About the Centre
News/Media

For Immediate Release

October 13, 2009

Board-game inventor to help newcomers tap into their
social networks

Burlington, ON: The Centre for Skills Development & Training will welcome networking expert and board-game inventor John-Paul Hatala at its upcoming ELT Reunion, taking place on Thursday, October 22. The reunion brings together recent graduates of The Centre’s Enhanced Language Training for Internationally Trained Individuals (ELT) program to learn and share their experiences.

“When it comes to looking for a job, an individual’s social network is an often overlooked resource,” said Kathy Mills, Chief Administrative Officer of The Centre. “Newcomers to Canada, and especially the graduates of our ELT program, can benefit from learning how best to use their networks to find work in their own fields.”

The ELT Reunion encourages students and graduates to continue to build their networks so they can identify opportunities to gain Canadian work experience. After Dr. Hatala’s presentation, the graduates will share success stories, demonstrating that newcomers can be successful in Canada if they make use of all the resources available to them.

Dr. Hatala is a Visiting Professor at Louisiana State University’s School of Human Resources Education, and resides in Burlington. He developed the Game of Networking to help individuals understand the sometimes nebulous concepts of networking. An edition of the game is geared specifically to newcomers. Dr. Hatala has also recently released a book entitled "The Strategic Networker: A Learner’s Guide to Effective Networking."

The Centre’s ELT program is for internationally trained individuals who are unemployed or underemployed, and need help finding work in their field in Canada. The program is offered in two formats: an eight-week, full-time day program at the Burlington location; and ELT Your Way, a sixteen-week, part-time program offered at the Milton site with an on-line learning component. There is no cost to eligible participants. Call 905-333-3499 ext. 264 for more information.

The Centre offers a full suite of services to the new immigrant community in Halton. With professional support and in a supportive learning environment, The Centre offers combined LINC/ESL (Language Instruction for Newcomers in Canada/English as a Second Language), as well as ELT. Newcomer Outreach Workers help newcomers in the Halton community access The Centre’s services, and Settlement Information Specialists have recently been added in three of The Centre’s locations. These programs are funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Students also have access to The Centre’s full suite of employment services available at six locations in Halton and Peel.

Funded by:

About The Centre:
The Centre specializes in pre-apprenticeship trades and technology, employment services, corporate development services, language skills and academic upgrading. The Centre offers its programs at locations in Burlington, Georgetown, Malton, Milton, Mississauga and Oakville. For more information, visit www.thecentre.on.ca

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Contact: Barb Krukowski,
Manager, Languages and Newcomer Services
905-333-3499, ext. 146 | krukowskib@thecentre.on.ca

Alternate Contact: Maria McDonald
Manager, Communications
The Centre for Skills Development & Training
905-333-3499 ext. 135 | mcdonaldm@thecentre.on.ca

The Centre for Skills Development & Training
860 Harrington Court
Burlington, ON L7N 3N6
www.thecentre.on.ca