Just One Card for All Libraries in Saskatchewan!

Thanks to technology, Saskatchewan residents will some day be able to use one library card to access services in all municipal and regional libraries across the province.

The provincial government provided the Saskatchewan Regional Library System with $5.2 million in financial support for the Saskatchewan Information and Library Services project, which will integrate municipal and regional library computer systems in the province over the next two years.

Source from Leader-Post

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Canadian Scholarship Hunting

Attending school in Canada is about three times more expensive for international students than for Canadian students. Finding a scholarship supporting all abroad expenses becomes a very essential step for an international student. Not like to its counterpart, American, Canada offers less and smaller scholarships to international students and competition is very fierce. In order to get some-ten-%-scholarship of the total school fee for the first semester is quite a tough procedure to undertake.

Because of difficulties in finding scholarships, here comes to terms like “scholarship hunting” or “scholarship hunter”. However, nothing is impossible. If you keep trying and being persistent to your dreams, you are 50% of success already.

Below are some feasible sources to find Canadian scholarships for international students. Your hard work will be soon rewarded kindly if you keep looking for scholarships.

ScholarshipsCanada.com.
After logging in, perform an advanced search using "International or Visa Student" as your region of residence. If you find a scholarship you think you could apply for, you should contact that scholarship administrator for more information.

Here are some other resources you might be able to make use of.

CIDA - The Canadian International Development Agency: This organization offers scholarships directly and through funding for students to come to Canada to study.

CIDA-SICI Project (CSP) - The Canadian International Development Agency and the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute offer several grants and internships to graduate students from India to study in Canada, including the Women and Development Fellowships, the Social Sciences & Humanities Fellowships and the Visiting Scholar Program.

Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC): FAC sponsors the Commonwealth Scholarship Plan. The program is designed to help students from Commonwealth countries take programs of advanced study and research at the graduate level in Canada.


Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC): FACsponsors the Government of Canada Awards, available to graduate students who are citizens of Chile, Colombia, Cuba, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Philippines, Russia and Venezuela. Countries may be added at any time, so students should check the link below occasionally.

Organization of American States (OAS) Fellowship Programs (PRA): Awards available to students from other OAS member states for graduate study or research in Canada.

International Development Research Centre (IDRC): This organization funds research activities designed to provide benefits to developing countries. Most of the funding they do is at a doctoral level.

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada: Sponsors the NATO Science Fellowships for post-doctoral studies and the Visiting Fellowships in Canadian Government Laboratories for post-doctoral studies or doctoral studies.

If you are accepted to a school, try contacting your school's financial aid office. There may be an award that your school's financial aid or registrar's office knows about. It never hurts to ask. You can find your school's contact information in their school profile.

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Regina's Symbol

Walking in downtown, everybody knows the famous and eye-catching twin towers. Even you, new Reginans, have properly seen them at least once or twice although you do not know their names- McCallum Hill Centre. It is so famous even that you can see it in the city’s logo.

McCallum Hill Centre - Tower I (22-storey) and Tower II (20-storey) are cast-in-place concrete structures with blue semi-reflective glass curtainwall. One of the distinguishing features of these office towers is the 11 degree splayed walls. The structure also includes one level of underground parking, four-unit elevator bank and allowance for future pedestrian connections. The twin towers were designed by Cochrane Lavalin Inc and owed by Harvard Developments Inc. - A Hill Company

The Hill family's business history started in 1903 with the sale of land on which the Saskatchewan Legislative Buildings are presently situated. The founding company, McCallum Hill Limited, was created in the same year by Walter H.A. Hill and E.A. McCallum. McCallum Hill Limited specialized in real estate development and insurance. Today, it is under the umbrella of The Hill Companies, along with Harvard Developments Inc., which is the primary operating entity and which focuses on real estate development, asset management and property management. All are headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan.

The Hill Companies are a model of diversity and achievement. Over the years, the 2nd and 3rd generation owners, Fred and Paul Hill, firmly established themselves as leaders in real estate development and in the business community at a national level. In Western Canada, the Hill philosophy and personal style is legendary. In their home city of Regina, Saskatchewan, the Hills are the largest owners and managers of commercial and retail properties, controlling in excess of 3.3 million square feet.

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Regina Is Changing

On these days, Regina is changing its appearance with many big building projects. In the near future, many Reginans will be able to feel more confident about their city.

Beside the famous McCallum Hill Centre's "twin towers" and the Cornwall Centre, Regina has been planning to get more eye-catching architectural and commercial buildings making it a real capital city.

Regina is willing to pay $350-million for a study into the possibility of building a domed stadium downtown that could seat up to 50,000 people and host sports, entertainment, conventions and other events.

The global transportation hub (GTH) project west of Regina is a multimodal transport facility linking road, rail, and air freight traffic also under construction.

Loblaws is already on board with a near one-million- square-foot warehouse about five kilometres west of the city. It plans to build $350-million warehouse and distribution facility on the site

Walmart Canada also said it was building an 185,000-square-foot "supercentre" in the new Harbour Landing subdivision south of the airport.

At the moment, Habitat for Humanity Regina is in construction for its new 15,000 square foot building. This $2.3-million-project is funded by the City of Regina and provincial government and the Government of Canada located on an approximately two acre site at 1640 Broder St.

Another major housing project is taking shape at College Avenue and Broad Street, where up to 600 townhouses and apartments are being built on the site of the old Anglican Church headquarters for the Diocese of Qu'Appelle and former allotment gardens.

Work is under way on a $1.9-billion expansion at Consumers' Co-operative Refineries Ltd., north Regina in dollar terms the biggest capital project in Regina's history.

The heart of Regina -- Victoria Park -- is also being transformed in the "City Square" project that will see 12th Avenue to the north modified as a space for walkers, cyclists and special events.

This is quite good news for those studying in educational and vocational institutions by now. In a few years to come, there will be a lots jobs created from these projects, making Regina a better place to work than ever.

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Teenagers of 14 Can Work Legally

From now on, teenagers from 14 are legally to have a job in Saskatchewan due to a new law introduced by the provincial government.

Young people aged 14 and 15 who wish to work must acquire permission from their parent or guardian, and complete a certificate that focuses on employment standards and occupational health and safety. In addition, 14 and 15-year-olds must not work any later than 10 p.m. if they have school the next day, before school starts on a school day, and more than 16 hours during a school week.

Larry Hubich, president of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL), said the government's changes go in the opposite direction than where society should be going. "All of their initiatives on the labour file have been in response to demands from the business community who wants cheaper workers that are less assertive in their rights and who are more compliant with the demands of the boss. That's what this is about -- it's not about providing young workers with an opportunity to get some work experience, and for the government to suggest that is dishonest."

