Toronto Pearson and ACCES Employment Announce $100,000 Partnership to Connect Hundreds of Skilled Newcomers to Local Employers
Investment Expands Innovative Speed Mentoring® Services for Job Seekers in Peel
April 10, 2019
TORONTO, CANADA – Toronto Pearson International Airport and local, not-for-profit organization ACCES Employment, have partnered to expand ACCES Employment’s in-demand Speed Mentoring® program in Peel region and connect 600 skilled new Canadians and young adults to local employers. The two-year, $100,000 partnership will offer job seekers in communities around the airport with access to established professionals in their sector to gain the vital direction and competitive advantage that will positively impact their job search and career in the Canadian workplace for years to come.
“Mentoring creates essential connections that can lead to a rewarding career,” said Robyn Connelly, Director, Community Relations, Greater Toronto Airports Authority. “It’s more than just advice-giving. It’s about providing access to Canadian workplace practices to help our neighbours build their networks and grow connections to the labour market that will help them gain meaningful employment. Our investment in Speed Mentoring® is an investment in helping our neighbours reach their full potential. It’s been a rewarding endeavour for me and all the Toronto Pearson employees who took part as mentors in our inaugural Speed Mentoring event in Brampton this afternoon.”
Research shows that unrecognized professional credentials, lack of Canadian experience and no existing professional network are critical hurdles most new Canadians and young adults face when searching for employment. Speed Mentoring® is an innovative forum to create connections to peers, advisors and mentors who can provide feedback and insights to internationally-trained professionals about their sector and career path. The concept is simple: professionals from local employers are matched with job seekers from a similar sector of profession. Participants meet one-on-one for 10 minutes, then a bell is rung, and the mentee moves to the next mentor. Each interaction creates an opportunity for mentors and mentees to share, learn and connect.
”ACCES Employment is excited to partner with Toronto Pearson’s Propeller Project once again. Newcomers in the Peel region will greatly benefit from the delivery of the Speed Mentoring® program in their community. Together, we are truly making a difference in the lives of newcomers, by helping them expand their networks, connecting them with meaningful employment opportunities and supporting them to find work in their field,” says Allison Pond, President & CEO, ACCES Employment.
Through its community investment program, Propeller Project, Toronto Pearson invests over one million dollars annually in proactively addressing the issue of underemployment – employment in a job well below an individual’s level of skill, training and/or education – by championing on-the-ground solutions to underemployment through directly investing in local organizations, like ACCES Employment’s Speed Mentoring® program, that foster talent and lead the research that connect people to the right opportunities.
To learn more, visit TorontoPearson.com/PropellerProject and our Speed Mentoring® program page.
About Toronto Pearson
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) is the operator of Toronto Pearson International Airport. The GTAA’s vision is to make Toronto Pearson the best airport in the world. Towards this objective, the GTAA focuses on ensuring the safety and security of passengers and airport employees, enhancing the passenger experience and supporting the success of its airline partners. Toronto Pearson served more than 49.5 million passengers in 2018, making it Canada’s largest airport and the second-busiest North American international airport.
For the second straight year Toronto Pearson has been voted by passengers as the Best Large Airport in North America serving more than 40 million annual passengers, as recognized by Airports Council International’s (ACI) Airport Service Quality (ASQ) program, the only global benchmarking survey that assesses passenger satisfaction at the airport on their day of travel.
For more information, please visit Toronto Pearson on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
Contact: GTAA Media Office | [email protected] | (416) 776-3709
About ACCES Employment