Immigration Canada

Volunteers sought to mentor new immigrants

BY THERESA MCMANUS, THE RECORD AUGUST 24, 2011

The Community Immigrant Mentorship program is on the lookout for newcomers and not-so-new-anymore immigrants to New Westminster

The program, offered by Family Services of Greater Vancouver, pairs established immigrants (mentors) with newcomers, immigrants or refugees.

Launched in January 2010, the program has been fine-tuned to better meet the needs of its participants.

"We started with a leadership program," said facilitator/community liaison Maylen Crespo. "It changed to a mentorship program."

The first mentorship program required a six-month commitment for mentors and newcomers. Participants recommended it be reduced to four months.

"It's a long commitment," Crespo said about six months. "People start getting jobs and getting more involved in the community. It was too long."

The program is now looking for mentors and newcomers wanting to get involved in upcoming classes. Ten mentors and 10 newcomers will participate in sessions getting underway in September and January.

"I have quite a few application for mentors," Crespo said. "To get to newcomers, that is the most difficult thing."

Crespo said people from other communities have expressed an interest in attending the program, but it's really focused on New Westminster.

"The purpose this time is going to be a little bit different. We are going to create a manual on how to run a mentorship program," Crespo added. "It will be for any other communities who want to create a program to support immigrants."

The Community Immigrant Mentorship program

includes weekly workshops for newcomers where they learn about local resources, building relationships and learn the benefits of volunteering.

While the program provides newcomers with important information that helps them settle into New Westminster, Crespo said the guest speakers have also noted that they've gleaned a lot of helpful information from their visits with the newcomers. Guests have included representatives from government (federal, provincial and municipal), and police, health, library and recreation services.

"Every time it is a new session, I learn something new," said Crespo, who immigrated to Canada 10 years ago.

Newcomers who participate in the program have to set a personal goal that they want to accomplish during the four months they're involved with the program, whether that's becoming more active in the community, exploring the city or volunteering. They also have to agree to share their experiences and knowledge with others, which could be something as simple as helping to make others aware of good places to find cheap meals.

"They have to do a practicum," Crespo said. "They have to share information they have learned. The mentor will be assisting them with all of this."

In addition to those weekly sessions, the newcomers and mentors meet to decide how often they'll meet and the sorts of things they'll do to help the newcomers become active members of the community.

Crespo said people who have been mentored through the program have said they have an increased sense of belonging in the community. The mentors, having once been newcomers themselves, enjoyed sharing their knowledge and experiences.

For more information on the free program or to receive an application, contact Maylen Crespo at 604-525-9144 or email mcrespo@fsgv.ca.

tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com

More immigrants are in Canada's national interest

GEOFFREY CAMERON AND IAN GOLDIN

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney’s announcement that he’s launching stakeholder consultations on Canada’s immigration program presents a timely opportunity for a national conversation. How will we adapt to a century of unprecedented mobility? Will we harness migration to build a more dynamic society and economy, or will we quietly recede from the frontiers of globalization, sacrificing innovation and prosperity for a more static society?

With new policies aimed at clamping down on human smugglers and enhancing U.S.-Canada border security, many perceive that Canada’s door is closing. This is false – so far. Canada accepted 17 per cent more migrants last year than in 2005. In a time of recession when other Western governments are imposing strict limits on migration, Canada admitted 50,000 more migrants in 2010 than in 2009.

Over the past 25 years, the total number of international migrants doubled to more than 200 million. We should expect that number to double again in the next two decades. The world is entering a period of hypermobility, the product of a growing supply of potential migrants from developing countries and a burgeoning demand for both low- and high-skilled workers in developed countries such as Canada. Skype, Western Union, low-cost airlines and other advances are enabling an unprecedented scale of movement.

The drivers of mobility will grow stronger in the coming decades for three reasons:

• Intercountry inequality is increasing rapidly. Millions of Europeans left for the Americas in the late 19th century to seek, among other things, wages that were two to four times higher than those at home. Today, migrants stand to earn as much as 15 times more by moving to another country to work.

• The connected processes of economic development, urbanization and population growth in developing countries are positioning more people to seek their fortunes abroad. Those with the greatest propensity to move are educated young people with access to resources and networks for migration. Climate change will also threaten rural livelihoods, pushing more people into cities and some across borders.