Previously, only five specific sectors had a minimum age of employment of 16: hotels, restaurants, educational institutions, hospitals, and nursing homes. As a result, the absolute minimum age of employment in these five service categories will be 14 years of age as well.

Legislation will continue to restrict employment of young people in casinos, the sale, handling or serving of alcohol, during school hours, and in certain high-risk occupations.

Source from Leader-Post

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Earn $5,000 for Graduating High School Smoke-Free

The R.E.W.A.R.D.S.™ Foundation is a registered Canadian Foundation created to address the staggering personal and social costs of youth dropping out of school, and the devastating health issues that result from smoking. The R.E.W.A.R.D.S.™ Program is designed to motivate youth to make healthy lifestyle choices.

If you are an adult and you want to help do something about keeping our kids smoke free and educated then the R.E.W.A.R.D.S. Program is for you.

Students are offered the tools to earn CASH to start their lives after high school graduation. All Canadians benefit when we graduate most of our kids as non-addicted citizens of Canada. Simply put , they contribute more than they take out of the system.

This program is for all kids. Not just the high achievers or the challenged. This is an opportunity for all kids to work hard and get a good start in life. This is not a handout; it's a hand up. Kids have to participate in the process. Kids raise money to pay for the grants, and help the foundation find the donors to sponsor them.

In order to be eligible for a financial REWARD each youth must:
1) Stay Smoke Free
2) Graduate High School
3) Sign up sponsors who will commit to donating about $25 a month to the REWARDS Foundation.

If you are a youth and you want a chance to earn some money towards college, university then sign up and put in the effort of finding sponsors. The world is a competitive place. We give you the tools, and you put them to work. This is the first lesson in how to create a successful life.

Sign up now


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Changes to Immigration for International Students

From the International Education Week, November 17-21, 2008 Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris announced changes today to the Student Category of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) that align with the federal Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.

International graduates of Canadian post-secondary schools are now eligible to apply for Permanent Resident status through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program after six months of Saskatchewan work experience. Previously they had to work in their field of study. The expanded student category now accepts graduate applicants holding permanent full-time job offers in any occupation.

Since the inception of the SINP Student Category, 158 foreign students have been nominated to become permanent residents of the province.

In October, Minister Norris announced the expansion of the Graduate Retention Program. This program offers tuition rebates as high as $20,000 over seven years to graduates of approved programs, including international students, who live in Saskatchewan.

"This expansion to the Graduate Retention Program signals to graduates from anywhere in the world that Saskatchewan is the best place to establish their careers and pursue their goals," Norris said.

The most recent Department of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism statistics show that approximately 3,500 foreign students annually study in Saskatchewan.

Program details

What changes were made to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) Student Category?

International graduates of Canadian postsecondary schools are now eligible to apply for permanent resident status through the SINP after six months of gaining Saskatchewan work experience. Previously, applicants had to work in their field of study. The expanded student category now accepts graduate applicants holding permanent full-time job offers in any occupation.Who is eligible to qualify under the SINP Student Category?International students may qualify to apply under the SINP Student Category if:

You have graduated with a certificate, a diploma or degree from a recognized postsecondary educational institution in Canada. The program must have been at least one academic year (eight months) of full-time study.
You have worked for a Saskatchewan employer for a minimum of six months under a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) post-graduation work permit.
You have a current permanent full-time job offer from an employer.

How do international students apply for the SINP Student Category?

Applicants must submit a complete application package to the Government of Saskatchewan, Immigration Services Division, including:

Original SINP forms
Photocopies of Government of Canada forms
Photocopies of required supporting documents

However, as an international student, your first step should be to download the application guide and checklist from the website [www.immigration.gov.sk.ca]. The guide will walk you through the application process and will provide you with information about which forms and supporting documents you will need to include in your application.

Once you have worked your way through the guide, gathered supporting documents and completed all of the necessary forms, you should use the provided checklist to make sure you have not missed anything. Incomplete applications will not be processed and will result in delay.

Where can students go to get more information on the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program Student Category?Students can find more information about the SINP Student Category on-line at immigration.gov.sk.ca.
You can also call the general inquiry line at (306) 798-7467.

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Immigrants: From volunteers to Careers

Volunteers are workers within groups, agencies and organizations who willingly provide their services as charitable or helpful work without pay. Helping other people is a valued tradition in Canadian society. It can help enrich your life and the lives of others.

It is important for you to know what you are committing and when you volunteer. Make sure that you ask the volunteer action centre or organization you are working for what they expect of you and what they can offer you.

As a volunteer you will become involved in the community, share your life experiences and communicate with Canadians. Volunteering is one way for you to learn new skills, continue to develop your existing skills, practice English and meet people. It allows you to build networks, gain Canadian experience, and learn more about the work environment in your community. It is a good way to make new friends and contacts. Volunteering can also provide new routes to paid jobs. Most employers will ask you about your Canadian experience. For those who are students or plan to reinvest in study, volunteering is a good thing for you in competition for local scholarships.

Volunteers can choose to work on their own or with others, do hands-on work or volunteer at an administrative or leadership level. You may conduct your own research to find an organization with whom you would like to volunteer.

Then you will be wondering where to volunteer in Regina? Well, say “A lots”. Typically, if you want your future career relating to construction or skilled trades, try out Habitat for Humanity Regina.

Habitat for Humanity is a community-based, non-profit, faith-based organization working to provide safe and decent housing for people, established in 1993. It mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing for seniors, low-income families and those most vulnerable within our province. The Habitat ReStore collects and sells used building materials, hardware and major appliances and the sales will cover administrative cost for Habitat of Humanity. At the end of March 2009, The Government of Saskatchewan is committing $10 million to Habitat so that it will use to deliver a total of 20 quality, affordable home ownership units in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Yorkton and Lloydminster. The province also committed a total of $180,000 to fund the Habitat Regina Youth Build Project in which participants will learn a trade and acquire entry-level building skills - $60,000 annually for three years. The project will train young adults for careers in the construction trades. At the moment, Habitat is in construction for its new 15,000 square foot building. This project is funded by the City of Regina and provincial government ($1 million), and the Government of Canada ($1.08 million). The new building will house new ReStore and Recycle operations, administration offices, and an area for the pre-fabrication of housing components. The pre-fabrication area will also be used to train young people so they acquire job and construction skills. The new building will be located on an approximately two acre site at 1640 Broder St. Work on the facility is expected and anticipated to be ready by January 2010.

For those who love animal and pets, you can try Regina Humane Society. Up to now, I have no information about its financial budget.

