Bamboo Network Works With Internationally-Trained Engineers To Overcome Employment Barriers
APEGBC President Bob Ito, P.Eng. accepted a certificate of appreciation from the Bamboo Network launch ceremony, which featured the success story of Christina Solano, EIT, at the BC Hydro Edmonds location in Burnaby on July 7, 2006. Eleanor Guerrero-Campbell, Executive Director of Multicultural Helping House Society, officiated the ceremony, which was attended by Finance Minister Carole Taylor.
The ceremony marked the official launch of the Bamboo Network for Construction, a BC Skills Connect Program aimed at helping highly-skilled and professionally-trained new immigrants enter the local construction sector at a level commensurate to their qualifications and experience. APEGBC sits on the board of four of the Skills Connect Projects.
Solano is an internationally trained engineer from the Philippines who successfully obtained EIT certification from APEGBC in April 2004. Together with her employer, she briefly spoke of her experiences with APEGBC and in finding appropriate work, and shared her thoughts as to why she felt she was successful.
Lack of employment networks and language barriers may cause challenges for immigrants when seeking employment in BC; however, credential recognition is not the main barrier to skilled immigrant engineer integration. In some cases, it can take less time for a foreign trained engineer to be licensed than for a locally trained graduate. In 2005, approximately 45% of APEGBC’s applicants for professional engineering licensure and 26% of applicants for EIT status were trained outside of Canada. To serve the growing Filipino and underserved communities in Greater Vancouver, the Bamboo Network was established in May 2003.
The Bamboo Network for Construction provides a comprehensive employment bridging service consisting of individual career assessment and career planning, skills enhancement, and workplace practice opportunities to attach highly-skilled immigrants with backgrounds in engineering (civil/mechanical/electrical) and construction-related trades to that match their qualifications.
The Bamboo Network's goal is to see some 450 skilled immigrants employed in their areas of expertise within the next three years.
APEGBC has a designated membership status to assist internationally trained professionals. For more information, see www.apeg.bc.ca/reg/ProvisionalMembership.htm.