加拿大農曆年：今年過的最傳統

在加拿大過農曆新年最難，要有傳統的風味必須格外努力，除了要自行張羅年夜飯，想念人擠人的熱鬧，還得去市中心的中國城，住在多倫多，還好華人有四十多萬。

為了湊合出豐盛的年夜飯，從中國超市(大統華)買菜回來，全仰賴老婆跟大女兒在廚房忙進忙出，晚上全家四口才得享用一桌魚肉外帶火鍋，吃著熱騰騰的飯菜，尤其是自製的蘿蔔糕，感覺就像小時後吃年夜飯，好溫暖。跟台灣不同，電視沒有新春特別節目，要娛樂自己，全家就一起唱KTV，不像在台灣住公寓，在這裡就盡情的大聲唱也不怕吵到人。

大年初一要有過年氣氛，一定要去市中心的中國城，那裡是唯一會塞車的地方，走在人行道上，要切進去四面八方擠來的人潮，穿過大聲叫賣的小販，踩過漂黏在地上的垃圾，還要不時繞道快車道上，穿過不得動彈的汽車，才能越過貨品都堆倒人行道上的商家，這些平常無法忍受的亂，過年卻讓我們覺得溫暖，也好想念台灣。

過完週末的農曆年，星期一上班向同事問候新年好，加拿大同事還應景的用廣東口音的中文，說恭喜發財，也算她有心。

身在國外，保存傳統真難。

新年快樂

祝大家新年快樂!

Happy Lunar New Year

多倫多農曆年的慶祝活動，值得考慮。

http://www.torontocelebrates.com/05/festival/

I want to wish you a Happy Lunar New Year. And, just in case you don't know. Starting from this Friday and over the weekend, there will be a celebration activity in

Exhibition Center for the New Year. The following link will lead you to the details. Hope you have fun.

Winterlicious 冬季美食節

到二月七日止的兩個星期，多倫多有一個有趣的美食饗宴活動，你可以到一些著名的餐廳用平常 一半或三分之一的價格，享受一頓午餐或晚餐，我們去年參加過這項活動，非常喜歡，推薦你也去嘗試看看。

http://www.menupalace.com/winterlicious.aspx

Living in Toronto, there is something very interesting in the following 2 weeks. Because winter is a long snow-covered season lasting around 5 months that tourists are rare, Toronto city government invented an activity to promote restaurants. It is called “Winterlicious” which literally combines “Winter” and “Delicious” together. During the following two weeks, the participating restaurants will provide special deals to attract more business. For instance, people can get as low as $15 for a set of lunch meal in a restaurant which usually cost more than $30 per person. Some fancy top-tier restaurants are also participating. The Canoe on the high floors of TD tower which is famous of Canadian delicacies is also on the list. The above link should give the details if you are interested.

保守黨執政了

今天在公司，同事談的都是選舉，保守黨真的如民調預測，果然勝選，一周或兩周之後，加拿大就有了新的執政黨。

讓人意外的是保守黨在魁北克省的進展，從上次選舉毫無席次，到這次有十席。除了讓魁北克獨立黨得票率倒退到42個百分點左右，還讓自由黨的在該省幾乎江山盡失。

保守黨在安大略省也大有長進，加上平原三省的大本營仍然大勝，總共席次領先自由黨21席，確定執政。自由黨的 Paul Martin 當晚就表示辭去黨主席的職位，非常有擔當的表示負責，台灣上次像這樣負責的主席是誰?我想不起來。

人力資源部長，Blinda，上次從保守黨變節加入自由黨的竟然還是當選，選前以為她會為陣前倒戈付出敗選的代價，結果仍然囊括原來選區的自由黨選票，可能加上女性選民，或是她父親公司員工的支持，仍然勝選。我一個同事為她助選，選前還愁苦的說很不樂觀，今天看她神采飛揚，非常得意，昨夜還狂歡慶祝，