The Regina Humane Society was incorporated in 1964 as a non-profit organization. Throughout the years, the Society has retained its primary mission of improving the welfare of animals through programs and services in sheltering, education, protection, and advocacy. The Society continues to offer the public an increasingly wide range of support services to the City of Regina and surrounding area. Volunteers are key members of the animal welfare team at the Regina Humane Society. These unsung heroes perform many duties for the Society every day. Whether it is walking dogs, stuffing envelopes or working a bingo, volunteers make a difference in the lives of the animals. These volunteers derive many benefits from taking the time to care. Benefits from volunteering at the Regina Humane Society such as develop new skills, meet new people with similar interests, explore potential career opportunities and make a difference in the life of an animal.

United Way of Regina is your local non-profit organization working to make our community better for everyone. It focuses on empowering people, groups and entire neighbourhoods to take control of their futures. In a meaningful, long-term way UWR is addressing the issues that matter most to the people of Regina. This focus will create the type of change that will positively impact the quality of life for everyone in this community. It’s a huge challenge. But, it’s exciting, it’s daring and because of you it’s possible. Its vision is to improve the social and economic conditions of all Regina citizens. Its mission is to improve lives and build community by engaging individuals and mobilizing collective action.

There are so many chances for you to volunteer in Regina, if I keep listing here, I afraid that it will be a no-end. To find more you can check out here

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The Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP)

Walking in Regina downtown, new Reginans can see many kind people coming from India, China and Philippine. Even you can have some colleagues from those countries at work. No bother wondering how if you know about CIIP.

In 2006, The Canadian government had set up a new initiative - the Canadian Immigration Integration Project - to help potential immigrants receive better information about the Canadian job market. The CIIP also works to help immigrants obtain evaluation of their credentials (diplomas, certificates and degrees). Anyone who applies for immigration to Canada can now receive this kind of employment assistance from Canadian officials before they leave their home country.

Launched in the field by the fall of 2006 and was due to conclude within 2 years, the Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP) is a pilot funded by HRSDC (Human Resources and Social Development Canada).

In its pilot phase, CIIP is available in China, India and the Philippines. So CIIP offices are only in China, India and the Philippines. However, offices may be set up in other countries in the future.

The project is designed to help immigrants under the Federal Skilled Worker Program prepare for integration to the Canadian labour market while they are still in their country of origin completing final immigration requirements.

There is an exclusive website about this project alone. For more detail, you can visit to know more. Click here

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Regina Women's Concerns

If you are women, sometimes you must be concerned about your health in some ways. What should you do? Come to your family doctor and ask for advices? Since most of family doctors are male, that is not a comfortable way. You want to share your matter with other sisters, but you do know where are those who are willing discuss with you about anything related to women’s health. Well, here comes to PWHCE.

Prairie Women’s Health Center of Excellence (PWHCE) is one of the Centres of Excellence for Women’s Health supported by the Bureau of Women's Health and Gender Analysis of Health Canada. The Centres are dedicated to improving the health status of Canadian women by supporting policy-oriented and community-based research and analysis on the social and other determinants of women’s health.

PWHCE’s goal is to improve the health of women in Manitoba and Saskatchewan in particular by making the health system and social systems more responsive to women’s and girls’ health and well being.

Health is more than just the absence of disease. PWHCE is committed to fostering a better understanding of what determines women's health by generating new knowledge, providing policy advice, analyzing data and resources on women’s health, communicating knowledge, building and strengthening networks of individuals and organizations. PWHCE is associated and linked with organizations, individuals and policy makers at community, regional and national levels.

For female Reginans, below is the local address of PWHCE:
PWHCE Regina
Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence
University of Regina Extension
CB309, College & Scarth, Regina, SK S4S 0A2
Phone: (306) 585-5727
Fax: (306) 585-5852
E-mail: pwhce@uregina.ca

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Need a pet? Buying versus Adopting

Are you lonely? Nobody is likely to spend time with you and you feel need for a pet as a friend? If you are those who love pets, you must want to possess at least one pet in your house. Or if your kids have been pining for a puppy for a long while and you will consider it the right time for them to have a pet, what should you do? Buy one or adopt one?

Since possessing a pet will be expensive with the high costs of pet ownership: Licenses, training, spaying/neutering, grooming, vet care, food, litter, and other expenses add up, and buying a pet will cost at least CAN$ 250 for a puppy, adoption will be a smart choice for budget-conscious people.

Luckily in Regina, there is a place for pet adoption. Its name is Regina Humane Society. Incorporated in 1964 as a non-profit organization, The Regina Humane Society has space for over 150 animals, a voluntary Board of Directors, 30 full-time and 2 part-time staff and 250 active volunteers. Throughout the years, the Society has retained its primary mission of improving the welfare of animals through programs and services in sheltering, education, protection, and advocacy. The Society continues to offer the public an increasingly wide range of support services to the City of Regina and surrounding area.

If you are a Reginan, you will properly pay for an adoption fee from as low at $ 86 to as high as $ 148.25. Adoption fees include: 1st vaccinations, free veterinary exam, spay/neuter surgery, pet care information.

Though you do not need a pet, please call to Animal Protection Services if you found a pet abuse or something miserable happing to a pet, and it makes up your concerns.
Animal Protection Services
Animal by-law enforcement, dangerous dogs, and cruelty or neglect reports
7 days a week - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Phone: (306) 777-7700

Regina Humane Society
PO Box 3143
Highway #6 North & Armour Road
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P3G7

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From International Students to Permanent Residents

Many international students have come and study in Canada. Enjoying the favorable life-style and welcoming environment, many of them always find the ways to stay in Canada after graduation. These days, it is a good luck for them due to the extreme shortage of work-force caused by the retirement of Baby Boomers.

Applied on or after February 27, 2008, criteria for international students or those who want to come to Canada to live and work as follow:

In order for your application to be eligible for processing, you must either:
· have an offer of arranged employment, OR
· be a foreign national living legally in Canada for one year as a temporary foreign worker or an international student, OR
· be a skilled worker who has at least one year of experience in one or more of the following occupations:

0111: Financial Managers
0213: Computer and Information Systems Managers
0311: Managers in Health Care
0631: Restaurant and Food Service Managers
0632: Accommodation Service Managers
0711: Construction Managers
1111: Financial Auditors and Accountants
2113: Geologists, Geochemists and Geophysicists
2143: Mining Engineers
2144: Geological Engineers
2145: Petroleum Engineers
3111: Specialist Physicians
3112: General Practitioners and Family Physicians
3141: Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists
3143: Occupational Therapists
3142: Physiotherapists
3151: Head Nurses and Supervisors
3152: Registered Nurses
3215: Medical Radiation Technologists
3233: Licensed Practical Nurses
4121: University Professors
4131: College and Other Vocational Instructors
6241: Chefs
6242: Cooks
7213: Contractors and Supervisors, Pipefitting Trades
7215: Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
7217: Contractors and Supervisors, Heavy Construction Equipment Crews
7241: Electricians (Except Industrial and Power System)
7242: Industrial Electricians
7251: Plumbers
7252: Steamfitters, Pipe fitters and Sprinkler System Installers
7265: Welders and Related Machine Operators
7312: Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
7371: Crane Operators
7372: Drillers and Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction
8221: Supervisors, Mining and Quarrying
8222: Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
9212: Supervisors, Petroleum, Gas and Chemical Processing and Utilities

