Driving in Canada and a new country can be stressful until you become familiar with the driving rules and other requirements. Whether you’re moving or have recently arrived, you’ll find vital information from getting your driver’s license to road rules in Canada to car safety. This overview will help you understand 10 key things to know and do to drive safely in Canada!
Provinces have different licensing requirements. Check with the Provincial Ministry of Transportation where you plan to live.
1. Each Province Issues Licenses to Drive in Canada
The process to get your driver’s license will vary by province. So, check the Provincial Ministry of Transportation (links provided below) where you will live to learn about specific requirements. You need to know:
What identification to provide (i.e. Confirmation of Permanent Residence Form or Permanent Residence Card)
What documents do you need from your home country (i.e. driving license extract)?
Gathering the documents you need while still in your home country, will make it easier and faster to get your license when you arrive in Canada. It will also save you time and money.
You must obtain your driving license from the province where you reside. If you move to another province, you must get a valid license from that province.
A Foreign License Exchange allows you to get a driver’s license without testing.
2. Canada has a Foreign License Exchange Agreement
You may be able to take advantage of the Foreign License Exchange privilege if you have a valid driving license from one of the following countries:
Australia
Austria
Belgium
France
Germany
Great Britain
Hungary
Ireland
Japan
South Korea
New Zealand
Switzerland
Taiwan
United Kingdom
United States
You can also use an International Driving Permit (IDP). An IDP allows licensed drivers from other countries to drive in Canada without testing or applications. However, an IDP is primarily useful for drivers who are visiting Canada.
Permanent residents can only use the IDP for a defined period. This usually varies from 60 – 90 days depending on the province. You must obtain an IDP from your home country.
When you take advantage of the Foreign License Exchange you can get your license quickly without testing.
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3. You May be Eligible for Foreign Driving Experience Credits
You may be eligible for credits for previous driving experience if your country is not recognized in the foreign license exchange agreement (i.e. India, Nigeria, Philippines). The driving credits will reduce the time and cost of getting your full license in Canada.
To apply for foreign driving experience credits you must:
Have proper documents including a current license, proof of identification, and driver’s extract
Pass a vision test, written test, and one or two driving tests depending on the number of years of driving experience and documents that you have
Provide a Letter of Authentication as proof of your driving experience.
Research what documents you may require to get driving credits. You can obtain this information from the provincial ministries of transportation (see section: Provincial Ministries of Transportation).
4. You Must Meet the Minimum Requirements to Drive in Canada
While minimum requirements may vary by province, generally you must meet these conditions:
Age: the legal age to drive in most provinces is 16
Medical health: including physical, vision, and hearing requirements
Driver testing: including written tests and in-car driving tests to ensure you know the road rules in Canada.
You can confirm the specific requirements by visiting the website of the Provincial Ministry of Transportation (see links below).
Driving in Canada requires skills and knowledge to drive safely.
5. Canada has a Graduated Licensing System
The provinces use a graduated licensing system to ensure drivers have the skills and knowledge to drive safely. The system has three levels:
G1 is a learner’s permit
G2 is a probationary license
G is a full-license
To move from a G1 to a full G license can take up to 2 years. But, you have five years to get your G license from the day you pass your G1 test. So take advantage of the foreign license exchange if you can, or obtain foreign driver experience credits to reduce the time and cost to get a full G license.
Car insurance is a must-have to drive in Canada.
6. You Must Have Car Insurance to Drive in Canada
Every province and territory in Canada requires drivers to have car insurance. It is illegal to drive in Canada without car insurance and you can face serious penalties that include:
Fines from $5,000 – $25,000 for a first conviction
Fines from $10,000 – $50,000 for a second conviction
Suspension of your driver’s license
Seizure or impoundment of your car for up to three months.
The minimum requirements for car insurance also vary in each province. So it’s important to know what insurance you must carry to drive a car. You can get more information about what car insurance you require from the provincial Ministry of Transportation websites.
While car insurance can be expensive, it is a legal must-have if you want to drive with peace of mind. Also, many insurance companies want your business, so you can shop for the best rates.
7. Driving Rules and Laws Vary in Each Province
The driving rules are similar in most provinces but, there may be slight differences. You can research the driving rules before you arrive to avoid facing tickets and penalties. This will reduce the stress of driving in a new country, increase safety, and prevent accidents.