不知道這次的投票率有多高，選前報紙還在說會跌到45%。可見選民對政治的冷感，從台灣來看，加拿大的選舉實在太平淡無味了，不知道這算不算另一種進步？

因為是少數執政，必須要與其他黨妥協，相信保守黨的政策綱領不會有太大的揮灑空間，因為需要與其他黨合作，法案才可能通過，這裡的政黨不像台灣的民進黨，不肯妥協，導致國會空轉。

過去加拿大的少數執政都不超過18個月，也許下一個選舉又會很快到來。

RV(露營車) 展

今天跟太座一起去看了露營車展，看到好多種形式的露營車，這項戶外活動在美加地區很風行，相關產業的規模也很大，雖然多倫多的露營車展覽不是北美最具規模的，但是也很夠看了。

露營車可以說是一個行動旅館，包含臥室，廚房，餐廳與浴廁，完美的結合車輛，以自走或是拖曳的方式，是一種經濟與輕鬆的旅遊方式。自走的露營住家（Motorome）是最高級的方式，但是體積龐大，而且價位過高，不是一般玩票性質的人願意負擔的，露營拖車（Trailer）則以拖曳的方式提供比較經濟的解決方案，雖然大拖車的體積也不小，但是拖曳的車輛一但放下拖車，就可以自由行動，比較方便，如果用小型的拖車，例如摺疊式拖車(Folding Trailer)，則行動更方便，在停車場也可以輕易停車，只要使用貫穿的兩個車位。

 

隨著經濟的發展，露營車產業越發進步，今天也看到有人開發度假營地，提供長期出租的營位，度假營區提供游泳沙灘，游泳池等公共設施，個人營位也還有前後庭院。位於湖邊，景色優美，令人沉醉。

 

住在美加地區，有空可以嘗試這種生活方式，好好享受這裡優美的自然環境。

我的中文老師真囉說

（by 大女兒) 每周六都要上中文課，我的中文老師很矮，嘴巴很大，一上課話就講不完，又非常的囉唆，一件簡單的事也能讓她講一個小時。所以我自然而然就想睡覺。她的聲音比吹眠曲還有效。上她的課好類喔。難道所有中文老師都很囉唆嗎?

土耳其食物在多倫多

在 Toronto Star 上面讀到關於土耳其食物在多倫多的狀況，集中的區域在希臘區 Danforth，找機會再去試試看。

報導中說土耳其人喜歡的食物(我想辦法去查了資料) 有石榴汁

，糖蜜，土耳其式咖啡，酸梅果醬，無花果乾，罐裝的Okra(一種長的像辣椒一樣的蔬菜)

，香料，還有土耳其甜點。這裡面我只吃過無花果乾。

文章也提到兩種特別的食物，Pide ，Kumpir ，這我就沒吃過了，說Pide是一種八吋長的麵包船，裡面可以加上各種Topping，Kumpir 也一樣可以加上Topping，只不過用烤馬鈴薯代替麵包。

(註：我們去嘗試了，這裡有照片，第一張是Pede ，看起來有點恐怖，可是味道很好。Kumpir 就很好，看起來與實際品嘗都很可口）

看了這個報導真是很心動，看看週末可不可以找得到。住在多倫多的好處之一：可以到處吃各國的食物，而且移民開的餐廳又比較便宜。

 

 

Turkish Toronto

Jan. 18, 2006 . 06:36 AM

JENNIFER BAIN

FOOD EDITOR

There's a Turkish triangle in the east end and it tastes like this: fresh lamb from Tahsin Market, kumpir (crazily topped baked potatoes) from Champion Kokorech, and sucuk (sausage) and egg pide from Pizza Pide.

The first two businesses are on the Danforth between Pape and Donlands. The third is at the corner of Pape and Gerrard.

Each is less than three years old, welcome proof that Toronto 's Turkish food offerings are finally coming of age.

There are 30,000 people from Turkey living here, according to the 2001 census. But community officials say there are 60,000 if you count all the Turks from various countries.