• Demand for migrants will increase as declining fertility and population aging create severe labour shortages, often in developed countries such as Canada. The fiscal burden of an aging population will be borne by a shrinking work force, and staff for nursing homes and retirement facilities will continue to be scarce. Just as Canadian farms rely on temporary foreign workers during harvest time, our elderly population will benefit from the care provided by new Canadians.

We should embrace higher levels of migration because it’s in our national interest. High-skilled migrants innovate at a higher rate than the native-born population, and low-skilled migrants meet crucial service sector gaps. On the whole, migrants contribute more to the public purse than they receive in benefits. It’s no wonder the provinces are seeking increased quotas.

We should also increase levels of migration because it can deliver far more for global prosperity than foreign aid and international trade ever will. Completely opening borders, World Bank economists predict, would produce gains as high as $39-trillion for the world economy over 25 years. These numbers compare with the $70-billion that is currently spent every year in overseas development assistance and the estimated gains of $100-billion from fully liberalizing international trade. If we want to revolutionize our foreign aid policy, we can start by giving more people a chance to work in Canada.

The debate on immigration policy is undermined in many countries by partisan agendas and dysfunctional politics. Other governments are tempted to choke off migration in the interest of short-term expediency and political gain. We must resist this trend, remembering that Canada is a society built with the ingenuity and hard work of generations of migrants.

Geoffrey Cameron, a research associate with the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford, works in Ottawa. Ian Goldin is director of the Oxford Martin School and a professorial fellow at Balliol College, Oxford. With Meera Balarajan, they are the authors of Exceptional People: How Migration Shaped Our World and Will Define Our Future.

Durham's changing workforce

August 24, 2011
By Geoff Zochodne/The Oshawa Express
Twenty years from now, two of the following three will be true of the labour force:
It will be older. It will be more diverse. It will be based on the second moon of Jupiter.
The first two are accurate, states a recent report from Statistics Canada. The third is a flight of fancy.
StatsCan’s report, titled “Projected trends to 2031 for the Canadian labour force,” outlines a future workforce that contains more workers over the age of 55 and who were born outside Canada.
Overall, the labour force will increase by at least 20 million additional workers. And, according to StatsCan, nearly one in four of those workers will be over 55. By 2031 one in three members of the labour force would be foreign-born as well.
This forthcoming trend will not escape Durham Region either. A general demographics report done by the Toronto Region Research Alliance (TRRA), “a public-private partnership supported by the governments of Ontario and Canada, and a wide range of regional stakeholders from the private sector, universities, colleges, and research hospitals,” says similar things for the local scene.
In the report, the Oshawa Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), which includes Clarington and Whitby, is expected to grow both older and more diverse in the near future.
By 2015, more than one-third of the Oshawa CMA’s population would be over 55 and a fourth would be immigrants.
An aging population and workforce is not a bad thing, says Jim Freeman, president of the Durham Region Labour Council; if you prepare ahead of time. What Freeman would like to see is an increased Canadian Pension Plan (CPP), which would entice older workers to retire comfortably while opening up jobs to a younger generation as well.
“The Canada Pension Plan as it stands is not enough to keep seniors out of poverty,” says Freeman. “If you actually make it affordable for people to retire they would.”
He also thinks that the jobs of the future are green ones and that the government should be investing in new technology for skilled workers.
“The factories are already there and they’re sitting there empty,” he states.
As for an increased amount of immigrants living and working in Durham Region, Freeman is concerned they are not being given the chance to become Canadian citizens and instead wind up being rented workers.
“They aren’t given the same rights as other Canadian workers,” he says. “They’re bringing them in and then sending them home.”
Deficit-cutting may be the hot-button issue in Ottawa right now, continues Freeman, but he asks why the government is cutting jobs that could be used for the same purpose.
“The smartest way to get out of the deficit is create jobs and you don’t do that by laying people off,” he explains.
Aubrey Andrews, a manager for diversity and immigration for Durham Region Social Services, says that the growing immigrant population will be part of the reason why Durham will top over a million residents by 2031.
“A fair bit of that growth can be attributed to immigrants,” she says, adding that between 2001 and 2006, 34 per cent of all growth in the region came from immigrants; which is being incorporated into the local economy.
“If you’re in business, you’re in the business of serving a diverse population,” Andrews explains. “We anticipate population shifting.”
Durham Region is not a first-stop population for immigrant families, she adds.
“Durham is traditionally a site of secondary migration.”
But enticing foreign-born workers here can do things for the region, like opening up foreign markets and diversify and bolster creativity among the work force, maintains Andrews.
“I think that immigration is an opportunity, and it’s an opportunity to live in a place like Durham Region.”

