Trade Talks
January 26, 2009

Rodel Imbarlina-Ramos

In the current economic downturn, employers are re-evaluating their priorities, and running leaner, more cost-effective operations is increasingly their goal. Not surprisingly, this tends to translate into cuts in cost centres.

Professional development is viewed as one of those so-called cost centres and is a typical victim in any downturn, according to Leona Wilson, president of the Human Resources Professionals Association of Peel. “It’s unfortunate because organizations need to invest continually in their staff to develop their human capital, regardless of economic conditions,” says Wilson. “Plus, there are no-cost options available to employers who look closely at their bottom line.”

One of those options is The Mentoring Partnership. This program provides employers with opportunities to build cross-cultural competencies, enhancing their understanding and engagement of their workforce – and local customer base – that is increasingly culturally diverse.

The Mentoring Partnership matches a working Canadian professional (mentor) with a job-ready skilled immigrant (mentee) in a similar occupation. Mentors provide job search advice by sharing occupationally-specific knowledge, experience and professional networks, helping the mentee navigate the Canadian employment environment more effectively. The mentoring relationship lasts a total of 24 hours over a four-month period, working out to about an hour per week.

The program is coordinated between participating employment agencies serving immigrants (who provide mentees) and employers (who provide mentors) by the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (or TRIEC, which oversees the program).  In Peel, The Mentoring Partnership is delivered through ACCES Employment Services in Brampton, as well as Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Services and Malton Neighbourhood Services in Mississauga.

“Currently, we need more mentors in many fields, but particularly in pharmaceutical, information technology, engineering, teaching, as well as sales and marketing,” says Nitin Dhora, Program Coordinator for The Mentoring Partnership program at Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre. “In Brampton, we need mentors in hospitality management, human resources, engineering, teaching and the sciences,” says Paul Barbosa, Manager of Employment Services – Brampton, ACCES Employment Services.

In recent independent research, 99 per cent of mentors reported that The Mentoring Partnership provided opportunities to develop leadership and coaching skills. Almost 80 per cent of mentors encouraged others to join the program.

Participating in The Mentoring Partnership can help organizations meet their objectives for greater community involvement, diversity and inclusion. However, many are focusing on mentoring as a professional development opportunity aimed at increasing their abilities to engage a more culturally-diverse community, whether from a customer or workforce perspective. And, at no-cost, The Mentoring Partnership provides employers with win-win opportunities in spite of the current economic situation.

For more information on The Mentoring Partnership program, please contact Rodel Imbarlina-Ramos of TRIEC at (905) 896-4994. You may also visit www.thementoringpartnership.com.  The Mentoring Partnership program has several funders.  Peel-based funders include the Region of Peel and the United Way of Peel Region. For additional information on the Human Resources Professionals Association of Peel, contact Leona Wilson at (905) 609-5273 or l.wilson.chrp@sympatico.ca.

Reference:  Trade Talks