Become familiar with the laws in the province where you intend to get your driver’s license to ensure your safety.
Rules of the Road When Driving in Canada
While laws may vary in each province, the basic rules of the road remain the same across Canada
Speed Limits:
Speed limits are vital road rules in Canada to know. Pay attention to posted speed limits. Common speed limits are 50 kilometers per hour in cities, 80 on two-lane highways, and 100 on most highways.
Seatbelts:
Buckle up! All drivers and passengers must wear seatbelts for safety or get a fine. Read more about car seats for children below.
Cell Phone Use:
You can only use your cell phone using a “hands-free” device (i.e. Bluetooth) or a mounted device. Texting or holding your phone will result in hefty distracted driving charges and increase your car insurance rates. Distracted driving is one of the biggest dangers on the road. Learn more about what counts as distracted driving in Ontario.
Alcohol:
Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is a serious offense in Canada. With a DUI, the police can suspend your license, impound your vehicle, or arrest you. It is a criminal offense to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%. Avoid drinking and driving and opt for a taxi, UBER, or public transit.
If you want to learn to drive, consider taking lessons from a recognized driving school. When you take driving lessons, you can also lower your insurance rates. Completing driving lessons shows insurance companies that you have received professional training and can drive safely. In turn, they will reward you with lower insurance rates. Click here for government-approved driving schools in Ontario.
8. Driving Conditions Vary in Canada
Driving conditions vary in Canada depending on the season. So you must prepare your car for both summer and winter driving conditions. Your car may have all-season tires, but winter tires are safer when driving in snow, freezing temperatures, and icy road conditions.
It’s also helpful to prepare for winter conditions and carry additional provisions in your car such as:
Ice scraper/brush to remove snow and ice before you drive
Snow shovel
Jumper cables
Blankets and extra hats and gloves.
9. You Must Have a Child Car Safety Seat When Driving with Children
Another road rule in Canada is that children must be in a child car safety seat from birth until they meet age, height, and weight restrictions. Four stages of child car safety seats include:
Rear-facing infant seats
2. Forward-facing child car seats
3. Booster seats for children who weigh 18 kg (40 lb)
4. Seat belts for children who have outgrown their booster seats.
It’s important to know which seat your child needs and how to install a safety seat correctly. Ensure the safe use of car seats with these child car seat safety resources.
Operating and maintaining a car in Canada can be expensive. From regular maintenance to annual car insurance, the cost can add up quickly. However, if you need to buy a car, you can get a loan from the bank, or lease a car. Or, you can pay cash if you readily have the amount for the car cost. A car is a major purchase so most people get a car loan or lease a car.
Whether you finance a car through a loan or a lease, there are key differences to know and understand. So, carefully consider each option to help you make the right choice.
This overview of the rules of the road when driving in Canada will increase your safety. With additional research and driving tools, you’ll be a confident driver! For more information about the specific driving requirements in each province or territory visit the websites below.
Contact the Provincial Ministry of Transportation
Click on the province where you intend to live to learn how to get a driver’s license.
Corinna Frattini is the content marketing strategist at Prepare for Canada and contributes articles related to working in Canada. With a background in human resources and leadership development, her articles focus on what Canadian employers seek and how newcomers can continue their careers in Canada.
There are many benefits to living in a small city. Smaller cities in Canada can provide advantages such as:
Better quality of life
Lower cost of living and affordable housing costs
Fewer people compete for jobs.
Discover the advantages and benefits of choosing to live in a small city in Canada and important questions to guide your decision!
Vikram and Nutan had great lives as budding professionals in India’s IT capital Bangalore. But, after a close friend immigrated to Canada, they decided to explore moving to Canada. They soon discovered they met the requirements to immigrate to Canada! However, they were unsure about where they wanted to live. Canada is a vast country.
Both agreed, on factors that were important to them. For example, they wanted to live in a small city that offered job opportunities, affordable housing options, and a nice quality of life. The Atlantic Provinces were a big draw and they settled on Fredericton, New Brunswick for its beauty, charm, and sense of community. Two years later, they had jobs, a 5-bedroom home, and the lifestyle they wanted. But, most importantly, they became members of a welcoming community.
