What is the EQAO

If you are a parent in Canada with a child in the third grade or higher, you probably already know of the EQAO tests and what they are. For those of you who are new to Canada or have children just going into the third grade, the EQAO stands for Education Quality and Accountability Office.

 It is the provincial agency that designs and gives annual tests to Grade 3 and Grade 6 students in reading, writing and mathematics.

Grade 9 students are tested in mathematics and Grade 10 students are given a literacy test. The Grade 10 literacy test is called OSSL (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test) and a pass is required by every student in order to graduate high school.

  The EQAO tests gives parents, teachers, principals and school boards information about how well students have learned the Ontario curriculum in reading, writing and mathematics and at what level are they compared to the others.

The 'grades' are given as Levels in Ontario.

Level 1 is well below Govt standards
Level 2 is below but approaching Govt standards
Level 3 is at the Govt standard
Level 4 is above the Govt standard

The website for more information is:

http://www.eqao.com/categories/home.aspx?Lang=E


It is really important to note that the level of reading and writing in every school depends on the number of students writing the test with English being a second language. Some schools have more students with English as a second language than others, so if you are looking at the EQAO results for a ranking of the schools and their academic performance, then this criteria might not be the right one.

School System link

Many readers have sent me emails regarding school admissions and the school system here in Canada. I had written a post on this before, so the link to that is:

http://chennai2canada.blogspot.ca/search/label/school%20system

When moving to Canada, if you have children (especially in Middle or High School), it is important the area and atmosphere of school that your children go to. The catch is that the better school zones have higher rents and more expensive houses for sale. Also, when looking at reviews and lists of schools according to their rankings, it is important to note that anything that falls within the top 100 is generally considered good.

Please email me if you have any specific questions.

Officially Fall (Autumn)

Sunday was the first official start of the new Fall season here in Canada. It already feels half like Winter though with temperatures dropping to 3C at night. Watching the transformation from one season to the next is something you really enjoy here - especially (at least for me), Summer to Fall. The trees and plants change colours in amazing ways. From shades of green to glorious colours of orange, yellow and red, just driving through the rural back roads can take you through a burst of various colours. Do you have pictures of Fall and live in Canada? Email them to me with a description and I'll put it up on this blog in a later post.

Renewing your PR card

Many readers have emailed me regarding renewing the PR card when it is nearing expiry and or applying for citizenship.

This post will be about renewing the PR card.

When you first land in Canada and receive your first PR card, this is normally valid for five years. About six months before it expires, you can start the procedure for your new card. The wait times for a new card can vary depending on the number of applications at that time. For instance when I checked today for processing times, the number of days it will take if you apply today is 99. So make sure you apply early enough so that your PR card does not expire before your new one arrives. (If this does happen and you have to travel out of Canada, you have to go to the other country and apply for a one time re-entry visa back to Canada as a permanent resident)

To apply for a new PR card, go to this website:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/pr-card/apply-first-pr-card.asp

Make sure you read through all the instructions and then proceed to apply by filling in the forms and paying the fees.

After landing in Canada the first time:

1. Keep track of all the dates of when you leave and re-enter Canada. This includes day trips to the United States.

2. Keep track of all the places you have stayed in Canada, with dates.

When re-applying for a PR card, you will be asked for details of all your travel dates.

You will also be asked for the copy of your landing papers. This would have been stapled to your passport at the time of landing or given to you. The landing paper is a single sheet form with the date and location of your landing. If you do not have this paper, you will have to either first apply for a replacement copy or give a reason why you have misplaced this.

The name and number of the forms they may ask you for are the: Immigrant Visa and Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688).

For a replacement for these documents go to this link:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/certcopy.asp

Hope this was of some help to you. Please email me (email given on the top of the page) with any questions you would like me to answer.

Have a good week!

Statistics on Permanent Card holder immigration to Canada in 2010

From Wiki, some interesting statistics on PR card immigration to Canada in 2010:

Canada receives its immigrant population from over 200 countries of origin. As indicated below, over 50 percent of new immigrants admitted in 2010 came from 10 source countries.

