Above: Credit union staff address students from the Manitoba Start program. Pictured, from left, Donna Paluk (Crosstown Civic CU), Cherie Gemmill (Assiniboine CU), Caryn Zinko (Steinbach CU), and Pam Funk (Cambrian CU).
Manitoba Start
Manitoba Start is an organization in Manitoba that helps new Canadians get the training they need to have their certifications recognized, skills transferred and language skills strengthened and, most importantly, find work.
“We’re the first stop for newcomers to Canada who want to enter the labour market,” says Judith Hayes, the organization’s executive director.
“We serve newcomers who may be hand-selected by the province through the Provincial Nominee Program, and they come with a strong background of skills and experience.”
“Right now, we have a large number of teachers, lots of accountants, and quite a few people with financial management background — which has proven a great connection with the credit unions. We have nurses, we have engineers and that’s just to name a few.”
Hayes says Manitoba Start is sometimes literally the first stop for new Canadians. They will arrive in Canada on a Friday and come and see them the following Monday. She says they see anywhere from 5,000 to 6,000 people a year, and provide roughly 2,500 jobs in support positions.
The program, which has been running for just over 10 years, has seen strong participation from Manitoba’s credit unions. Hayes says they have helped plenty of newcomers access financial jobs that would ordinarily have been hard to get.
“It’s a win-win,” she says. “Credit unions get strong, skilled employees and our newcomers get great opportunities to grow.”
Every year Manitoba Start works with four credit unions. At the beginning of the year, they contact Manitoba credit unions to find out those that are interested in participating, need these specialized skills, have openings, and have time to devote to training new staff.
The program works in two phases. There is a four-week pre-training component where candidates learn language and culture with an orientation to financial and business language. They learn Canadian and financial cooperative work culture, essential skills, and other topics related to working as a Member Services Representative.
“We’re the first stop for newcomers to Canada who want to enter the labour market,” says Judith Hayes, the organization’s executive director.
“We serve newcomers who may be hand-selected by the province through the Provincial Nominee Program, and they come with a strong background of skills and experience.”
“Right now, we have a large number of teachers, lots of accountants, and quite a few people with financial management background — which has proven a great connection with the credit unions. We have nurses, we have engineers and that’s just to name a few.”
Hayes says Manitoba Start is sometimes literally the first stop for new Canadians. They will arrive in Canada on a Friday and come and see them the following Monday. She says they see anywhere from 5,000 to 6,000 people a year, and provide roughly 2,500 jobs in support positions.
The program, which has been running for just over 10 years, has seen strong participation from Manitoba’s credit unions. Hayes says they have helped plenty of newcomers access financial jobs that would ordinarily have been hard to get.
“It’s a win-win,” she says. “Credit unions get strong, skilled employees and our newcomers get great opportunities to grow.”
Every year Manitoba Start works with four credit unions. At the beginning of the year, they contact Manitoba credit unions to find out those that are interested in participating, need these specialized skills, have openings, and have time to devote to training new staff.
The program works in two phases. There is a four-week pre-training component where candidates learn language and culture with an orientation to financial and business language. They learn Canadian and financial cooperative work culture, essential skills, and other topics related to working as a Member Services Representative.
“It’s a win-win... Credit unions get strong, skilled employees and our newcomers get great opportunities to grow.”
Upon completion of the four-week pre-training, they move on to work experience. A three-month paid, full-time position provides on-the-job training and experience as a Member Services Representative within a credit union.
Upon completion of the Manitoba Start program, candidates receive an offer of, at minimum, a permanent part-time position with the credit union they worked in. They also receive a certificate of completion.
“The credit union has been very supportive of helping people find that stepping stone job that’s going to lead to their career path,” says Hayes.
“Many of them are 100% hired in the end. It’s a remarkable program that really meets the needs that credit unions have to find skilled staff and clearly meets the needs that we have for people with a financial background to get that steppingstone job.”
“I bank with a credit union and often, when I go in there, I recognize people from our work place and it’s so nice to see they’ve attained that position and are moving forward in their careers,” says Hayes.
Hayes believes the kind of partnership approach they have been able to work out with the credit unions is a prime example of how organizations like Manitoba Start can support the labour market. That the partnership makes it work for both the client and the business.
Upon completion of the Manitoba Start program, candidates receive an offer of, at minimum, a permanent part-time position with the credit union they worked in. They also receive a certificate of completion.
“The credit union has been very supportive of helping people find that stepping stone job that’s going to lead to their career path,” says Hayes.
“Many of them are 100% hired in the end. It’s a remarkable program that really meets the needs that credit unions have to find skilled staff and clearly meets the needs that we have for people with a financial background to get that steppingstone job.”
“I bank with a credit union and often, when I go in there, I recognize people from our work place and it’s so nice to see they’ve attained that position and are moving forward in their careers,” says Hayes.
Hayes believes the kind of partnership approach they have been able to work out with the credit unions is a prime example of how organizations like Manitoba Start can support the labour market. That the partnership makes it work for both the client and the business.