Why is Small City Living a Good Choice for Newcomers?
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Small cities across Canada attract newcomers by providing quality job opportunities, and a better quality of life. Living in a small City can offer newcomers an option to avoid congestion issues, high housing costs, and hectic pace.
Discover how innovation drives the economy in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Quality Jobs
While large cities attract newcomers, you may find high competition for jobs. But, smaller Cities often experience job growth when existing residents leave the community, or retire. So, many small cities look to newcomers with the right job skills to meet their employment needs.
Charming Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Quality of Life
A small city can be much quieter and laid back than life in a large city. This can benefit newcomers looking to integrate into the community more easily. Living in a small city may help you to easily immerse yourself in the local community. But, you must decide if you prefer to live in a large and bustling city or a more relaxed, small city.
Support for Newcomers
In Canada, smaller cities recognize the many benefits of welcoming newcomers. To attract and keep newcomers, they continue to build communities that welcome, embrace, and support newcomers.
Newcomers often move to large Canadian cities such as Toronto and Vancouver because of the social, economic, and community networks. With these networks in place, newcomers may find better access to jobs, cultural and social communities, and support services. However, newcomers often find these same services and jobs in small cities!
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Traffic congestion on a Toronto roadway.
Population Growth in Large Cities
Population and migration growth in large cities often puts pressure on areas such as:
Competition for quality jobs
House prices and rental costs
Social services and education
Transit and traffic congestion (which means more time to commute to work).
As a result, large cities often have a higher cost of living and can create financial stress. As a newcomer, you must decide what you prefer, living in a large or small city. You may discover that a small City can provide the lifestyle and many of the amenities you seek.
Considering Living in a Small City in Canada?
When choosing a city, it’s vital to research job opportunities, housing costs, and the culture of the city to determine if it’s the right city for you.
1. Will I find a job living in a small city?
This is a very important question. If few jobs match your skill set, you will leave the community if you and your spouse cannot find suitable jobs. While you may initially settle in the community, you will likely make a costly secondary move to another city.
Questions to Consider:
What jobs are in high demand?
Do my skills and experience match the available jobs?
What are the main industries in the community?
Who are the major employers?
What employment services exist for newcomers?
Are mentorship programs available for newcomers?
What is the unemployment rate in the community?
2. What is the cost of housing in a small city?
While many cities in Canada face rising housing costs, small cities can offer more affordable options. As of July 2024, the national average price for a home in Canada was $667,317. The median home price in Fredericton, New Brunswick during the same period was $404,534.
Questions to Consider:
What is the cost for rental housing and homebuying? How does cost compare to other Canadian cities?
3. What cultural support does the community offer to newcomers?
Immigrants often consider the existing cultural and social network when deciding where to live. This can include services in different languages, faith-based, and nationality-based communities.
Small cities recognize the economic, cultural, and social benefits of welcoming newcomers. Supporting newcomers creates benefits for the community and attractive options for future residents.
Questions to Consider:
What groups, ethnic networks, and professional associations support newcomers?
What activities promote cultural diversity?
Are there groups, ethnic networks, and professional associations for newcomers?
What is the ethnic diversity of the community?
What’s the quality of life? (fast-paced or relaxed? Access to nature, bike trails, etc?)
4. What social support is available to newcomers living in a small city?
Newcomers benefit from services available to help them settle and find jobs in the local community. Services could include help to conduct job search activities, write a Canadian resume, enroll children in school, apply for government programs; and many other activities.
Questions to Consider:
What services are available to help newcomers adapt to the community?
Small city living can be a great option for newcomers seeking a relaxing pace and an option to bustling, hectic, and expensive Canadian cities. With many advantages, it’s worth exploring!
Corinna Frattini is the content marketing strategist at Prepare for Canada and contributes articles related to working in Canada. With a background in human resources and leadership development, her articles focus on what Canadian employers seek and how newcomers can continue their careers in Canada.
With limited competition, Canada faces some of the highest mobile phone rates, especially compared to European countries. However, there is pressure on providers to reduce prices. This makes it easier to find the best mobile phone deal in Canada with prices falling. New technologies such as eSIM and 5G allow more options for users searching for deals. Like a regular SIM card, an eSIM allows using data plans from different providers.