To fill out a form for application, visit Service Canada in local area for more information. Below is address of Regina Service Canada:
Alvin Hamilton Building
1783 Hamilton Street
Regina, Saskatchewan

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Come and Live In Saskatchewan

Entrepreneur Category

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is designed to help entrepreneurs establish their businesses in Saskatchewan.
To be considered for the SINP Entrepreneur Category, you must:

Have a minimum of 3 -5 years business ownership experience or senior management experience Have a minimum personal net worth of CAD 250,000
Conduct a comprehensive Exploratory Visit to Saskatchewan (at least five working days) that includes a Visitation Seminar and interview with a SINP Business Immigration Officer
Submit a Business Proposal or Relocation and Settlement Plan
Make a minimum, verifiable investment of CAD 150,000 into starting a new business or buying outright an existing business, and have an active management role in the day-to-day operation of the business
Intend to own at least 33.3% of your business in Saskatchewan (with a minimum investment of CAD 150,000). If you will not own 33.3% of your business, you must invest a minimum of CAD 500,000 into the business, in either case, you must have an active management role in the day-to-day operation of the business
Make a deposit of CAD 75,000 into a trust account and sign a Performance Agreement based on your Business Proposal or Relocation and Settlement Plan


Family Member Category

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) can help current residents bring immigrant family members to the province to make a new start.

Eligibility

This program requires both an Applicant and a Sponsor. Individuals who are family members of residents of Saskatchewan may qualify to come to province under the Family Members category. This includes: mother/father; daughter/son; brother/sister; niece/nephew; aunt/uncle; grandchild; first cousin; or step-relative or in law of the same level of an individual living in Saskatchewan.

Criteria

Foreign individuals will be eligible if they:
Are between 18 - 49 years of age
Have completed at least one year of post-secondary education, training, or apprenticeship
Have at least one year of work experience in your field of education or training
Have the English language ability either to do the job that has been offered by a Saskatchewan employer or to get a job in the field of education or training
Have a full-time, permanent job offer from a Saskatchewan Employer. (Live-in caregivers cannot apply under this category.) or intend to find full-time, permanent work in Saskatchewan and have enough money to live in the province for a short time without work after arrival (CAD 10,000 for you and CAD 2,000 for each accompanying family member)

Criteria for Supporting Family Members

Supporting family members may include, parents, sister/brother, daughter/son, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, grandparents, first cousin or step-family member of the applicant who meets the eligibility criteria for support

Supporting family members must be:

A Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada who has lived in Saskatchewan for the past year
Financially self-supporting. They should not have received financial support through the Saskatchewan Assistance Plan, Employment Insurance, or the Resettlement Assistance Program for at least six months

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IQAS

For immigrants who are want to reinvest in study rather than spending time to get Canada-based credentials for their previous career, IQAS is the first thing in three-some of requirement for post-education. Submit to IQAS will help immigrants have a grade-12 equivalent certificate, or even more.

The International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) of Alberta Government opened its doors on June 1, 1994. IQAS evaluates the education of individuals who obtained their education abroad and issues certificates of comparison to educational standards in a Canadian province. The mandate of IQAS is to provide a fair and credible educational assessment service that recognizes education achieved in countries outside of Canada.

Cost for Assessment (in Canadian dollars):

Basic Assessment: $100
Description of Course Work Assessment:
(One university/college degree) $200
(Each additional university/college degree) $75
Assessment for Educational Institution: $100
Documents Returned by Courier (within Canada) $10
Documents Returned by Courier (international) $45

Documents needed to be submitted:

Original certificates(s)/diploma(s)/degree(s) and transcripts/mark sheets/grade reports are required for an IQAS assessment.
One additional set of photocopies of all educational documents
For an Assessment for Educational Institution, secondary/high school documents are required in addition to university/college documents.Please note that an assessment cannot be completed until all documentation is submitted and it is the responsibility of the customer to obtain the documentation required for their assessment.
Individuals whose current name is different from the name on their educational documents (e.g., through marriage) must submit a photocopy of proof of their name change (e.g., marriage certificate, record of landing).
English translations are required. All English translations must be completed, word-for-word, and in the same format as the original documents. IQAS will review them to determine their acceptability. Please note that IQAS does not do translating.

To have an application form, visit Regina Public Libraries or Open Door Society, or print online at: click here
Then, mail your completed applications to:
International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)

9th Floor, 108 Street Building9942 - 108 Street

Edmonton, ABCanada T5K 2J5

Telephone: (780) 427-2655Fax: (780) 422-9734
Saskatchewan phone: 1-800-999-3965
Canada and overseas call direct: 1-780-427-2655

After around two weeks, when you put your applications into post box, you will receive a mail from IQAS, saying that the process will take approximately 8-10 weeks to complete. The fact is that it will take 12 weeks like my case. Do not be worried about losing your materials, or call to IQAS as it takes time away from staff working on the assessment. When the assessment is done, everything will be sent back to you with a new certificate.

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Want to see a doctor?

When you just came to Canada, you might be worried about your health and your relatives’. You are fine, it is ok. However, if your child or one member of your family gets ill, what should you do? The first thing is to take him/her to see a family doctor. Do you have a family doctor? If the answer is “No”, then this article will be helpful for you.

Saskatchewan Health covers health services for certain special classes of newcomers from outside Canada who move to Saskatchewan on or before the first day of the third calendar month (first 90 days) after arriving in Canada. If you are international students or landed immigrants, you may be eligible for benefits from the date you move to Saskatchewan.
To obtain a health services card, you fill out application forms available at:
Saskatchewan Health Registration and Vital Statistics Saskatchewan Health
1942 Hamilton Street, Regina, SK S4P 3V7.

It is strongly recommended that you purchase private health insurance in case you become ill during the waiting period. You must buy this insurance within five days of arriving in Saskatchewan. You should buy coverage for immigrating families, not for visiting or vacationing families. Contact a private insurance company or call the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. at 1-800-268-8099 to get more information.

If you come to work and make your home in Saskatchewan and you ordinarily live in the province at least six months a year, you are eligible for Saskatchewan Health benefits. Everyone must be registered with Saskatchewan Health to be eligible for benefits.

