About Us

The Access to Professions and Trades in Ontario web site is a service of Findhelp Information Services (Findhelp), funded by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU).

The web site demonstrates the power of a "no wrong door" approach to service delivery. Through the web site, a person with international training has seamless access to consistent, reliable information. By working together, Findhelp and its partners have leveraged the value of existing projects and created a fully integrated resource.

While the web site focuses on employment in the professions and trades, it creates a vital link to services that can support other needs such as child care, counselling and community involvement. The Directory on the web site is brought to you by 211Ontario.ca, a project of Findhelp and Community Information Online Consortium (CIOC). 211Ontario.ca represents a network of information and referral providers across Ontario that bring people and services together.

For further information about the web site and our approach, contact info@211Ontario.ca.

Findhelp is a nonprofit community organization, funded by the United Way of Greater Toronto and the City of Toronto. Findhelp operates the first 211 telephone service in Canada - a free, confidential, multilingual information line that connects callers to community, social, health and government services in Toronto, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service also has a companion web site at 211Toronto.ca. For more information about 211 and its development across Canada, visit 211.ca.

Findhelp Information Services is grateful to the following programs for their expert guidance and willingness to make their content available through the web site:

Settlement.Org. Settlement.Org, a project of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), helps immigrants and refugees find the information they need to start a new life in Ontario. Newcomers can find articles, guides, and links to useful web sites and community organizations that serve newcomers online at Settlement.Org.

YMCA Newcomer Information Centre (NIC). The YMCA NIC is an information and referral resource centre where newcomers can receive in-person assistance in finding specific settlement information in the GTA. NIC staff members speak over 21 languages. The centre is located at 42 Charles St. East, 3rd floor, Toronto. NIC offers extended hours of service (Mon-Thu 9 am-8 pm, Fri 9-2, Sat 10-2) and no appointment is necessary.

Ontario Network of Internationally Trained Professionals Online (www.onip.ca). ONIP.online is the place where professionals new to Ontario can find articles on licencing, employment options and sector-specific terminology relevant to their field. They can also attend online workshops and discussion groups, and join a mentoring program for newcomers. ONIP.online is a project of Skills for Change funded by Volunteer@ction.online and The Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Possibilities Virtual Employment Resource Centre (www.poss.ca). Newcomers can find information about employment, education, and training at Toronto's virtual Employment Resource Centre. Possibilities is for Toronto job seekers and provides free access to job boards, monthly articles, news and events, community resources, and career advice.