Choosing the right provider and plan will let you connect with friends and family abroad and in Canada! This overview highlights Canada’s main mobile phone providers, their “flanker brands” (or value discount brands), and plan options. You’ll also discover what to consider to select a plan that fits your needs whether you’re a data-hungry user, frequent traveller, or budget-conscious consumer.
Who are Canada’s “Big Three” Mobile Phone Providers?
Three major cell phone companies and national carriers want to compete for your mobile phone business: Bell, Rogers, and Telus. These “big three” tier one providers offer the largest networks, coverage, and a range of plans from basic talk and text packages to data-focused plans to meet unique needs.
Each provider also has flanker brands that appeal to value-conscious customers. The tier two and three flanker brands offer more affordable plans and flexible options that result in large savings.
Here are Some of the Best Mobile Phone Deals in Canada
– 4G LTE network (does not offer 5G speeds) – All plans include five bonus hours of unlimited data each month – Data, talk, and text plans allow roaming in the U.S. and other select countries – Data overage protection automatically turns off your data rather than penalizing you with overage fees when you hit your data cap
– 4G LTE network – Offers affordable plans and exclusive benefits – Call control is an optional postpaid plan feature to prevent robocalls and scammers before their calls reach your end – Select plans allow you to add a perk to your plan like unlimited international SMS, rollover data, or unlimited long distance. – Fido deals offer customers the latest iPhone and Androids (but don’t include financing) – Check the Fido website for the best mobile phone deals and biggest savings.
– 4G LTE network – Offers affordable plans and exclusive benefits – Koodo offers a selection of Samsung, Apple, and Google phones with financing options for $10-20/month (but be sure to read the contract for any additional fees) – Select plans allow you to add a perk to your plan like unlimited international SMS, rollover data, or international long distance add-ons.
Check out tier 2 mobile phone provider plans and discounts.
– Operates on the Bell 4G network – Range of low-cost prepaid plans with generous data – Good fit for users who only need basic connectivity – Unlimited Canada-wide calling plan with unlimited talk and text and 4G data – Bonus data with Lucky Rewards – Bring your own phone (check for device compatibility) – No long-term commitments.
– Operates on Rogers’s nationwide network – Bring your own phone plans avoid high monthly payments (check device compatibility) – Prepaid plans for people looking for basic connectivity – No credit checks or contracts for prepaid plans. – Check out the International Talk Saver Rates.
– Operates on 5G and 4G networks – Offers prepaid plans – Limited options outside of Quebec.
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Finding the best mobile phone deal in Canada depends on your unique needs and budget. This can include data usage, unlimited calling, high-speed connectivity, network coverage, extra features, or international calling. Compare deals, prices, and newcomer offers, as well as provider’s customer service reputation.
Tips & Strategies to Find the Best Mobile Phone Deals in Canada
These tips will help you select the best mobile phone plan that meets your needs and budget:
Consider Your Usage Patterns
Your usage will help you identify the plan that provides the right balance of data, minutes, and features.
Do you consume a lot of data for streaming, browsing, or social media?
Do you make frequent calls, or rely on messaging and other communication methods?
Check out Discount Providers
Bell, Telus, and Rogers offer the most comprehensive coverage, but discount providers may have better options in specific regions. Research the coverage maps of different providers to ensure they provide reliable connectivity in the areas where you live, work, and travel. Network coverage can be sparse in remote or rural areas. But, you’re likely settling in a city with good coverage.
Understand Contract Penalties
If you enter a contract, know the duration and any fees or penalties for ending the contract early. While longer contracts may offer lower monthly rates, they also limit your ability to change providers or plans in the future.
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Avoid Hidden Charges and Fees
Carefully review the monthly plan costs, and additional fees for:
Features
Roaming
Overages
International calling
Device financing.
Look for providers that offer transparent pricing and avoid hidden charges. Find a plan that meets your needs and fits your budget to maximize value and avoid overspending.
Ensure Device Compatibility for Bring Your Own (BYO) Device Plans
If you own a mobile device, ensure that it is compatible with the provider’s network and that you can bring it when switching plans. BYO plans are the most affordable plans for talking, texting, and mobile data.
