Operational hours for the holiday season:

  • Dec. 23 (Mon) - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Dec. 24 (Tues) - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Dec. 25 - 26 (Wed and Thurs) - CLOSED 
  • Dec. 27 (Fri) -  9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Dec. 28 (Sat) - 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 29 (Sun) - CLOSED
  • Dec. 30 - 31 (Mon and Tues) - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Jan. 1 (Wed) - CLOSED
  • Jan. 2 (Thurs) - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Jan. 3 (Fri) - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Jan. 4 (Sat) - 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  

Thanks for Encouraging My Passion!

Posted at:
education graduate

As a newcomer to Canada, I faced significant challenges in finding a job. Despite being an education professional fluent in both English and French, my search lasted five months, and I was still unable to secure full-time employment.

One of the biggest hurdles was my lack of Canadian references. Most employers asked for these references, however I could not get any from Canada as I lacked the work experience. This made It feel almost impossible to get a job in such a competitive market.

Before coming to Canada, I earned a bachelor's degree in education from India. Working within education brought me great joy and satisfaction, and I wanted to continue in this professional field in Canada. However, differences in educational systems made it difficult for me to obtain a teacher’s license. Despite doing extensive research, I was unable to find clear guidance on how to enter the educational workforce in Canada. I had nearly lost hope until a family friend suggested that I visit WorkBC.

My case manager went above and beyond to help me achieve my employment goals. She went through my educational and work experience, and based on my preferences, recommended that I consider going to school and becoming a teaching assistant. Not only did this provide me with a sense of direction, but also allowed me to pursue my passions which is something I was incredibly grateful for. She was truly the first person to encourage me to follow my career goals in education rather than than simply finding any job I could get.

Her motivation uplifted me throughout my career journey. While working towards my education at Langara College, I often questioned my competence. However, my case manager´s trust in my abilities inspired me to keep going. This support and encouragement were crucial in helping me build the determination I needed to graduate from the education program at Langara College.

I am now proud to say that I am a permanent on call SSA (Student Support Assistant) in a great institution.

Words almost can’t describe how grateful I am for the support the team of WorkBC Centre Newton has provided me. Their compassion and motivation have helped me build self-confidence and achieve my goals. I will always be grateful for their assistance and wish them continued success in supporting the community. I would recommend their services to anyone needing help in their employment journey.

I would especially like to thank everyone at WorkBC Centre Newton who helped me re-start my career. Thanks to their support, I succeeded in landing a job in my most passionate field: education.

WorkBC

WorkBC is the provincial government's access point to the world of work in British Columbia. It was created with one key goal — to help all British Columbians to successfully navigate B.C.'s labour market.