Julio Daniel Huamani Vallejos is a go-getter. When an employee of his Laval bank referred him to the Perspective Carrière program, he wasted no time taking several training courses.

“The workshops have been very useful to me. I discovered lots of information about Laval and how to prepare for the job market. I also learned from immigrant colleagues like me. Afterwards, I was able to manage,” says the young Peruvian, who had learned French beforehand in Paris.

Rola Saleh has had a similar experience. After a stay in the United States, the young Lebanese finance specialist was able to take part in the Interconnexion program following a visit to the Salon de l’immigration. “I really liked that there was a support service to help me find work. I was introduced to three companies all interested in my experience. I had choices,” says Saleh.

The Interconnection Laval program, piloted by the CCILaval, has become a real gateway to the labour market for immigrants, thanks to its partnerships with Perspective Carrière and the Gouvernement du Québec. “The program aims to meet a need for skilled labour in Laval businesses. To do this, we work with people new to Canada, who have been here for less than five years and who have diplomas acquired abroad or in Quebec, and who have less than a year of experience in their field of expertise in Quebec,” explains program manager Martine Lafrance.

Interconnexion does more than support immigrants in their search for employment and their integration into Laval life.
The program also organizes training to make companies comfortable in managing diversity and intercultural communications. In collaboration with Services Québec du ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (MTESS), ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), and other partners such as CEGEP Montmorency, Caisses Desjardins, the City of Laval and employment agencies, Interconnexion facilitates the obtaining of wage subsidies and, when necessary, the setting up of francization workshops in the workplace.

If necessary, Interconnexion staff provides support in human resources management and job retention, for both employers and employees. This is how Elias Alaoui was able to find staff for his company, Centre Lavallois de ressources éducatives et culturelles, located in Chomedey.

“Thanks to Interconnexion, I have found competent teachers on two occasions. It’s an incredible help because some of the selection work is already done. And the organization opened our eyes to grant programs. It saved us a lot of energy,” says Alaoui.

To date, Interconnexion has supported 290 companies seeking personnel. 392 applicants have been admitted to the program and out of these, 202 are now employed. Huamani Vallejos is now a full-time employee working for the Geloso Group. “I had worked in the administration sector in the alcoholic beverage industry in Peru. My occupation is more manual, I take care of production, but it is complementary, because I’m learning other skills of the trade,” he explains.

As for Saleh, she sees a clear pathway to professional advancement at the DCM Group in Laval. “I recommend that all immigrants take advantage of this program,” she says.