Types of Mobile Phone Plans in Canada
Knowing different plans’ unique features and benefits will help you select the best mobile phone deal to meet your needs.
Prepaid Plans
Prepaid plans require you to pay for your usage upfront, giving you more control over your spending. These plans are more flexible, with no long-term contracts or credit checks. They are often a good choice if you have a limited budget.
Postpaid Plans
These are monthly subscription plans, where you receive a monthly bills for the services you already used. Postpaid plans often include a wider range of features, such as unlimited talk and text and higher data allowances. They may also offer the option to finance a new device as part of the plan. Most providers request a Canadian credit check for a month contract subscription.
Family Plans
Many providers offer family plans that allow you to share a pool of minutes, text messages, and data across multiple lines. These plans can be more cost-effective for households with multiple users, as they often include discounts for additional lines.
Pay-as-you-go Plans
Also known as “top-up” plans, these options allow you to pay for usage as you go, without a fixed monthly fee. You can purchase airtime and data credits as you need, making them suitable for infrequent or occasional users.
Data-focused Plans
Suppose you consume large amounts of mobile data, such as heavy streamers or mobile hotspot users. In that case, data-focused plans offer higher data allowances, often with the option to add more data as needed. These plans may be more expensive but can provide better value for data-heavy users.
International Roaming Plans
If you frequently travel outside Canada, consider plans that offer affordable international roaming options, such as discounted rates or included roaming data. This can help you avoid costly overage fees when using your phone abroad.
Bring Your Own (BYO) Plans
BYO plans are the most affordable plans for talking, texting, and mobile data. Often, this is the only option for newcomers. To purchase a new phone on a contract requires a credit check and without building a Canadian credit history, this is difficult.
By taking the time to research, evaluate, and compare your options, you can make an informed decision and find the best mobile phone plan that meets your unique needs. Whether you’re a data-hungry user, a frequent traveller, or a budget-conscious user, consumer, there is a plan to for the perfect balance of features and costs.
Corinna Frattini is the content marketing strategist at Prepare for Canada and contributes articles related to working in Canada. With a background in human resources and leadership development, her articles focus on what Canadian employers seek and how newcomers can continue their careers in Canada.
Celebrating Pride Season in Canada (June to September) is a time to recognize and support the contributions and achievements of the 2SLGBTQI+ communities and their allies. While Pride 2024 celebrations and events occur in cities across Canada, Toronto hosts the largest Pride event in North America each year in June. Pride events also happen throughout the year in many communities. Learn more about the history, relevance, and Pride 2024 events and celebrations.
2SLGBTQI+ stands for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning and additional sexual orientations and gender identities.
Two-Spirit (or 2 Spirit or 2S) is an Indigenous term that means a person has both a feminine and masculine spirit living in the same body.
Pride allies show their solidarity by actively:
Supporting the rights and safety of the 2SLGBTQI+ community
Supporting systemic change, and
Promoting inclusivity.
Why Do We Celebrate Pride Month?
While celebrating Pride events is a key focus of the season, it’s also a time to focus on Canada’s commitment to human rights. A fundamental human right is the right to live free from all forms of discrimination, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
Canada is one of the most friendly 2SLGBTQI+ nations in the world. Section 5 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms outlines how each individual has equal protection under the law. The Charter states that people are free from discrimination based on factors such as race, religion, ethnic origin, and sexual orientation. Among other things, this means that:
Same-sex relationships are not a crime
Same-sex marriages are legal and come with rights such as pensions and benefits
Hate crimes and hate speech are illegal
Employers cannot discriminate against you based on sexual orientation or gender identity
Doctors or health care professionals cannot refuse treatment based on sexual orientation or gender identity
Canada’s promise of equality makes it a nation of choice for individuals fleeing countries that criminalize sexual orientation.
According to the Human Dignity Trust, “66 countries have jurisdictions that still criminalize LGBT people” because of who they are and who they love. With sentences that range from fines to prison, or even to the death penalty, criminal punishments have profound negative effects.
Services and Support for LGBTQ+ Newcomers
Recognizing the need for greater support, more settlement agencies now offer services to the LGBTQ community. In addition, more LGBTQ agencies provide services to multicultural communities, especially in large cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary. Support services include one-to-one support to identify settlement needs, housing, legal issues, financial insecurity, employment, and questions about refugee claims.