Things that Turks love from home — pomegranate juice and molasses, coffee (though tea's more popular now), sour cherry jam, dried figs, canned and dried okra, spices (like sumac, red pepper and black pepper), and, of course, Turkish delight.

Pide (pronounced pee-day) is a flatbread that's baked into an 8-inch-long boat shape. The menu lists 21 topping combos, revolving around ground beef, beef pieces, feta, lamb chunks, chicken strips and sausage. Most intriguing are the one with Turkish sausage and baked, sunny side up eggs

"A different taste" would accurately describe the kumpir at Champion Kokorech — the third tip of the Turkish triangle. Kumpir (baked potatoes topped with olives, pickles, corn, peas, ketchup, mayo and more) are so deliciously odd they get their own story. ("Hot potato, Turkish-style," D5.)

One aside: When you finish eating kumpir at Champion Kokorech (the sole spot in town that makes them) the owner will spray your hands with lemon cologne as you're leaving. It's a Turkish tradition.

Anyway, kumpir and pide (and home-cooked Turkish meals) go down well with ayran, a salted, fermented yogurt drink. But it's Turkish coffee, not ayran, that Hasan Yilmaz and I drink during an interview at Balkan Bistro (a nine-month-old Turkish restaurant near the AGO).

When Turks go out here, Yilmaz explains, it's to a handful of fast-food spots that specialize in kebabs and doners (a.k.a. shawarma/gyros, usually minced lamb or chicken moulded around a rotating vertical spit, slowly roasted and shaved off).

"Traditional Turkish food is not easy to make — it takes half a day to prepare," Yilmaz notes.

Only two Turkish-American cookbooks — The Sultan's Kitchen and Classical Turkish Cooking — are readily available in English and they're full of enticing but time-consuming dishes.

And yet, after enjoying Hünkar Begendi (stewed beef on smoky creamed eggplant) at Balkan Bistro, I'm grateful to find recipes for it (but with lamb instead of beef) in both these books. I haven't been to Turkey yet, but by the time I get there I'll have eaten and cooked most of its key dishes right here at home.

收到公民申請的通知

今天收到政府的通知書，說我們的公民申請已經收到，正在審核中，預計要在12~15個月，甚至更久才會下來，算算時間，我們已經送件半年了！

 

我們的親戚來加拿大已經超過十年了，當初他們申請公民只花了六個月，有此可見公民審核程序的改變，不知道是因為人多，還是9/11的影響，希望在2006年結束前我們有機會收到，這樣除了回台灣方便之外，去哪裡都方便。眼看孩子都一年年長大，我都還沒有帶他們去佛羅里達的迪士尼玩，原本說好拿到公民之後要去的。

 

看來我們例子是說，滿三年之後，申請公民還有一年半到兩年，真是久啊！

 

 

知名影星，加拿大人

到今天，我才特別注意到知名的影星很多也是加拿大人，例如金凱利(Jim Carrey)，星際迷行的寇克船長，Matrix的男主角(Keanu Reeves)，神鬼傳奇(Mummy)的男主角(Bredan Fraser)，還有我年輕時最欣賞的矮子影帝(Michael Fox)，回到未來的男主角。原來加拿大也孕育出這麼多優秀的人才，可見這塊土地也是非常肥沃。

 

你可以到下列連結去看，真是很多(http://www.canadiancelebs.com/act.html)，我非常欣賞Donald Sutherland，看過他幾部片子，不過都不記得名子。

寒假生活

(BY: 大女兒: 海瑋)

今年的寒假是我有史以來最輕鬆的寒假。雖然今年的寒假比去年晚一個禮拜才開始放。聖誕
夜和節日都是在週末，因此整個寒假少了好幾天。不過有假還是比沒假好，只要好好把握時
間，短短幾天的寒假也能過的比長幾天的寒假還好。

為何是我最輕鬆的寒假呢？因為我們家每年寒假都會出外渡假，從來都沒有待在家中休息過
。你可能會問，咦？出外渡假不是比待在家裡好嗎？對一般人來說是沒錯，但我每年都會出
外住個幾天，已經旅行旅到累了，能夠在家睡懶覺可真是一種人生大享受。