Saskatchewan Health issues a health services card to each family member once it has approved applications. The card is mailed just prior to the effective date of coverage. A Saskatchewan health services card is a valuable personal identification document which you should be prepared to present when you need health services.

Always carry your Saskatchewan health services card and present it when receiving health services. If your card is lost or damaged, please phone or write Saskatchewan Health immediately for a replacement.

For more info: Click here

Walk-in clinics provide health care if you are sick and do not have a family doctor or are unable to reach your family doctor. Generally, appointments are not needed. It is best to call before visiting to check the clinics hours as they are subject to change. Some clinics are open on weekends and holidays. To locate a walk-in clinic near you, look in the yellow pages of your telephone book under "clinics - medical" or "walk-in clinics".

Finding a family doctor is important to make sure that you and your family get proper medical attention. Some things to consider before doing your search:

Do you prefer a male or a female doctor?
Do you prefer a doctor who speaks your language?
Is the doctor close to your home?
Is the doctor accepting new patients?
Which hospital is the doctor affiliated with?

Other ways to look for a doctor is to call your local hospitals or ask your friends or relatives if their doctor is accepting new patients.

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Newcomer’s Guide to Canadian Housing

The Newcomer’s Guide to Canadian Housing gives newcomers a great overview of renting or buying a house in Canada. To download, click here

The guide describes different types of housing and ownership, how to look for a place to rent, landlord-tenant relationships and how to buy and finance a house. It is important to know that there is no Canada-wide law about housing. Every province has its own laws about renting and buying. However, this Guide provides a useful starting point for issues you need to be aware of when renting or buying.

The Guide starts with ‘Housing in Canada’- information about housing in Canada. It tells you what you will find when you start looking for a place to live - and what you should look for.

‘Housing in Canada’ is followed by ‘Renting’, where you will find the information you need about renting an apartment or a house.

The final section is about buying a house. This section explains mortgages and takes you through the steps in buying a house. The Guide explains leases and mortgages in detail.

Contents include:

Housing in Canada
Types of Housing
Housing Customs
Types of Ownership
Renting
Who's Who in Renting
Finding a Place to Rent
Landlord-Tenant Relations
Buying a House

Author: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Date Published: revised 2007

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Regina leads Canada in jobs

Below is an excerpt form a Leader Post article about job statistics in Regina and Saskatchewan. There is an increase in low-paid jobs and lay-offs are still happening.

"Statistics Canada data released Friday indicated there were 535,600 people employed in the province in June, which was up by 14,500 compared to June of last year.

Saskatchewan had the lowest unemployment rate in Canada at 4.6 per cent. The 3.4-per-cent unemployment rate in Regina was the lowest among major cities across the country. And Saskatoon, with an unemployment rate of 4.6 per cent, had the second lowest unemployment rate.

"This is a very exciting place and an exciting province,'' Premier Brad Wall commented Friday, at a press conference in the new Harbour Landing area in southwest Regina, where construction is underway on new houses and retail developments.

The news about the Saskatchewan jobs were in contrast to the national numbers, which once again showed that unemployment had increased.

"It looks like we've hit the bottom,'' said Doug Elliott, the publisher of the Sask Trends Monitor newsletter, adding that there may be reasons to hope the nation's economy might soon start improving.

But there might be reasons to worry about the sustainability of the job growth because many of the increases are in government jobs or in construction jobs that have been created as a result of heavy government expenditures in infrastructure, Elliott said.

"We're trying to get through this recession,'' Wall said. The underlying strength of the province's economy will sustain it well into the future once the recession is over, Wall added.

Regina Dewdney MLA Kevin Yates, who commented Friday on behalf of the NDP Opposition, said Wall is "only telling half the story,'' and the economic situation is not as bright as the premier suggested.

Layoffs have occurred in several industries in recent months and employment insurance claims have increased by 80 per cent, Yates said, in a telephone interview:" The government has done nothing to help people who have lost their jobs and are not sharing in the province's prosperity".

Source from Leader-Post.

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Language Training For Newcomers

When you have come to Canada, no matter what language you speak as your mother tongue, you have to improve and use English on daily basis. Usually, you should need an initial time for language adaption. It means you will spend time in English classes to get more proficient with the language. At first, you will take a language assessment to know which level of your English proficiency. A language assessment is not a pass-fail test. It is a way to find out which class would benefit you the most. Then you will attend to English classes at your level. Many newcomers can benefit from language training. A number of programs are available locally in Regina.

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)
Famous for time consumption, LINC classes are free and available for every adult in your family, not just the person who may be looking for work. These classes offered at Open Door Society and SIAST. These classes offered full-time and part-time, are free to adults who qualify and offer free child care while you attend classes. Canadian citizens and refugee claimants are not eligible for LINC. Many adult immigrants, who are low in English proficiency, have to give up their classes after several months.

Enhanced Language Training (ELT)
ELT is suitable for those who are family earner, having to find jobs as soon as getting to Canada. Enhanced Language Training (ELT) programs provide advanced English language training to adult newcomers. The goal of ELT is to provide job-specific language training (Canadian language benchmarks 7-10) to help newcomers find and keep jobs that match their skills and qualifications. ELT programs are particularly useful for internationally-trained professionals and trades people. It also offers bridge-to-work opportunities such as work placements, mentoring, and cultural orientation to the workplace, preparation for licensing exams and internships for eligible clients

These classes are free to adults who have current English language skills assessed, are 17 years or older and either a permanent resident or a newcomer who has been allowed to remain in Canada, to whom Citizenship and Immigration Canada intends to grant permanent resident status and who has not become a Canadian citizen.

Specialty ESL Classes
Believed to be the most time-saving way for those who want to have a short-cut to reinvestment in study or acquire English proficiency.
ESL offers a 10-week regular program, 4 times per year. Students receive 220 hours of instruction from university trained ESL instructors. Classes are held on University of Regina campus with an average class size of 16 students. ESL students have their own computer lab with scheduled class time as well as drop-in times. Scholarships and bursaries are awarded to students during a formal Closing Ceremony and 050 students receive a certification of completion.
ESL has 6 language levels: Advanced 50, High Intermediate 40, Low Intermediate 30, High Basic 20, Basic 10 and Low Basic 10.
Tuition is $2,500 applied for 2009 and $2,600 for 2010.

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Saskatchewan At-a-Glance (2008 statistics)

Population up 1.5% to 1.02million
Employment up 2.2%
Numbers of self-employed up 0.5%
The average hourly wage rate up 7.0%
Gross Retail Sales up 10.5%
Saskatchewan’s Rate of Inflation up 3.3%
Value of Merchandise Exports – up 61%
Value of Manufactured Products up 18%

Source:
Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce,Action magazine, Vol.2/Issue 2, March 2009.