Permanent Residents Admitted in 2010, by Top 10 Source Countries

Rank	Country	Number	Percentage
1	Philippines	36,578	13
2	India	30,252	10.8
3	China	30,197	10.8
4	United Kingdom	9,499	3.4
5	United States	9,243	3.3
6	France	6,934	2.5
7	Iran	6,815	2.4
8	United Arab Emirates	6,796	2.4
9	Morocco	5,946	2.1
10	South Korea	5,539	2
	Top 10 Total	147,799	52.7
	Other	132,882	47.3
	Total	280,681	100

Interesting, Eh?

Back to Classes

Come September in Canada...and it is the month that all students go back to school, college or university. Stores have massive 'back to school' sales from items like clothing and pencils to computers and backpacks.

People new to Canada, who have learned how drive or got their licenses during the months of July and August -  look out for school buses and children in the mornings and afternoon hours. When taking left or right turns, please look out for students crossing the road. Been reading the newspapers recently about accidents involving new drivers and students and or school buses. (People not stopping for school buses that have their lights flashing).

Good luck to all the new students out there....experiencing their first year in a Canadian school! Learning to adjust to a new culture is tough enough for adults - and sometimes we forget how much tougher it can be for children and teenagers.

For new immigrants with school going kids, take the time to see how Canadian kids dress and ask the school if they have any newcomer orientation sessions. Teachers are well versed with new immigrants and issues they may face. So definitely don't hesitate to tell a teacher or Principal your concerns.

Will try to post more often....been busy with guests visiting, getting my G license and the Summer vacation.

Let me know if there is anything you would like to know more of through my blogs.

Thanks!

Job Fair for Newcomers to Canada

Here is a link to the Newcomers Job Fair in Toronto this weekend.

http://www.newcomerscanada.ca

This website also has a lot of information on immigrating to Canada and tops on settling down and finding jobs etc.

The Job Fair will have people there to help you assess your foreign credentials and give you advice on if you need to further your resume with a Canadian degree or what steps you need to take to give you a better chance of getting a good job.

Hope this helps!!

Winter 2013 February snowstorm pictures

 
 Tree just behind our house

 
 Our backyard deck....

 

 

 
Taken while driving on our street.......it was so slippery! You just have to drive slowly and anticipate the turns and stopping ahead of time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was a very long.....but beautiful winter!

Maid of the Mist - Niagara Falls - both Canada and US sides

Every time we have out of town guests visiting, we take a trip to see the Niagara Falls. We live just an hour and a half away and the drive is beautiful.

No one visits Toronto without seeing the Falls. Nothing like seeing it in real life...even if you think it is just 'another waterfall how great can it be?'. Believe me....it is more than just great..and the experience of taking the 'Maid of the Mist' boat, right up to the edge of the water is a real adrenaline high! You are given plastic coats so that you don't get that wet - and are taken on a breathtaking ride right up to the edge of the Falls. You pass the American Niagara Falls first and then the Canadian one (the Horseshoe shaped Falls). Check it out when you visit or if you live nearby and have never experienced the boat ride.

The Maid of the Mist is a boat tour of Niagara Falls. (The actual boats used are also named Maid of the Mist, followed by a different Roman numeral in each case.) The boat starts off at a calm part of the Niagara River, near the Rainbow Bridge, and takes its passengers past the American and Bridal Veil Falls, then into the dense mist of spray inside the curve of the Horseshoe Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls. The tour is available starting from either the Canadian or American side of the river, returning to the starting point in each case.
The operation is run by the Maid of the Mist Steamship Company of Niagara Falls, Ontario, which has been owned by the Glynn family of Lewiston, New York, since 1971. The boats are registered in St. Catharines, Ontario.

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) - places to visit in Toronto

One of the animal exhibits

Website for the Museum:

http://www.rom.on.ca/en

                                      

Gorgeous fish and other sea life 

 

Fantastic Dinosaur exhibits

Mind boggling and stunning range of gorgeous rocks and stones - colours you have never even seen - including glow in the dark stones.