在家可以睡倒中午，整天穿著睡衣，不是玩電腦遊戲就是聽音樂跳舞，真是有夠美滿的假期
。可是在家像遊魂一般的過日子，總有一天會在鏡子前看到自己發福的樣子。而冬天唯一能
“減福”的激烈運動就是滑雪。我只好穿上羽毛大衣，和家人往SnowValley,  Barrie 的方向開去。

滑雪是冬天最快保持身材的運動。光在平地上走路就累得滿身大汗，從山上滑下來，更是累
得筋疲力盡。沿途，因為年輕愛冒險，故意滑到不平的雪地上要跳越障礙，一不小心，失去
平衡，就跌了一頭狗吃“雪”。一天總共跌了兩次，對自己十分滿意。滑完雪，給自己犒賞
一餐Wendy's 的漢堡，把肚子撐的大大的，真是舒服啊！但當天消化掉的卡路里也補回來了
。隔天早上，腰痠背痛，連從床上都爬不下來。愛玩也要付出代價的。

滑雪後，在家待了三天，養好精神。星期五，打算和我的好朋友們去逛街。我們三個女生從
碰面後就一直聊，把假期的故事都講完了。我們幾乎把整個購物中心都逛透了，只有買些可
愛的耳環和兩件上衣而已。當該回家時，我們都依依不捨，因為放假時，大家都去旅行了，
沒辦法看到彼此，難得有機會和朋友們相聚，一天的逛街也好玩。

我對今年的寒假非常滿意。該玩有玩，該做的也做了。雖然是個不長的寒假，但因為自己充
實的計畫，感覺上比實際上要長多了。寒假的最後一天，我畫了一張素描，當作這美好寒假
的句點。

國會選舉的政黨辯論

今天報紙頭條都是昨天電視辯論的一些評論，整體而言，都相信執政的自由黨被保守黨打敗，目前支持率已經落後超過10個百分點(39% vs. 27% ) ，保守黨往超過半數邁進。

 

即使是魁北克省，這個最趨向獨立的省，保守黨也領先自由黨，不過仍然落後魁北克獨立黨。

 

根據報紙的分析，最主要的原因在於自由黨的信用遭受懷疑，而且運用攻擊保守黨的策略也得不到選民認同，因為上次選舉已經用過了，招式用老，選舉沒有新的主意，也表示執政後不會有新的做法。過去選民對保守黨有顧慮，懷疑上任後會削減公共支出，對富人減稅，並與美國的共和黨合作，現在，選民的想法變了，願意接受保守黨執政。

 

看來加拿大可能會有新的執政黨。

 

 

 

(Toronto Star) Tories head for majority

Poll shows `breakthrough' for party
`Significant growth' in Ontario, Quebec

Jan. 10, 2006. 06:28 AM

RICHARD BRENNAN

QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU

Conservatives are charting a course toward a majority on Jan. 23, according to a new national poll completed yesterday.

The survey, conducted by EKOS Research Associates for the Toronto Star and La Presse, shows Stephen Harper's Conservatives have sailed into majority government territory after a stunning week of rising popularity, largely at the expense of the Liberal party.

The EKOS survey of 1,240 Canadians through the weekend and yesterday found 39.1 per cent support for the Conservatives. The Liberals had 26.8 per cent support; the NDP 16.2 per cent; the Bloc Québécois 12.6 per cent; and Green party 4.6 per cent.

"This is the breakthrough Harper has been waiting for," EKOS president Frank Graves said.

In Ontario, the Conservatives have widened the gap to a 10-percentage-point lead over the Liberals. Of the 518 Ontarians surveyed, 43.8 per cent supported the Tories, 33.5 per cent the Liberals, 16.2 per cent the NDP, and 5.4 per cent the Greens.

