|
 In
the first phase, the BBOT conducted research on employers’
labour needs and surveyed employers to help better understand
some of the barriers to hiring skilled immigrants. A
Resource Guide was also developed and it provides information
about programs and services available to employers to
facilitate the employment of skilled immigrants, including
job placement services, language and accreditation programs,
co-op and internship programs, wage subsidies and mentorship
programs. The reports and the Resource Guide are available
at www.skilswithoutborders.com.
“Overall, we had a very positive response from employers
and we feel it is important to continue to build on
the momentum we established a year ago,” says CEO Sheldon
Leiba.
Phase 2 is a direct response to issues raised by employers
related to hiring immigrants and accommodating cultural
practices in the workplace.
“Many of the employers we talked to in Phase 1 said
they required more information about what they law requires
and what constitutes best practices by progressive employers.”
This year the Board will introduce Diversity at Work
information sessions that will provide the information
employers are seeking. The Board will also develop a
resource for employers, designed to develop a greater
understanding of the needs and requirements skilled
immigrants have in the workplace.
Funding in part comes from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
The BBOT has also partnered with Toronto Region Immigrant
Employment Council (TRIEC), a partner in Phase 1, and
Skills for Change (SFC), an organization that has been
working with employers and immigrants for the past 25
years.
“The second phase will continue to build on the relationships
we established with employers in Phase 1. We hope to
educate the business community and employers about the
benefits of hiring immigrants, and provide them with
the tools they require to make that process a success,”
Leiba says.
Dr. Yamil Alonso, project coordinator in Phase 1, has
been hired to coordinate the next phase. Watch Trade
Talks for further details or visit www.skillswithoutborders.com.
back to top
20 Journeys photo exhibit in
Brampton
The Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC)
is pleased to present 20 Journeys: A Visual Essay of
the Immigrant Experience at the Brampton Board of Trade’s
“After Business” event on Tuesday, February 12th at
the Bramalea City Centre. The exhibit is free and will
be onsite until Feb. 17.
20 Journeys tells the success stories of immigrants
entering the labour market and celebrates the programs
and employers that have shared in their milestones.
Immigrants from China, Columbia, Ghana, Greece, India,
Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the
UK and the Ukraine are all featured in the exhibit through
original photography and short narratives.
Nowhere is the importance of effectively including skilled
immigrants in the labour market more important than
the City of Brampton. In 2006, close to one half (47.8%)
of the population in Brampton, or 206,200 individuals,
was born outside of Canada. As one of the GTA’s largest
immigrant receiving centres, Brampton saw 42,900 new
immigrants settle between 2001 and 2006. The city is
highly dependent on immigration for its economic and
labour force growth, and benefits from the contributions
of this diverse and highly skilled community.
20 Journeys is part of TRIEC’s public awareness work
and has been displayed at BCE Place, the Toronto Board
of Trade, and the CBC. TRIEC's primary goal is to help
integrate skilled immigrants into the local labour market
by breaking down the barriers they face when looking
for work in the Toronto Region. TRIEC is pleased to
work with the Brampton Board of Trade on various projects.
Visit www.triec.ca for more information.
back to top
 |
| Brampton Board of Trade Vice President
Linda Ford congratulates Small Business of the Year
winner Lakeside Garden Gallery. From left to right,
Linda, Vince Crupi, Mike Crupi, Domenic Crupi and
BBOT VP of Membership Indira Persuad. |
Small Business of the Year
Lakeside Garden Gallery
Congratulations to Lakeside Garden Gallery on being
selected The Brampton Board of Trade’s Small Business
of the Year. Previously, Lakeside was May’s Small Business
of the Month.
Lakeside Garden Centre opened in April of 1984 on Heartlake
Road north of Sandalwood Parkway, directly across from
Heartlake Conservation area. The Crupi family purchased
the old Heartlake Nurseries location and set out to
build a new type of garden centre. With the whole family
involved, the business has expanded to meet the growing
Brampton’s population.
In 1991, Lakeside joined the Garden Galley group. Garden
Gallery is a buying and marketing group, made up of
independently owned garden centers working closely together
to pool purchases to take advantage of volume pricing.
These savings allow Lakeside to offer competitive pricing
and to negotiate special promotions for their customers.
The company works hard to offer their customers great
service, great selection and the best price possible.
Lakeside Garden Gallery has grown from an 800 square
foot store to more than 10,000 square feet of indoor
and covered display areas. The nursery department offers
a wide selection of plant material for any theme garden.
Evergreens, broadleaf evergreens, flowering shrubs,
ornamental and sculptured evergreens can all be found
in the nursery. They also offer a wide selection of
grafted and shade trees to meet any landscape need.
Moreover, there is varied selection of annuals and perennials
to complete the color pallet of your landscape design.
Live plant material is only part of the Lakeside experience.
“We also have all you need in hardscape landscape. From
bulk triple mix for your gardens to gravel and limestone
screening for your patio stones or interlocking stones,
we have it all.”
Once your patio and gardens are complete Lakeside can
help with the rest of your backyard accessories. “We
offer a great selection of patio décor to complete the
look. Shepard hooks, wall and fence art, fountains and
statuary are all available. We also have a full service
flower shop with three full-time designers who can create
that perfect floral arrangement for any occasion. Whether
it is for a wedding, funeral or a corporate function,
we aim to please.”
The company recently launched its home or office décor
service. “We will come out to your home or office and
decorate for the holidays or any special occasion.”
At Lakeside Garden Gallery our season doesn’t end with
spring. They carry on with a full line of fall flowering
plants and décor -from fall planters, silks, gourds,
cornstalks and pumpkins.
In October the store is transformed into a magical
Christmas wonderland. More than 4000 sq. ft. of the
store is filled with about 20 fully decorated and themed
Christmas trees. For the 2007 Christmas season themes
included Gold, Traditional Red, Cleopatra, Madagascar,
Wilderness, Peacock, Old Fashion Christmas and many
others. Lakeside hosted The Board of Trade’s December
After Business.
At Lakeside Garden Gallery “our goal is to work as
hard as we can to serve our customers needs by offering
the best possible service and offering products at the
best possible price. We are open 7 days a week all year
long so stop by a see us. You won’t be disappointed.”
CONTACT
Lakeside Garden Gallery
10753 Heartlake Road
Brampton, Ont. L6Z 0B7
Phone: (905) 846-3773
Fax: (905) 846-1828
back to top
|