Citizenship and Immigration Canada Selects CSC for Visa Services across Latin America

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Aug 22, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has entered into a service agreement with Computer Sciences Canada Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CSC CSC +2.97% , to provide administrative support to facilitate the successful submission of visa applications from Latin America. The service agreement has a two-year base period and two one-year options.

"We are pleased to support Canada's visa services in support of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's efforts to provide better service to Latin America," said Charlie Whelan, president of Canadian operations for CSC's North American Public Sector (NPS). "Our visa application centers and information services will provide improved access, onsite client service and secure transmission of applications and documentation that will eliminate unnecessary delays in processing at the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Visa Office."

As part of this service agreement, Computer Sciences Canada will establish and operate Visa Applications Centers (VACs) in 15 countries across Latin America. These centers will handle applications for residents of Latin America applying for temporary resident visas to Canada, as well as permit and travel document applications for people seeking to travel to Canada from Latin America. Computer Sciences Canada will also provide information services for visa applicants via web sites and contact centers. Since 2009, Computer Sciences Canada has provided similar services to the citizens of Mexico under a separate service agreement with Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Computer Sciences Canada will go live with these new services in September 2011.

Currently, CSC supports the governments of the United States, Austria, Canada, Germany, Australia and the United Kingdom with services in more than 100 countries and in more than 20 languages. Since 2000, CSC has provided accurate visa information and prompt services to more than 40 million visa applicants, scheduling more than 20 million appointments. Since beginning our visa applicant biometric collection services, CSC has securely enrolled millions of applicants.

About CSC's North American Public Sector

As a go-to partner for critical national programs, CSC offers thought leadership, specialized skills and innovative services in critical areas for government clients. Leveraging a global footprint in both private and public sectors, and experience gained from serving almost every U.S. government agency, CSC's North American Public Sector (NPS) brings innovative ideas and proven best practices to help the U.S. government meet mission-critical requirements. For more information about CSC's government solutions, visit http://www.csc.com/government .

About CSC

CSC is a global leader in providing technology-enabled business solutions and services. Headquartered in Falls Church, Va., CSC has approximately 93,000 employees and reported revenue of $16.2 billion for the 12 months ended July 1, 2011. For more information, visit the company's website at www.csc.com .

SOURCE: CSC

CSC 
        Michelle Herd 
        Senior Manager, Communications 
        North American Public Sector 
        703-205-6186 
        mherd@csc.com 
        or 
        Chris Grandis 
        Media Relations Director 
        Corporate 
        703-641-2316 
        cgrandis@csc.com 
        or 
        Bryan Brady 
        Vice President, Investor Relations 
        Corporate 
        703-641-3000 
        investorrelations@csc.com

Lest we forget, demographic change still often rules the economy

Alex Carrick

Chief Economist, CanaData

Lest we forget, demographics still rule much of what takes place in the economy.

The following are some trends that I personally find interesting with respect to population size, rate of change and make-up in Canada, the provinces and the major urban centres.

In the latest year, Canada’s population increase – from births and immigration less deaths and out-migration – was +1.06%.

The nation is adding about 90,000 people per quarter. That means the population will climb above 35 million in the first quarter of 2013, only a year and a half from now.

Ontario accounts for almost 40% of the nation’s total population. That’s by far the largest provincial share. It presents a huge “hive” of humanity near the geographic centre of the country.

Quebec (23.2% of total Canada) is the next largest province by population, but its share of the national total has fallen below the historically significant 25%.

Throughout Canada’s history to-date, Quebec’s important position in the country has often been guaranteed by its one-quarter share or more of the population.

Then there are some significant blocks.

For example, the Atlantic Region as a whole (6.8%) accounts for almost exactly the same proportion of the nation’s total population as Manitoba plus Saskatchewan (6.7%).

And if Ontario is 40% of the total, then one has to wonder what the pattern is in the other 60%.

Interestingly enough, there is an almost precise East-West split. The Atlantic Region plus Quebec provide 30% of the total as do the Prairies plus B.C.

The Territories with only 111,000 people barely figure in the percentage-of-total calculations.

