. Mr. Steward Beck for his constant support in the development of GTU’s IEP.

Presently 194 students of GTU are in foreign universities for the 8 week education program. 98 Students have gone to Laurentian University in Canada, 44 students have gone to Wismar University, Germany while 52 students are studying at Kansas State University in USA. All the students went to foreign universities between 12^th to 14^th June 2014 and their classes started from Monday, 16^th June 2014 in respective campuses.

During the IEP students learn 2 of the subject and also appear in the mid-semester exams of the subjects they studied in a foreign university. GTU credit those marks to the respective students in their semester result. Students don’t only attend the classes during IEP but also go for industrial visits. Exposure to the different educational system, climate, place and culture all together provide a unique opportunity for students to learn.

Since 2011, GTU’s International Experience Program has provided an opportunity to study in foreign Universities for the GTU students. In association with German, Canadian and American Universities GTU’s IEP has turned out to be India’s largest International Experience Program. In the year 2013, GTU also signed MoU with Sias University, China for IEP.

Quotes from Students

Jainam Mehta has gone to Laurentian University, Canada. During the interview he said that he is the first one from his family going abroad. He said that I want to explore to have a new experience in the world so I decided to go to Canada IEP. I have decided to focus on my studies over there and also to explore places.

Another student named Ekta was all excited to go to KSU. She said that I did not sleep on the night previous to departure due to the excitement. I have heard a lot about the advance education system at KSU from the last year IEP students, which tempted me to go to the IEP at KSU. My Mom is worried as I have never travelled without her, but is happy also as this is a great opportunity.

Herzing College

September 20, 2012March 29, 2016CIEC Author

Herzing College has been helping students develop marketable business, design, healthcare, legal and technology skills since 1968. Their curriculum has been shaped to with the input of local employers to keep pace with the evolving requirements of industry. The goal at Herzing is to equip gradates with what they need to acquire financially and emotionally rewarding careers. The career development department provides students with resources and training to help them find success after graduation as their commitment to students is a top priority at Herzing.

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