Target Canada now hiring for 2013 launch

August 30, 2011Comments on this story  (8)
DANA FLAVELLE
Target Canada is starting to staff up its operations in anticipation of opening its first 135 stores in Canada in March 2013.
The Canadian division of the second largest U.S. retailer launched a careers website on Monday at target.ca/careers.
The company plans to hire “tens of thousands” of Canadians, including 150 to 200 employees per store.
That’s roughly 50 per cent more than are employed at the Zellers’ stores it is replacing, said Bryan Berg, Target Canada’s senior vice-president of stores.
The company is entering the market by buying up the leaseholds on 220 Zellers’ stores for $1.82 billion, though it may not set up shop in all those locations. It has already sold some of the leaseholds to Wal-Mart Canada Corp.
Zellers employees will be given the same consideration as other job applicants, the company said.
So far, Target Canada has posted mainly higher level jobs, such as There are senior buyer, merchandise planning manager, business analyst and district team leader as the retailer builds up its Canadian infrastructure.
So far, the company has hired 35 Canadians, mainly in senior positions. About 20 have started working with executives from the U.S. retailer.
Target expects to employ 500 people in its head office in Mississauga.
Canadian wage rates and employment laws are “more similar than different” than those in the U.S., Berg said.
“They’re pretty much in line with what our expectations have been,” he said. “We haven’t found any big surprises to date.”
“Our goal in the U.S. is to be very competitive in the marketplace. We pride ourselves on having one of the best compensation packages in the (retail) industry,” said Tiffany Monroe, vice-president human resources for Target Canada.
About 50 positions are open, but more are coming.
“There will be ongoing job opportunities that will get posted over the coming months,” Monroe said. “People can sign up for alerts. It’s very similar to the way we do hiring in the U.S.”
Both Berg and Monroe came to Target Canada from its U.S. operations.
With 70 per cent awareness among Canadian consumers, of whom 30,000 already hold a Target U.S. credit card, the chain is expected to have a huge impact on the Canadian retail landscape.
Within a decade, the company expects to be generating $6 billion a year in sales.

Study in Canada

International study in Canada is an attractive prospect for foreign students, as they can gain the benefit of learning English (and potentially French) without paying the high prices of many American schools. Study in Canada, in general, is much more affordable than study in the US, but with the same quality of education. The number of international students studying in Canada currently sits at about 90,000 and rises every year. For a country with a small population of just over 30 million, that's a good figure.

Sample ExpensesBased on the costs of St. Thomas university in Fredericton, New Brunswick. An international student could expect to pay in one academic year:
Tuition: $12,480
Health (mandatory) and Dental (optional): $215.64 & $90.24
Student Fees: $350 (including bus pass)
Residence (Double Room) & Meal Plan: $6,720
Residence Fees (Including refundable damage deposit): $360
Approximate Total: $20,200

The Process
Before getting a study permit, you have to be accepted to a university. As a rule of thumb, it's a good idea to apply for Canadian universities well in advance. Most prospective students start the process a year before their first semester. Start researching schools you're interested in and request an information packet from your top schools, which will usually include an application form. Some schools require a fee for an application, the amount varies depending on the institution, but usually doesn't exceed $50. Upon acceptance, you may also be required to pay a deposit to secure your spot and also a deposit to secure a dorm in residence (if you plan on living on campus). Your deposit will usually be around $100 and a residence deposit is roughly $300.
Once you've been accepted, you can apply for your study permit. There is a standard that you must meet to study in Canada, you must prove that you have enough funds to cover your tuition, accommodation, living expenses and return travel. You must also have no criminal record and be in good health. There are processing times for these permits that must be taken into account when applying.
If you are approved, you will be issued a letter of introduction that should be presented upon entering Canada. If you need a temporary resident visa, you will also be issued one.
When entering the country to study, you need to have your passport, letter of introduction, temporary residence visa (if applicable), the acceptance letter from your school and proof that you can support yourself financially during your stay.
If you wish to renew your study permit, you should apply no less than 30 days before your current permit expires. If your permit expires before you receive an answer, you can remain in the country until a decision is made.
Some foreign students can apply for a student work permit allowing them to work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week during courses and full-time during breaks.
Students who graduate from a Canadian institution can apply for a post-graduation work permit that would allow them to get Canadian work experience if they qualify. The permit cannot be for a longer period of time than their program of study was. A four year course wouldn't qualify for a permit for more than four years.

An interactive tool that allows you to compare Canadian universities
http://www.globecampus.ca/navigator/

How to apply for a Canadian study permit
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-how.asp#step1

Processing times for study permits and temporary residence applications
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/temp.asp 

Institutions that permit off-campus work for international students
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/institutions/participants.asp
Applying for a post-grad work permit
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad-who.asp

Article written by ashleakelly
Last update on 2010-11-09 07:12:41
Guide section: Study

Startup Visa Canada movement launched

A new movement has been launched to focus on making the Canadian immigration process easier for prospective entrepreneurs looking to enter the country.

The new Startup Visa Canada movement has been launched.

Startup Visa Canada is a new Canadian immigration movement which is looking to make it easier for international entrepreneurs toemigrate to Canada and work with Canadian investors to launch new science and technology companies.

The movement is comprised of three founding principles: Boris Wertz, Danny Robinson and the Canadian Venture Capital Association (CVCA). Both Wertz and Robinson have history as entrepreneurs and investors, and the CVCA is comprised of over 1,800 members who have a combined capital of over CA$75 billion under management.

The reasoning behind Startup Visa Canada being formed was summarised by Wertz: "We are already falling behind countries like Chile, Singapore and Britain, who have already upgraded their programs....but I believe we can learn from their programs and make ours better."

CVCA's director also commented on the need for the Canada visa process for entrepreneurs to be overhauled: “Our belief is that we must promote a culture of entrepreneurship in order to successfully compete in the new global economy.

"Canada can become a beacon, attracting the best and the brightest from across the globe.”