Since Ontario is 40% of Canada and Toronto is 40% of Ontario, the Queen city is 16% of the national total. That’s a very significant piece of the pie.

The Toronto census metropolitan area (CMA) is adding more than 100,000 people per year. The next closest city is Vancouver (+54,000), advancing at about half that rate.

Adding 100,000 people per year is the equivalent of plunking a city nearly the size of Peterborough within Toronto’s CMA boundaries each year.

By the way, a Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) is defined by Statistics Canada as an urban area with a 50,000-person downtown core.

All of Canada’s 33 CMAs have total urban plus suburban populations in excess of 100,000.

It’s mentally difficult to come to terms with the notion of an additional 100,000 people per year. Consider what it means in terms of infrastructure needs to serve new homes, stores and offices.

At its present rate of population increase, Toronto will shoot past 6 million people in late 2012.

In Statistics Canada’s latest city population estimates (for July 1, 2010), Montreal added 41,000 people on an annual basis (i.e. compared with July 1, 2009) and Calgary, Ottawa-Gatineau and Edmonton all recorded nearly matching gains of 20,000 to 22,000.

The seventh-ranked city in terms of actual population increase was Winnipeg, at +11,000.

The 33 largest cities in Canada now account for more than two-thirds of the nation’s total population.

While that’s an interesting statistic on its own, it contains within it another perhaps more interesting comparison.

The three largest cities in Canada – Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver have populations that are 50% of the nation’s urban total, as calculated by the addition of the 33 CMAs.

Combine some of these ratios and you’ll quickly determine that Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver make up one-third of the nation’s total population. That carries a further implication. Montreal and Vancouver added together shelter only about half a million more people than Toronto. Toronto is a behemoth on the Canadian demographic scene.

Toronto’s population growth rate in the most recent year for which data is available (2010 versus 2009) was +1.90%, placing it fourth among all of Canada’s CMAs.

The three fastest growing cities on a percentage change basis were Saskatoon (+2.81%), Vancouver (+2.31%) and Regina (+2.26%).

Note the representation from Saskatchewan, where resource projects are attracting workers.

Only two Canadian cities had a decline in population between 2009 and 2010, Great Sudbury (-0.13%) and Windsor (-0.34%).

At the time, Sudbury was in the throes of a mining sector strike and Windsor was struggling with a downsizing in its auto sector. Both situations are in the process of turning around.

With respect to construction activity, population growth plays an obvious role in the demand for streets, highways, transit projects, schools and medical facilities.

With respect to the latter, the age make-up of the local population can be important.

The median age – i.e., that point at which half the population is older and half younger – of Canadians in mid-2010 was 39.7 years.

Cities with residents notably older were Saguenay and Trois-Rivieres (both with median ages of 45.0), Peterborough (44.7), Victoria (43.5), Kelowna (43.2) and St. Catharines-Niagara (42.8).

Cities harboring a younger population were mainly in the bustling West – Saskatoon (35.4), Calgary (35.8), Edmonton (36.0) and Regina (36.9).

However, high-tech hub Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo (36.9) also stood out, in the East, and Toronto (37.9) wasn’t too shabby on the youth front either.

For more articles by Alex Carrick on the Canadian and U.S. economies, please see his market insights. Mr. Carrick also has an economics blog. His lifestyle blog is at www.alexcarrick.com

To see Alex Carrick and other economists with expertise in the construction industry in person, register for the CanaData Construction Industry Forecasts , scheduled September 22 at the Liberty Grand in Toronto.

Pilot project to attract more working familes to British Columbia

Veronica Zanfir
Canada
August 15 2011

Author page »

On, August 15, 2011, a new pilot project will commence in B.C. to permit the family members of most temporary foreign workers (including many low-skilled foreign workers) to work while they are in Canada in the company of the principal applicant who was hired because of his or her skills.

Temporary foreign workers generally enter Canada holding a work permit that meets the need of a specific employer who has been unable to locate Canadians to fit an employment need. In the past, only spouses and common-law partners of temporary foreign workers working in a managerial, professional or skilled trades post of employment had access to open work permits (spousal work permits) that permitted them to work anywhere in British Columbia. As of August 15, spouses, common-law partners and working-age dependents of most temporary foreign workers will be able to secure open work permits. This includes the family members of workers in low-skilled occupations. A maximum of 1,800 open work permits will be offered under the pilot project.