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Open Door Society

Finding a job is usually a newcomer’s first and most important job. Understanding how Canada’s job market is different from the one in your home country can help to ensure you start your search in the most effective way.

Some newcomers choose to start a new career or profession in Canada because it is easier and faster than obtaining Canadian certification in their current occupation - which may involve time and expense to obtain further education to acquire Canadian credentials. Some newcomers take up any job (survival job) while they acquire Canadian credentials and Canadian experience. Even after getting certified, newcomers would be competing for jobs with people born and educated in Canada who have Canadian education, experience, are more comfortable with the language, working environment and have a wider circle of business contacts and networks.

If you are new to Regina, and you want to improve your English for future employment and integration, you will be suggested to the Regina Open Door Society (RODS). People usually call it Open Door for short. RODS is a non-profit organization that provides settlement and integration services to refugees and immigrants in Regina.

Well-known for offering free English as a Second Language (EAL) and Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) classes, Open Door helps immigrants and refugees adapt quickly to the community. Open Door also offers childcare and transportation assistance for participants based on need.

For those with a rather good English ability and want to find a job, Open Door offer Employment Assistance Services and Enhanced Language Training. This will be the best way for them to save time for integration. After attending all classes of this service, newcomers will have job references and potential employment. Sometimes, Employers in the community can contact Open Door office for potential candidates & resumes for hiring purposes.

For those who came from China, India and Philippine, you can check out the Canadian Immigrant Integration Project (CIIP) .


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Using Regina Public Transit

Riding transit is the route to saving money. Owning and operating a vehicle can cost you thousands of dollars a year but taking Regina Transit costs under $700 a year… and that’s not including the money you’ll save by applying for the Federal Tax Credit for transit.

Adult $2.25(cash fare) $18(sheet of 10 tickets) $59/month(passes)

Youth (5-14)(cash fare) $1.75 $13.50(sheet of 10 tickets) $44/month (passes)

Child (under 5) Free All

Post-Secondary $2.25(cash fare) $18 (sheet of 10 tickets)$50/month(passes)

Senior (>65) $2.25 (cash fare)$18 (sheet of 10 tickets)$192/year or $96/half year(passes) Day/weekend family passes $6.50 each.

When you are in need of more frequent travel, you should purchase a bus pass.

Day pass: to use, you have to scratch off the month and day of travel. It is valid from Mon-Fri for unlimited travel- one person all day. On Sat-Sun, it can be used for a group of 2 adults and 3 children, or 1 adult and 4 children. It’s perfect if you want to see attractions in the Queen City without worrying about parking or traffic!

Weekend pass: This pass allows your family (maximum 2 adults and 3 children who are 18 years or younger) to ride any regular Regina Transit route as much as you like on either a Saturday or a Sunday.

Seniors pass: Seniors 65 and older can purchase a senior's annual or semi-annual bus pass at the Transit Information Centre.

Employer pass program: Annual passes are available for employees who work at businesses participating in the Employer Pass Program. The cost of a yearly Transit Photo ID pass is the same as purchasing ten (10) monthly adult bus passes. So enrolling in the program saves you over $100 a year!

Discounted monthly passes of $20 are available for residents receiving benefits from: Social Assistance, Transitional Employment Allowance, Saskatchewan Employment Supplement, and Provincial Training Allowance.

If you purchased a monthly pass, keep all of your expired monthly passes for the year. Write your name and address on the back of each pass.

If you hold a Seniors Pass Regina Transit will mail a letter to you at the beginning of the year indicating the amount you paid for the pass in during the eligible tax year. The Canada Revenue Agency will accept this letter as an official receipt for your pass.

If you have a Photo ID pass issued though the Employer Pass Program your employer will have included the amount you paid for your pass on your T4 slip.

Using your expired passes or letter from Regina Transit, you can follow the instructions included in your income tax package from the Canada Revenue Agency to claim your credit on your income tax. In case you pay cash for the fare, you can ask for a bus transfer if you need it. Transfer allows you using unlimited travel in any direction including return trips. It will be expired one hour after you board the bus.

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Things Needed to Know about Tax and Social Benefits.

You’ve just come to Canada for a while. You try to adapt to society, find a job and integrate with the labor force. Then, boom! You have a mail from Canada Revenue Agency asking you to claim your income tax. What is that? How to claim income tax? Where should I go to do this, how to start? Lucky you! Thanks to annual volunteers in Service Canada located in Alvin Hamilton Building, 1783 Hamilton Street, Regina, you can get help for free. The deadline to submit your tax return is April 30th of each year.

After spending some time to get acquaintance with Regina's life, you should check out what you can have from Government. There are some government benefits that you and your family members will be eligible for. This is really nice thing about this country. You can see it here.

Canada's tax system is similar to that of many countries. Employers and other payers usually deduct taxes from the income they pay you, and people with business or rental income normally pay their taxes by instalments. Many of the benefits people enjoy in Canada are made possible through taxes. Canada’s tax system pays for roads, public utilities, schools, health care, economic development, cultural activities, defence, and law enforcement.

Each year, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) promotes compliance and taxpayer education through many review programs. Under some programs, CRA review a number of deductions and credits on the individual income tax return and ensure that various income amounts have been correctly reported. CRA also review benefits and credits such as the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) which is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under age 18. The CCTB may include the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) and Child Disability Benefit (CDB).

Beside CCTB, the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit is also reviewed: “GST is a tax that you pay on most goods and services sold or provided in Canada. In some provinces, GST has been blended with provincial sales tax and is called HST. The GST/HST credit helps individuals and families with low and modest incomes offset all or part of the GST or HST that they pay. We will base your credit on the number of children you have and on your family net income. This information is also used to calculate payments from related provincial programs. To receive the GST/HST credit, you have to apply for it.” – Canada Revenue Agency.

If you have young children, do not forget to apply for Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) which is designed to help Canadian families, as they try to balance work and family life, by supporting their child care choices through direct financial support. The UCCB is for children under the age of 6 years and is paid in instalments of $100 per month per child.

Usually, when you put your money in a certain saving account in any banks in Canada, the interest created will be taxed. However, this will not happen with your TFSA. Starting in 2009, Canadian residents who are 18 years of age or older will be able to earn tax-free investment income within a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) during their lifetime. The income generated in such an account (for example, investment income and capital gains) is tax-free, even when it is withdrawn. The TFSA dollar limit is $5,000 in 2009, and will be indexed to inflation and rounded to the nearest $500 in later years.