 

Wonderful Egypt exhibit this year on display

 

 

 

 

 he Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is Canada's largest museum of world culture and natural history. It is located in Toronto, Ontario^[1] and is one of the largest museums in North America, attracting over one million visitors every year.^{[2][dead link]} The museum is located north of Queen's Park in the University of Toronto, with its main entrance facing Bloor Street.
Founded in 1912, the museum has maintained close relations with the University of Toronto throughout its history, often sharing expertise and resources.^[3] The museum was originally under the direct control and management of the University of Toronto, until 1968, when it became an independent institution.^[4] Today, the museum is Canada's largest field-research institution, with research and conservation activities that span the globe.^[5]
With more than six million items and forty galleries, the museum's diverse collections of world culture and natural history are part of the reason for its international reputation.^[5] The museum contains notable collections of dinosaurs, minerals and meteorites, Near Eastern and African art, East Asian art, European history, and Canadian history. It also houses the world's largest collection of fossils from the Burgess Shale with more than 150,000 specimens.^[6] The museum even contains an extensive collection of design and fine arts. These include clothing, interior, and product design, especially Art Deco.

African Lion Safari in Hamilton GTA Ontario - places to visit

One of the hundreds of animals that roam freely about the safe environment for visitors to see up close.

 The official website for the safari is:    http://www.lionsafari.com/

This picture is not from the internet....I took this picture when we visited the park a couple of weeks ago. If you live in or are visiting Ontario, this is a great day trip to take with family.

African Lion Safari is a family-owned safari park situated in Flamborough, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of Toronto.  It includes more than 1,000 animals, representing over 100 species of mammals and birds from across the globe. Guests may tour seven game reserves (with a total area of about 300 hectares) traversed via tour buses or the visitors’ own vehicles where animals roam freely in large contained areas. Accompanying the game reserves is a large walking section where hundreds of exotic birds and primates, as well as the park’s herd of Asian Elephants, are on display.
The African Lion Safari is an accredited member of the CAZA, and is also a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the International Elephant Foundation (IEF) and the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE).
African Lion Safari is open from the first weekend in May to the weekend of Canadian Thanksgiving in October. African Lion Safari has an on-site bus in which to tour the park, but public transportation to the park itself is limited.

We took our car around and saw lions, zebras and rhino's up close. You get to see elephants being bathed, bird of prey flying from a distance into the waiting arms of one of the trainers and animals that you can pet.

Bring a lunch or buy your lunch here...and don't forget your camera!!

Professors Lake in Brampton

Professor's Lake is a 65-acre (26 ha) spring-fed artificial lake located in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Address and Phone number are: 1660 North Park Drive - Phone: 905-791-7751 Beginning in 1918, the area where the lake currently is was used as a gravel pit. In total, the pit produced approximately 20 million tonnes of sand and gravel.^[1] It re-opened as a quarry from 1954 to 1973. When digging hit the water table, the gravel pit flooded and the lake was formed. Improvements to the resulting lake were undertaken in 1973 by the company that owned the gravel pit operations, and it was at this time that it was given its name in honour of Hans Abromeit, a German professor of economics and the company's president.^[2]

The lake is used extensively for sailing, windsurfing, fishing, and canoeing. Professor's Lake Recreation Centre is located on the southern side of the lake and has a beach for swimming as well as a waterslide. There are also three volleyball courts at the far end of the beach.^[1]
The immediate residential neighborhood surrounding the lake is also widely referred to as Professor's Lake. Residential homes surrounds much of the lake with a small park on the northwest side. The park continues on the east side of lake with a beach, small boat dock and city recreation centre. A paved 2 kilometre promenade surrounds part of the lake. Prior to residential development, the lake was farmland.

Professor's Lake Park in Brampton GTA Ontario

 Took the kids to this park on Victoria Day for a picnic. Was a gorgeous day!!

Almost the end of May...and it is 4C today. We had to pull out our winter coats before sending the kids to school this morning. We've been here almost five years now and this winter was the longest one yet!

These are my newly sprouted flowering plants.......not sure what flowers yet as we put in a mixed bag of seeds. We had a couple of nice warm days and suddenly today with the chill...not sure what will happen to the plants :(

Federal Skilled Worker Program opened May 4th

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will be accepting applications to the new and improved Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) as of May 4, 2013.

“The government’s number one priority remains jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. “Our changes ensure not only that Canada can select the immigrants most needed by our economy, but that they are best positioned for success.”

Improvements to the FSWP points grid are based on a large body of research, which has consistently shown that language proficiency and youth are two of the most important factors in the economic success of immigrants. The FSWP has been modernized as a result of thorough research, an extensive program evaluation, stakeholder and public consultations, and a study of best practices in other countries.  