Free Things to Do in Montreal

By Stephanie Robichaux

The largest French-speaking city in North America, Montreal often is referred to as Canada's New York City. With newly built skyscrapers and centuries-old buildings, Montreal is the perfect combination of modern and historic. This cosmopolitan city has something for everyone—summer festivals, winter activities, world-class shopping, a bustling nightlife—and plenty of free options to keep you on budget.

Art

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts at the Saidye sponsors the Sunday-@-the-Segal lecture series. Join directors, writers, academics, and others for these popular talks. Topics have included jazz, Mozart, and Houdini. The free event begins at 11 a.m., and refreshments are served afterwards.

On Thursday nights after 5:30, the Centre Canadien d'Architecture is free to the public. Exhibits include a photography display and drawings from the 19th century that show how architects design and execute a project from start to finish. Upcoming exhibitions (beginning in October 2008) focus on the evolution of skylights and on the impact that urban residents—by simply walking, recycling, and gardening—have on their city.

Located in the Saint-Laurent neighborhood, the Musée des Maîtres et Artisans du Québec celebrates Quebec's French-Canadian heritage as well as traditional craftsmanship. A permanent exhibit called "From Master's Hands" presents French-Canadians' tools, furniture, metalwork, and sacred objects from the 1600s through 1800s. Admission to the museum is free on Wednesdays.

The permanent collection at the Musée des beaux-arts de Montreal is always free to the public. This fine arts museum features European artwork dating back to the Middle Ages. Ancient artwork from around the world includes Islamic metalwork, African masks, and Buddhist sculptures. The Canadian art collection captures the country's history though painting, sculptures, and decorative art.

Selected exhibits at the Musée d'art contemporain de Montreal are free on Wednesday nights from 6 to 9 p.m. Through paintings, videos, sculptures, and more, the "Sympathy for the Devil" exhibit chronicles the link between rock'n'roll and avant-garde art since the 1960s. Organized by the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, the exhibit will be on display in Montreal until January 2009. Another upcoming exhibit focuses on the works of modern artist and Montrealer Claude Tousignant. His works are famous for their bold colors and geometric shapes.

The Musée de Lachine's outdoor museum, open daily from sunrise to sunset, features 50 sculptures along walking and biking trails following St.-Louis Lake and Lachine Canal. The museum offers a scavenger-hunt for families in René-Lévesque Park designed to educate people of all ages about sculpture. On weekends in September and October, the museum hosts an introduction to archaeology. With a simulated dig, participants help analyze artifacts and learn about discoveries made at the site.

Attractions

From the balcony of the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), French president Charles de Gaulle gave his controversial "Vive le Québec libre" speech in 1967. From May through October, the Hôtel de Ville offers a free 45-minute guided tour. Wander through the opulent Hall of Honour, which contains portraits of Montreal's former mayors. Also in the hall is a bronze and glass chandelier that weighs over 2,000 pounds. Adding to its elegance is the hand-carved ceiling and stained-glass windows.

One of Montreal's most visited attractions, the Basilique Notre-Dame is Canada's first Gothic Revival style church. The church is home to the 11-ton Jean-Baptiste bell and a 100-year-old organ with nearly 7,000 pipes. There is a fee to enter the church as a visitor, but if you attend a service, relish the opportunity to see the ornate wood carvings, statues, vaulted ceilings, and stained-glass windows free of charge.

Across the street from the basilica is the Musée de la Banque de Montreal, housed in the city's oldest bank building. Dating back to 1847, the bank features six Corinthian columns. While the exterior mostly has remained untouched, the interior was revamped in the early 20th century. The interior columns are made of granite from Vermont, the pink marble walls are from Tennessee, and the counter's marble comes from Italy. Check out a gold nugget from the Yukon and learn how to recognize counterfeit money.

You'd have to travel over 4,000 miles to see the real deal, but Montreal offers a replica of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Bishop Ignace Bourget oversaw the construction of Basilique-Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde, completed in 1894. The dome is a scaled-down version of St. Peter's, but nonetheless stands at an impressive 249 feet. Even the interior is modeled after St. Peter's, with one major difference: Donated by church parishes in Montreal, the 13 statues atop Montreal's basilica represent patron saints of each donor parish, while St. Peter's has the 12 apostles.