When you have a job, then a career, you will need to save aside an amount of money so that you can use this sum when you retire your job. If you earn 70,000$ per year, you will be taxed 11% for the first $ 40,113, then 13% for the next $ 74,497, then 15.0% on any remainder. If you put $ 30,000 to your RRSP account, it will still be $30,000 due to tax-free feature. The money you put aside will increase with time through the way you will investment. Its interest will be tax-free unless you cash in, make withdrawals, or receive payments from the plan. I am talking about Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). An RRSP is a retirement plan that we register and that you or your spouse or common-law partner establish and contribute to. Deductible RRSP contributions can be used to reduce your tax. Come with RRSP are HBP and LLP.

The Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) is a program that allows you to withdraw up to $25,000 from your registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to buy or build a qualifying home for yourself or for a related person with a disability .The Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) allows you to withdraw amounts from RRSPs to finance training or education for you or your spouse or common-law partner. You cannot use the RRSP funds to finance your children's training or education, or the training or education of your spouse or common-law partner's children.

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Strength of Saskatchewan.

Many immigrants who have just come to Saskatchewan for several years are wondering what makes Saskatchewan’s economy existed. One of my friends also asked me so. Well, I am not an economic specialist and I am an immigrant myself. However, I used to read a lot about this topic in the Central Regina Public Library. Below, there are some cites from various sources discussing about this topic.

Saskatchewan’s economy is mostly based on mineral industry. Starting from exporting potash, and natural gas, by now Saskatchewan takes more attention to agriculture and invests a lot of works for oil sector and industrial transportation. Let’s start with the insights from a local scholar. Lloyd_Barber, The former University of Regina president shares his views on Saskatchewan in an article on Leader Post: “I remember when potash first came in. People thought that potash was going to do for Saskatchewan what oil did for Alberta -- and 50 years later, that may, in fact, be happening. I would discount some of the rosy predictions about potash, but given the world population and the absolute necessity for most soils of the world to have potash, I think there's not much doubt about it in the future. We are the low-cost producer; if we were on tidewater, we'd really be rolling in the dough ... "(Potash careers)

"Now to "come into our own" with respect to petrochemicals, gas and oil, I can never forgive the (T.C.) Douglas government and subsequent governments for the mantra, "We'll keep our gas in the ground until they run out -- then we will have it!" So we didn't get any of the infrastructure, we didn't get any of that stuff that we might've had because we were closer to market. Letting people exploit -- not in the gouging sense, but in the economic sense -- if we'd allowed our resources to be exploited, we would have been enjoying this kind of prosperity much sooner ... We essentially drove out our entrepreneurs. We don't want people making that kind of money!”

Talking about oil, the first thing many Regina people think of is Alberta which is mostly centred on the petroleum industry. It means, in Saskatchewan, oil industry is just a minor branch of its economy. However, by now, as many people know, Bakken forth is believed to be the biggest oil discovery in Saskatchewan since the 1950s. It is driving the Saskatchewan oil patch to record-breaking levels of activity. The Bakken field, a geological formation stretching under southeast Saskatchewan and parts of North Dakota, Montana and southwest Manitoba is also the catalyst fuelling the provincial treasury and hundreds of millions of dollars in oil industry expenditures that are a significant factor in Saskatchewan's current economic boom. By the end of the '90s the United States Geological Service was saying that Bakken contained upwards of 500 billion barrels. While the oil production and activities are in decline, Saskatchewan's heat of petroleum industry is at its peak.

Canada continues to rank first in the world for potash production with most of their potash production concentrated in Saskatchewan. The productive capacity of the Saskatchewan potash industry is 15.7 million tones of product. The province is the largest potash producer in the world and accounts for almost 25 per cent of world potash production. In recent years, Saskatchewan potash sales have reached as high as $3 billion annually according to the government of Saskatchewan.

Mineral production in Saskatchewan is nearly a $10-billion industry, and it is only expected to grow in future years. This status shows that Saskatchewan's economy is strong and the future looks even brighter.

Saskatchewan has a lot of strengths but people traditionally haven't thought of Saskatchewan as a mining province, particularly on the national level. It's a real eye-opener for them to recognize the diversity of Saskatchewan's resource sector and the importance of it and not just on a national scale.

Sources:
SaskBusiness
SaskBusiness
The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon)
Leader Post

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Exchange old car for CAD $3,500!

Here is good news for those who have old cars as gas guzzlers.

On these days, media is flapping about Cash Clunker Program. Actually, in Canada, it is not coming to be an official statement yet. However, Environment Minister Jim Prentice said Saturday he's reviewing whether Canada should follow the United States and several European countries in offering consumers a substantial financial incentive to scrap their clunkers and buy new vehicles.

Prentice said he's met with a number of auto manufacturers over the past few months to discuss the prospect of giving Canadians $3,500 to trade in their older, polluting vehicles. This measure is still on consideration because Prentice wants to evaluate the effectiveness of an existing program.

Makers and sellers of cars have been aggressively lobbying Ottawa to adopt the measure, contending it will significantly boost sales in the sagging auto sector while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In Alberta, drivers who scrap vehicles made in 1995 or earlier can get up to $490 for a bicycle, up to a year's worth of monthly transit passes, or $300 cash.



Source form Leader-Post

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Housing Future in Regina

Every single immigrant coming to Regina, Saskatchewan wants to buy a house for his/her own. However, in this economic downturn, is it suitable to take a burden of credit from banks to buy houses.

In Leader-post articles on these days, housing prices are anticipated to increase slightly in 2009 due to some major construction occurring in Regina and the stream of coming-in labor force. People have a lot of concerns on greedy real estate agents, realtors and their friends making profit from artificial housing prices. That they buy some and sit on them for a short time, then relist with a higher price.

Regina people are still waiting housing market to cool down so that they can get a better deal. By now, the average price for a detached bungalow in Regina was $245,000 for the last 3-4 months. Compared with the wage level from other province, Regina people face higher housing prices. A normal detached bungalow in north Regina costs $ 255,800 compared with their counterparts in South Regina of $290,000. Some recommend waiting. Some say, houses do have their annual increase in value but when put in comparison with the provincial economic growth, it stays the same.

Basically, I believe housing prices will keep at least stable due to two big constructions happening in the city. One is of Consumers’ Co-operative Refineries Limited (CCRL), the world's first co-operatively owned refinery with the mission of supplying local co-operative associations with quality petroleum products. It is expanding the company's refinery and upgrader complex in north Regina.

There is another construction that The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, in partnership with the Government of Canada and the City of Regina, CP Rail and the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, is working to develop a new inter-modal transportation facility and related road infrastructure in the west of the city. This project sometimes is called Transportation Hub. These projects alone can create a lot of jobs for local people. Then when they are finished, the city economy will be heated with a better industrial transport system and many open vacancies from CCRL.