With funding from ScotiaRISE, The 519 will launch:
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Project Unlock
With this program, LGBTQIA+ newcomers can receive individualized programs and financial aid to get certification for in-demand careers. Participants will also receive mentoring and coaching, and job search support.
El Lugar
The program supports Latin American newcomers with gatherings, workshops, and language support to enter the workforce successfully.
Settlement Agencies:
Here are other settlement agencies that offer LGBTQ+ newcomer support.
While many of the Pride festivals in Canada began as a protest and demand for equal rights, today’s festivals are more of a celebration with a party atmosphere. Today, Pride events celebrate and recognize the progress that the 2SLGVTQI+ community has made over the years. And, while there is more work to be done, the 2SLGVTQI+ community continues to demonstrate resilience and strength.
A large crowd lines the Pride Toronto parade route. Toronto is host to the largest pride event in North America each June.
Toronto’s first pride parade was in June 1981. At that time, Pride events took place during a seven-to-10-day festival. Since 2016, Toronto has declared June as Pride Month. Today, Pride Toronto is among the largest organized gay pride festivals in the world.
Montreal Gay Pride, or Fierté Montreal was founded in 2007. Formerly, the city’s Pride festival was part of a general arts and music festival that began in 1993. Today, the Montreal Pride Festival is the largest francophone LGBTQ gathering.
In 2022, Calgary’s parade focus was the complex intersection of immigration and the 2SLGVTQI+ community. Working with the End of the Rainbow Foundation and the Centre for Newcomers, pride parade marshalls represented countries including Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Iran.
To the 2SLGBTQI+ community, newcomers, and allies, we wish you happy pride celebrations! It’s time to celebrate and continue building safe and welcoming communities across Canada!
Corinna Frattini is the content marketing strategist at Prepare for Canada and contributes articles related to working in Canada. With a background in human resources and leadership development, her articles focus on what Canadian employers seek and how newcomers can continue their careers in Canada.
Communication skills are important for two primary reasons. Firstly, if you apply for Permanent Residence (PR) in Canada you must have strong language skills. You need to show that you can communicate in either of Canada’s official languages: English or French. And you have to provide proof of your language results from an organization that the Canadian government approves. For example, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a common tool to show your language skills.
Secondly, one of the most important skills that Canadian employers look for is the ability to communicate effectively. Regardless of your title, profession, or industry, strong communication skills will help you to achieve success. Employability skills include your ability to manage information, think and solve problems, use numbers, use digital tools, and communicate.
Employability skills are the skills you need to enter, go through, and grow in the world of work. Understanding and applying these skills will help you create a set of tools to improve your ability to grow and do well in the workplace and beyond.
Conference board of canada, 2022
In 2022, the Conference Board of Canada, in partnership with FutureSkills Centre, defined communication skills as a fundamental skill. Other employability skills include:
The goal was to identify the top skills that Canadian employers seek. The research showed that employers seek these top three skills:
Soft skills (social and emotional skills)
Personal management skills, and
Teamwork skills.
Communication Skills Defined
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While language and communication skills are essential for most jobs, what exactly does that mean? And, how do you show that you have proficient language skills?
To succeed in the workplace, it’s essential to communicate with managers, co-workers, clients, suppliers, and customers. Strong communication skills include:
Writing
Reading
Speaking
Listening
In the workplace, you require:
Writing Skills
Strong writing skills are vital for many jobs. Writing skills include your ability to write clearly and concisely. This can include:
Writing effective emails
Writing compelling presentations and reports
Reviewing and proofreading your writing.
Reading Skills
Reading skills include your ability to read and understand:
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Forms, memos, policies
Graphs, charts, diagrams
Complex information such as journals and articles.
The level and type of reading requirements will vary based on the type of work that you do.
Listening Skills
Listening skills include verbal and non-verbal responses to show the speaker that you are engaged in what they are saying. Active listening allows you to hear, understand, and respond in a meaningful way to the speaker.
This is an important skill to help you build relationships and trust with managers, co-workers, and others you work with.