Located near McGill University in the heart of Montreal's business and shopping district, the 1859 neo-Gothic Christ Church Anglican Cathedral is frozen in time as modern skyscrapers go up around it. While the church choirs host various concerts throughout the year, you can enjoy their music on Sundays at either the 10 a.m. service or the Choral Evensong at 4 p.m.

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., theCentre Bouddhiste Kankala offers free guided meditations.

Culture

Upon entering Parc du Mont Royal, explore the free permanent exhibit at the historic Smith House. The exhibit, "Monte Real, Monreale, Mont Royal, Montreal," includes a history of the park as well as information about conservation. The house is one of the last remaining examples of rural architecture in Montreal. It served may uses from 1958 until the late 1980s—from a family home, to a police and first aid station, to an art center, to a hunting museum. Today, its purpose is to preserve and promote Mont Royal.

See an arms collection dating back to the 16th century at Musée Stewart in the Fort on Île Sainte-Hélène. The fort is an artifact in itself: It served as a military depot for British troops in the 1820s. The museum's permanent exhibition features maps and maritime prints as well as decorative arts and 18th century physics instruments. Although the museum is currently closed for renovations, it will re-open in May 2010.

Housed in Montreal's old prison, the Centre d'exposition La Prison-des-Patriotes presents information about the rebellions of 1837 and 1838. Learn about the history of the building and the politics of the rebellion. Admission is free.

Part of McGill University's campus, the Redpath Museum doubles as a learning center for graduate students. Free to the public, the natural history museum includes an Ethnology Gallery containing mummies and cultural artifacts from Egypt. See a T-rex skull as well as extinct marine reptiles that shared the Earth with dinosaurs. Learn about at-risk species in Quebec at the biodiversity exhibit, and take a stroll through the outdoor Geological Garden, which features some of Canada's native minerals.

Peruse over 800 items—First Nations objects, photographs, clothing, and sporting equipment—that together symbolize the history and culture of the city at the Musée McCord. The museum is free to the public on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

The Musée de Lachine includes the Maison LeBer-LeMoyne, built around 1670 as part of a fur trading post. The main house and other related buildings are the oldest in Montreal. Hundreds of items, including artifacts from archaeological digs on-site, are part of the museum's permanent exhibit that highlights daily life at the house over the past few centuries. Open from April to December.

Outdoors

Parc Jean Drapeau is one of Montreal's most famous parks, spread over Notre-Dame and Sainte-Hélène islands. Public art, including pieces leftover from the 1967 World's Fair, are located on both islands. Also on the Île Notre-Dame are 62 acres of gardens, originally designed for the 1980 Floralies Internationales horticultural fair. Enjoy the changing colors of the foliage in autumn and the new blooms of spring. Pack a lunch and take a picnic break under the park's famous weeping willow.

Parc La Fontaine has been a cultural center in Montreal's Plateau neighborhood for more than a century. It has a mini-soccer field and volleyball courts open to the public. Meander along the trails to the park's waterfall, which joins two ponds. In the winter, one of them is open for skating. When the weather is warm, take a dip in the wading pool, or enjoy one of the free summer evening concerts.

Some of Montreal's most popular attractions—the Botanical Gardens, the Biodôme, Insectarium, and Olympic Stadium—are just a hop, skip, and jump away from Parc Maisonneuve. During the winter, enjoy the park's ice skating rink for free. If you don't have your own skates, you can rent a pair for a small fee. Other free rinks around the city include Lac aux Castors, Beaver Lake, at Parc Mont Royal and the lakes at Parc Angrignon and Parc LaFontaine.

If you're closer to Montreal's center, head to Parc Jeanne-Mance for free ice skating in the winter. In warmer months, take advantage of picnic areas and playgrounds. There is also a soccer field for public use.

Mont Royal, at more than 760 feet high, is the hill after which Montreal was named. Parc du Mont-Royal is one of the city's best-known and best-loved spots. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who also co-created New York City's Central Park. The park is known for its diverse flora and fauna and spectacular views of the entire city. The Chalet du Mont Royal is a great lookout spot.

The Mont Royal cemetery is a popular attraction bursting with nature—from crab apple and chestnut trees to Japanese lilacs. The idyllic scenery makes for a lovely stroll. Take a guided tour to learn about famous Montrealers buried there.