In current time, Regina does not have enough skilled labors and trade workers for these building sites. And still the province in general is short of labor force. The coming-in stream of immigrants to Saskatchewan keeps its progress going. Then, in the near future, soon or later, those who do not have a house will have a need to buy one, not bother to rent on a saving basis.

Any way, just wait for some next few days for news on reports of housing price trend.

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Regina Newcomer with a look at cell-phones

Are you new in Canada? Are you looking for a cell-phone carrier but you are still wondering how much it will cost you? In this post, I will help you go over this issue with my best knowledge.
Actually, I am an immigrant myself, getting here from last September. At first, I have no money in my wallet, and I do not a cell phone to control my contact network. I have no car and if I have one, still I can not drive it without a driver’s license. These are some of many things I have well in control in my mother country. However, I am new here and confused to restart everything again.

After a while, maybe you have had a job and earning money. Sometimes, you will think of having a cell for your convenience in everyday activities. So, just do it. Because nobody will do it for you and you are in need for a cell-phone, not someone else.
There are six cell phone carriers in Regina, SK. They are Fido, Koodo, Rogers, Sasktel, Telus, and Virgin. You can easily find their locations along the main way in Cornwall Center in Regina downtown.

On using a cell-phone, you have two options to deal with the bills. Basically, carriers will offer Pay-As-You-Go and Plan of X year(s) services. X can be 1,2 or 3. If you buy a same phone with a term of 1 year, it will be more expensive than one of 2 years then of 3 years. If your demand is not really high, and you want to save on monthly bills, which one will be better? Well, it depends!
First, let’s have a look at Carriers’ Plans then decide later: Virgin Sasktel Fido Rogers Koodo Telus

When you have a cell-phone, with contract or pay as you go basis, you will have a certain number of available text messages to text, and a set of day-time to call and receive calls to and from other cell-phone users. Although you receive or actively set up a call, your day-time will be spent. It will be free only if you have a call with other users of the same carrier. So, ask your friends and family members in advance which carrier’s service they are with before you choose a carrier. One more thing is if you buy a cell-phone of Rogers, it can not be used in Sasktel network and vice versa. There is one way to deal with the fact that you love a certain kind of cell-phone, but your carrier does not have it. Then you have to buy it from another carrier. How can you use that cell phone in your carrier network? Just unlock it! There are many places offering this service in Regina, you can check one of them here: A Local Unlock or CellUnlockCodes

Also you can try to unlock your cell-phone with careful instruction online: Globalunlock
For those who are money-shorted at the time, you can also check out used items on sales from local people in websites and online communities. Remember, just buy unlocked or the same-carrier cell phones from these places. You can check these two local websites in Regina:

UsedRegina Or Kijiji Regina

Be cautious with trading in this way and enjoy. Here is a helpful note from Usedregina website: “If the seller cannot or will not meet you in person, be suspicious. Never send money in advance. Always inspect and/or test the item fully before paying for it. If it can't be inspected or tested before the sale, just say "no"”.

On choosing your own cell-phone, I suggest that you should buy long-life-battery cell phones to avoid charging-hassle annoyance later

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New Driver Education Funding for Immigrants!

Starting from the middle of March, 2009 and just being applied for the first year, the program New Driver Education Funding for Immigrants is soon well-known and got a lots application forms from those who are new to Saskatchewan.

The total fund is $125,000 made by SGI and offered to the whole Saskatchewan. It is available every year from January to refugees and immigrants who have got permanent residency in Saskatchewan and who legally require driver education to obtain a driver's license. Right now, the grant is empty and will be soon available again in this January, 2010 when there is a new announcement.

The grant will not cover the costs of training already completed and it is not a reimbursement. Basically, it allows people to obtain the required six hours of in-class and six hours of in-car training (6 & 6) which costs around $500 for a road test. Extra practice hours, testing costs, interpreter costs, and fees charged for no-shows and/or cancellations are the responsibility of the driver. Applicants can receive only one SGI grant during their studies.

All training must be completed within three months of approval to guarantee funding. If training is not complete within three months, funding may go to other applicants awaiting approval. Upon completion of the driver education program, class records must be submitted to SGI to receive payment. Payment will be made directly to the driver educator. Application processing may take up to three weeks. To speed up the application process, ensure application is completed in full and all documentation is included.

To be eligible, the applicant must:
1.Hold a valid Class 7 learner’s licence (cannot be suspended, disqualified, expired or owe monies to SGI).
2.Submit a signed application form authorizing SGI to review records to verify driving eligibility.
3.Be a Saskatchewan resident.
4.Provide the name of the driver educator/school being hired and the amount of funding needed showing the breakdown of rates for in-car and in-class training.
5.Provide a copy of immigration documents showing status (refugee, permanent resident, etc.)
6.Be conversant in the English language. For applicants who are not conversant in English, an interpreter should be hired (costs not included with funding). Some educators offer training in an additional language.

Priority will be given to refugees.

You can prepare all the forms and mail the completed applications to this address.

Marie Braithwaite, Driver Education Liaison, SGI
2260 – 11th Avenue Regina, SK S4P 2N7
Fax: (306) 569-9631

To get the forms, you can go to SGI office at above address or download: click here!

Immigrant Driver Education grant application (PDF, 22kB)

Sources form:
Thestarphoenix
SGI 1
SGI 2


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How much a blogger can earn

Below is a link of http://www.usnews.com/ discussing about the current potential of blog business. Take a look: click here

As you see. It is quite tough to earn with blogs and websites even pennies at the beginning. Well, when you have a new-born site. It will not be easily found on any search engine so there is no way for anyone to view your site. You have to submit your URL to every single search engine and community to create traffic to your site.

After a long time of posting frequently your writings, your sites will appear on search engines. At that time, your sites' age would get 3-4 months already. It is true that the more frequently you post, the more chances you have your sites to be recommended on search engines. However, it is also tough for anybody to be a good writing generator. How can one write an article without ideas. So, the content of your sites make things, not others. Imagine that, you accidently visit a site through search engines. On that site, everything is simple and plain. The quanlity of posts are boring and uninformative. How long would you stay on that site? Do you ever think to come back to read a single post of it? Maybe you will see my site at that state: so plain and simple now when you are reading this post. Actually, I am a newbie myself. I dream to start a blog to share things in my life. Then I reckon about Google Adsense and I have what to start to write about. Sweet!

In the beginning of this job- earning on internet, you should be patient and work hard. Your result later will be very rewarding if you can keep posting and taking care of your sites so that potential visitors won't think it an abandoned site of a lazy newbie.

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Let's start something new!

Hello everyone reading these words. I am new in blog and want to learn from all you. I am creating an informative blog for new immigrants to Regina, Saskatchewan where I am living. I hope my effort will help those who are new in Saskatchewan in someway.

See you again soon in my next post!

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