The goal of the updated selection criteria is to improve economic outcomes by selecting immigrants who will be able to integrate more rapidly and successfully into Canada’s economy.

The changes will also support Canada’s Economic Action Plan 2013 by building a fast and flexible immigration system whose primary focus is meeting Canada’s economic and labour market needs. Among these changes is the introduction of the Educational Credential Assessment, so that foreign credentials are evaluated based on their true value in Canada, thereby ensuring that newcomers can make an informed decision before immigrating.

In order to prevent ballooning backlogs and lengthy wait times, there is a list of occupations with a set number of applications that will be accepted this year.

Previously, the application backlog for the FSWP was on track for an unacceptable 15-year wait time by 2015 with over 1.5 million applicants in the backlog.

As a result of the Action Plan for Faster Immigration and Economic Action Plan 2012, the backlog for the FSWP has been nearly eliminated, and new applications are being processed in approximately one year.

For more information on the above, please check the official Canadian Government website:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2013/2013-05-03.asp

More Foreign Born Canadians than ever!

From Canada.visa.com

Over 6.8 million Canadians were born outside of Canada, according to new information from Statistics Canada. This staggering figure means that 20.6 per cent of the population, or 1 in 5 people, are foreign-born.

This statistic solidifies Canada’s place as a worldwide leader in immigration, with the highest number of foreign born residents out of any G8 country. Many of these new residents are young, live in the suburbs, and work in skilled professions.

In addition to foreign born residents, about 1 out of every 5 Canadians is of non-Caucasian descent. In some prominent suburbs of Toronto such as Markham, Brampton, and Mississauga, over 50 per cent of the population identifies a person of color.

More recent immigrants were overwhelmingly from Asia and the Middle East, with the Philippines remaining the top source country for immigrants to Canada. Immigrants from Asia have decreased slightly, however, as areas such as African, the Caribbean, and Central and South America become increasingly larger sources of immigrants.

Over 90% of immigrants live in metropolitan areas, largely the international hubs of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. While Toronto continues to draw the most newcomers, quickly growing cities such as Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, and Halifax have seen their efforts to attract immigrants pay off with increased numbers of immigrants.

Back.............after many requests

Hi!! Even though you have not seen any posts here for awhile, many readers have been emailing me inquiries and questions about moving to Canada. Hopefully my replies have been of some help to them.

Was reading the Canada.visa site this morning and saw some news that may be of interest to some:

This is regarding the Parent and Grandparent sponsorship program re-opening in 2014

To quote their information:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has announced that the Parent and Grandparent sponsorship stream will re-open on January 2nd, 2014. At that time, the program’s processing time is expected to be cut in half.

The Parent and Grandparent sponsorship stream has been closed as the government works to reduce application backlogs. These efforts have been outlined in the Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification, which has also laid out a four step process to reforming and streamlining parental sponsorship. The process is as follows:

Step 1: In 2012 and 2013, CIC has set a goal of admitting 50,000 parents and grandparents through the Family Class of immigration. This is the highest admittance of parent in grandparents in 20 years, and will result in a reduction of the program’s backlog by 50 per cent.

Step 2: 2012 saw the introduction of the Super Visa, a 10-year multiple entry visitor visa that provides another option for parent and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who wish to come to Canada. The Super Visa, formerly a pilot program, is set to become permanent.

Step 3: When the program opens on January 2nd, 2014, new eligibility criteria will be put in place that increases the financial accountability of Canadian sponsors.

Step 4: In 2014, an application intake cap of 5,000 will be instituted. This will ensure that CIC will be able to continue reducing both the application backlog and processing times.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney believes these changes represent a win-win situation for both Canadians and family members abroad.

“These new criteria ensure sponsored family members are well supported by their sponsors throughout their time in Canada,” he said. “The redesigned Parent and Grandparent program reunites families faster while respecting Canadian taxpayers and the limited resources for health and social programs.”

With these changes, Canada will continue its tradition of having one of the most open family sponsorship programs in the world. Similar countries such as the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand do not allow grandparent sponsorship and have greater restrictions on the sponsorship of parents.