One of the city's most popular festivals is L'International des Feux Loto-Québec. Every year, leaders in the pyrotechnics field go to Montreal to participate in the competition. This spectacular fireworks show occurs on about ten different nights over the course of the summer. The pyro-musical show, a choreographed display of fireworks set to music, can be viewed for free from the Jacques-Cartier Bridge.

Put on your dancing shoes. Summertime lessons at various parks throughout the city are open to the public, regardless of age or experience. On Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday nights throughout the summer, dance instructors lead free ballroom dancing lessons in Parc Jean Drapeau.

If the weather's warm and the stars are out, you can find a place to tango in Montreal for free almost any night of the week. Tango Libre, a dancing school and studio, offers free trial classes and introductory lessons throughout the city. every Sunday evening in July and August, tango at St. Viateur Park. Take beginner's lessons at the park in the Verdun borough on Wednesday evenings during the summer. Or on Fridays in August, join a free one-hour class starting at 8:15 p.m. at the Old Port. A dance that is open to the public follows.

Food

Aside from Toronto, more Italians live in Montreal than any other Canadian city. It is no wonder, then, that fresh fruits, vegetables, and cheeses can be found atMarché Jean-Talon, a market located between row houses in Little Italy. Local farmers and vendors provide free samples to shoppers.

Drawing in a younger crowd, Bifteck, a bar in the Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood, serves free popcorn to its customers.

RestoMontreal.ca offers information on restaurants and events in Montreal, along with printable coupons for discounts.

Theater/Music

Every year in July, streets are closed in the center of Montreal as it hosts theFestival International de Jazz de Montreal, which draws some of the biggest names in jazz and attracts tens of thousands of jazz fans.

Canadians are proud of their French heritage and their music (and not just Celine Dion). For 11 days in the summer, Montreal host FrancoFolies, the largest French-speaking music festival in the world. With over 1,000 artists from a dozen countries, the event draws nearly a million visitors. Tickets are required for some events, but there are plenty of free outdoor concerts to choose from.

Every summer Montreal hosts the Just for Laughs Festival, the world's largest comedy event. Whether it's theater, stand-up, or street entertainment that you prefer, the festival has something for everybody. While you need tickets for the indoor events, more than a thousand outdoor performances are free.

If you're visiting Montreal between May and September, be sure to check out theTamtam Jam, a musical treat for locals and tourists alike. Hundreds of percussionists gather at the George-Étienne Cartier monument in Parc Mont Royal every Sunday to play, and hundreds of others come to either dance to the beat or just sit back and take it all in.

During the summer, the Théâtre de Verdure in Parc La Fontaine offers free family-friendly outdoor performances—music, theater, and dance—under the stars.

For More Information

Tourism Montreal

Montreal Visitors Guide

Montreal Metro

Total complete applications received since July 1, 2011

On July 1, 2011, the eligibility criteria for Federal Skilled Worker applicants changed.

Between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2012, a maximum of 10,000 complete Federal Skilled Worker applications will be considered for processing. Within the 10,000 cap, a maximum of 500 Federal Skilled Worker applications per eligible occupation will be considered for processing within this same time frame.

These limits do not apply to applications with an offer of arranged employment (job offer).

Applications received toward the overall cap: 897 of 10,000 as of August 10, 2011

Applications received per eligible occupation:

Eligible Occupation (by National Occupational Classification [NOC] code)	Number of Complete Applications Received*
0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers	34
0811 Primary Production Managers (except Agriculture)	6
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management	419
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners	9
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists	27
2151 Architects	19
3111 Specialist Physicians	19
3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians	7
3113 Dentists	24
3131 Pharmacists	39
3142 Physiotherapists	10
3152 Registered Nurses	148
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists	6
3222 Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists	3
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses	7
4151 Psychologists	3
4152 Social Workers	28
6241 Chefs	7
6242 Cooks	13
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades	10
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades	12
7241 Electricians (except Industrial and Power System)	5
7242 Industrial Electricians	7
7251 Plumbers	1
7265 Welders and Related Machine Operators	1
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics	5
7371 Crane Operators	0
7372 Drillers and Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction	1
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service	7

*The number of complete Federal Skilled Worker applications received as of August 10, 2011 is approximate.

**Once the cap has been reached, we can only accept applications for this occupation from people with an existing offer of arranged employment.

NOTE: Because application intake fluctuates, these figures are meant as a guide only. There is no guarantee that an application sent in now will fall within the cap.