Conestoga College News

Conestoga students excel at national skills competition

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:21:06 -0500

Four Conestoga students demonstrated that they are among the best in the country at the Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) held in Vancouver from June 5 to 8, 2013. All four brought home silver medals to mark their achievements.

Ontario College of Trades talks about apprenticeships

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:05:52 -0500

Conestoga Program Advisory and Consortia Committee members met at Conestoga’s Information and Engineering Technology campus in Cambridge on Wednesday, June 5 to hear about the new rules, regulations and opportunities around apprenticeships in Ontario.

Conestoga spring convocation to be held June 11 - 13

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:00:25 -0500

More than 4100 graduating students will be recognized at the 44th Convocation ceremonies of Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning to be held June 11 -13 at the Doon campus in Kitchener. In conjunction with the ceremonies, President John Tibbits will present a number of outstanding achievement awards.

Conestoga grad among top 30 under 30

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:55:50 -0500

Shannon Corrigan Thompson has joined an elite group of service industry professionals. Recognized as one of the top 30 service industry professionals under the age of 30 by the Ontario Hostelry Institute (OHI), the owner of Hog Tails BBQ and the Lancaster Smokehouse credits much of her win to Conestoga.

Internship Program Success Story

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:17:47 -0500

Before coming to Canada I worked as an engineer at the same company for 16 years yet all my experience wasn’t enough to guarantee myself a place in a tough economy and be employed as a professional.

In June of 2012, I was very excited to hear about Conestoga Career Centre and the Immigrant Internship Program. I had a good first impression about the Conestoga Career Centre, but when I met with Lil in our first appointment I was completely thrilled. I found what was not working in my job search. Lil did a complete review of my resume and asked the key questions I needed in order to build a competitive resume.

I started to apply to job offers and results were immediate. I had three phone interviews which led me to be one of the last candidates in a recruiting process. It didn’t work out, but I gained confidence and it gave me the possibility to build my interview skills.

Shortly after I received another call from a company and I was invited not only for a series of interviews, but for a presentation that I would have to do for some members of the senior management. Once again I got Lil’s help. Lil did a review of the presentation and gave me extremely valuable advice. I had an excellent presentation and interview and a week later I received an offer letter! Lil supported me on the analysis to answer the offer letter, including salary and benefits.

I thank Conestoga Career Centre, and especially Lil, for all the support and advice. Sometimes as immigrants we think that getting the chance to have our first Canadian job experience in our fields is something almost impossible to achieve. I recommend you to visit the Conestoga Career Centre to confirm that we can really contribute as professionals to the economy of this beautiful country.

Ana Maria Navarrete, Intern

Second Career Success Story

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 08:47:53 -0500

Neeru is an internationally trained professional, with a Master's degree in Finance from India and experience as a Loan Manager who immigrated to Canada in 2004.

Neeru was laid-off from a cashier position at Mac's convenient store and visited our Career Centre in February 2011 to find out about the Second Career program in order to explore careers in Financial Advising and Business Insurance.

She applied to the Business Insurance program following successful completion of General Arts and Science, English Language Studies, level 4.

Neeru graduated in April 2013 with Honours and found employment at her co-op placement.

"A very big thank you to you because if it was not for you I don't know where I would have been. By introducing me to this program you not only gave earth under my feet but also sky over my head.

After completion of this program now, I have wings too, wings of knowledge which will help me to rise towards success. Please accept my [heartfelt] appreciation for this support and continue this good work of making a positive change in [distressed peoples’ lives].

Sincere regards, Neeru Jain

Zora Radovanovic, Career Work Coach

Employment through Enhanced Language Training Program

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 08:46:26 -0500

Sveta was a participant who completed the Enhanced Language Training (ELT) for Foreign Trained Engineers in 2012.

Through this program she was provided with a work placement at O’Connor Electric as a Junior Estimator.

O'Connor Electric is a full service electrical contractor serving the commercial, industrial, institutional construction sectors since 1987.

Since this time, she has progressed in her duties, assisting in projects and taking on electrical drawings with vendors.

Sveta has been working closely with the Estimator, Will Broughton, who is mentoring and supporting her first Canadian work experience.

Teresa Lee, Employer Liaison

Learning Essential Skills before Coming to Canada

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 08:16:24 -0500

Essential Skills training is offered in many ways to people living in Canada, but what about training for immigrants who are about to arrive? Conestoga College participated in the Essential Skills for Immigrants project led by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges. We delivered online Essential Skills coaching to students from China, India and the Philippines while they were preparing to immigrate to Canada, helping them to prepare for the challenges of living and working in a new country.

Essential Skills became a framework for learning about Canadian culture in the workplace, making sure that they were prepared for their move, and helping them prepare for job seeking when they arrived. We all learned how far the rewards of building Essential Skills can reach!

Ruth Zhou - my student from China said:
"The Essential Skills online coaching gave me a clearer idea about what the Essential Skills are and helped me to recognize many skills I already have yet didn't know myself. They are transferable skills I can use in new fields of work."

Jennifer Hutter - Essential Skills Coach, "Essential Skills for Immigrants Project"

Increasing Employability for New Canadians

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 08:14:09 -0500

Qing came to Canada with a successful history of working in foreign investment and teaching Chinese to American teachers in China. Discouraged because her English language skills prevented her providing translation and assistance to seniors in Canada, she joined the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) program. Through training offered in this funded program, Qing applied to Conestoga’s English Language Studies and is currently attending class at the Doon campus.

Qing Mi increased her employability skills and is thankful TIOW was able to "teach an old dog new tricks."

Nel Slater, Career Work Coach

Students and Donors Honoured at Trades & Apprenticeship Awards

Thu, 30 May 2013 08:36:42 -0500

On May 29, Conestoga's School of Trades & Apprenticeship hosted its fourth annual Awards Presentation and Barbeque in the Roofing Centre at the Waterloo Campus. More than 300 guests including business owners, industry professionals, faculty and family members watched as 140 awards valued at more than $83,000 in total were presented to students in motive power, construction, industrial and service programs.

Students raise money for healthy breakfast program

Wed, 29 May 2013 15:51:25 -0500

Conestoga business students served a gourmet breakfast to hungry crowds in support of Nutrition for Learning at their ‘Breakfast of Champions’ on February 27, 2013. Despite the snow, crowds filled the Hacienda Sarria in Kitchener to donate more than $8,700 to the charity breakfast program.

Conestoga names new Women's Fastball Head Coach

Wed, 29 May 2013 13:57:04 -0500

Ron Taylor has recently been named the head coach of the women's fastball program at Conestoga College for the 2013 season. Taylor previously coached women's fastball at Conestoga from 1988-1990 and 1993-1995, leading his team to two OCAA gold medals and one silver medal. In 1994, he was nominated as coach of the year.

Conestoga names new Women's Fastball Head Coach

Wed, 29 May 2013 13:57:04 -0500

Students display top projects

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:49:00 -0500

For Brock Dannecker, a fully automated house isn't just something you see in a futuristic movie. His vision for just such a house was on display in the atrium of Conestoga's Engineering and Information Technology campus during the Technology@Work event held on Tuesday, April 30.

Conestoga achieves first-place finish in provincial skills competition

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:27:22 -0500

With a total of 14 medals across a variety of skills categories, Conestoga achieved a top-place finish among Ontario colleges at the 2013 Ontario Technological Skills Competition (OTSC) held from May 6 - 8 at RIM Park in Waterloo.