Active listening includes:
Paraphrasing what you heard the speaker say in your own words
Asking open-ended questions that allow the speaker to provide more information.
Limiting closed-ended questions (questions that require a yes or no answer)
Giving verbal and non-verbal feedback that shows interest in the speaker.
Non-verbal feedback such as nodding your head shows that you understand what the speaker is saying without interrupting them. It’s a helpful cue that you give to the speaker. Other non-verbal cues include:
Smiling
Maintaining eye contact
Removing distractions such as your cell phone, papers on your desk, and closing your laptop.
Active listening allows you to focus on the speaker, listen, and understand another point of view. All skills that will help you to succeed in the workplace.
Speaking Skills
Strong speaking skills allow you to influence others such as managers, co-workers, and customers. Whether you manage a team or are a team member, speaking skills allow you to convey ideas effectively and persuade others.
Speaking skills are helpful for most positions and important for any customer-facing role.
Developing “Soft Skills” in the Canadian Workplace
Many newcomers misread their struggle to acquire employment and look to add to their already long list of educational credentials. This is good, but you also need your soft skills to succeed.
Soft skills are a critical factor for success in Canada because when employers ask about “Canadian experience”, they are looking for candidates who can easily adapt to the workplace. They want assurance that you are a match for the job and the workplace culture. When looking for work in the Canadian job market, it’s vital to put your best foot forward.
What Exactly are Soft Skills?
Soft skills remain out of the grasp of many people because Canadians have difficulty articulating what “soft skills” actually include, beyond interpersonal skills. Hard skills are related to your technical ability, credentials, and relevant experience that you already have in abundance. On the other hand, soft skills, or people skills describe how you connect with others, build relationships, solve problems, and interact with others.
Certainly, communication skills are a part of the soft skills package, but it’s only a part. Within communication skills, is the capacity to network with others (which includes the art of small talk), effectively communicate (verbally and non-verbally), work in teams, collaborate with others, and demonstrate empathy. While your hard skills and resume will get you an interview, it is your ability to present yourself in the interview that will make you stand out. This is an important piece of the puzzle and without developing these skills, you may find it difficult to get past the initial interview.
How to Improve Your Communication Skills
Mastering your language and communication skills will help you when you apply to work in Canada. Employers will see your strong communication skills as a strength and help you to stand out among other applicants.
Many settlement services also provide free language instruction. Settlement agencies exist across Canada and can help you with many services such as job-specific language training to help you excel in the workplace.
When you’re comfortable with your communication skills, you will be more confident in job interviews. As well, strong communication skills will help you to excel in the workplace.
Government Language Skills Programs
The Canadian government funds many language programs. These programs are available through settlement services, or you can improve your language through the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program.
The LINC program provides free instruction to improve basic language skills such as speaking and writing in English or French. To find a LINC program, click on the links below for the province where you plan to settle:
Language classes that the government of Canada funds are:
Taught by qualified and experienced teachers
Available in a classroom with other students or online
Available to take full-time, part-time, and during the day, evening, or weekends.
You can take language classes at community organizations, schools, and colleges. Other benefits are meeting other newcomers and boosting your confidence when you take your language skills to the next level!
What is IELTS?
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is a popular English language test. It is commonly used by schools and organizations to assess and measure language skills. IELTS test is also one of the language tests that Canada will accept for people who want to immigrate to Canada.
Some professions in Canada including, engineering, law, medicine, and teaching require a minimum IELTS score. For example, to work as a teacher in Ontario, you require a minimum IELTS score of:
6.5 for reading and listening
7 for writing and speaking.
Organizations like British Council IELTS can help you improve your communication skills with webinars, practice materials, tests, and free online courses.
It’s important to research your profession in Canada to see if you must meet an IELTS requirement.
Communication skills are important because they will ensure your success in the workplace. You can develop your communication skills at home, school, work, and in your community. And many people can help you to build these skills such as your family, friends, neighbours, and co-workers.
For more information, tools, resources, and free webinars visit our finding a job in Canada resource page. Get the help you need to achieve your career goals in Canada!
Corinna Frattini is the content marketing strategist at Prepare for Canada and contributes articles related to working in Canada. With a background in human resources and leadership development, her articles focus on what Canadian employers seek and how newcomers can continue their careers in Canada.