Even in Quebec, the Conservatives are ahead of the Liberals. A total of 330 people were surveyed in that province and 19.1 per cent threw their support behind the Tories, compared with 17.4 per cent for the Liberals.

The Bloc, however, remains miles ahead with 52.4 per cent.

"The Conservatives' gains are nationwide, but their most significant growth is in Ontario, where they have surpassed the Liberals in their traditional heartland, and in Quebec, where they are now the leading federalist alternative to the Bloc Québécois," Graves said.

The national poll numbers are considered accurate within 2.8 percentage points 19 times out of 20. The margin of error in Ontario was 4.3 percentage points.

EKOS's Paul Adams said Harper's popularity is driving the surge. When those surveyed were asked who had the most positive vision for the future, the Conservative leader received 32 per cent support. Prime Minister Paul Martin had 20 per cent, the NDP's Jack Layton 16 per cent, and Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe 10 per cent. "None of the above" registered 10 per cent and 12 per cent said they didn't know.

But premature talk of winning a majority of Parliament's 308 seats spooks the Conservatives. A party would have to win 155 seats to win a majority.

At dissolution, there were 133 Liberals in the House of Commons. The Tories held 98 seats, the Bloc Québécois 53 and the NDP 18. There were four Independents and two vacancies.

`This is the breakthrough Harper has been waiting for.' EKOS President Frank Graves

The Tories are well aware that after Harper predicted a majority win in June 2004, their political fortunes started a downward spiral in the last election.

"I'm certainly not going to be drawn into any questions that can be used to have me making predictions," Harper said during last night's English-language leaders' debate.

"My role here is not to be a political analyst. My role here is to explain to Canadians why we need a new government."

Following stories Sunday in the Star and the Toronto Sun about Harper hinting at a majority, right-wing blogs were abuzz with dark — and unsubstantiated — suggestions of a mainstream media conspiracy to stall the Tories' momentum.

Ironically, hours after refusing to rule out a Tory majority win, Harper criticized EKOS by name while chatting with reporters aboard his campaign plane in Hamilton on Saturday.

"They are, in my view, the least believable," he said. "Our people feel the momentum, but it is a statistical dead heat. ... There is over two weeks to go and a lot of things can happen. ... There is no certainty."

Graves said the "wild card" in the campaign now is how Canadians react to the potential of a Harper government — minority or majority.

"What happens when Canadians fully realize the Conservatives' current potential?" Graves asked.

"Will there be a bandwagon effect, as there was for Brian Mulroney in the 1984 campaign after he surged into the lead? Or will Harper succumb to a whiplash as he did in 2004 with many voters recoiling from the prospect of a Tory victory after a serious Liberal onslaught in the last weeks of the campaign."

On June 16, 2004 in Niagara Falls, Harper boasted there were "no safe Liberal seats for the Liberals any more," and said the Tories could win a majority. Less than two weeks later, the Liberals won a minority government.

The Liberals received 36.7 per cent of the popular vote in the June 28, 2004 election. The Conservatives garnered 29.6 per cent of the vote, the NDP 15.7 per cent, the Bloc 12.4 per cent and the Greens 4.3 per cent.

Graves said the apparent Conservative breakthrough in Quebec is "especially astonishing," heralding the possible return of the Tories as a truly national party.

But he warned that because the Harper Conservatives are poised to win some seats in Quebec, the media spotlight will be on the aloof Harper more than ever before. Graves stressed that the party's growth in Quebec is inherently fragile.

With files from Robert Benzie

政府的求職訓練課程

下面連結是土撥鼠關於求職訓練的感想，我的回應如下:

我以前也上過這方面的課程，非常有用，讓我能早日進入狀況，了解實際找工作的困難。

現在回頭看這些機構有一個批評，他們都是領政府的錢，為政府協助新移民，其實因為新移民的要求不高，所以這些單位彼此的競爭不大，工作環境近乎半公家機關，管理上只要應付政府檢查就相安無事，除非主持者有理想，很難期待他們持續改善，提供更好的服務。

這些非營利事業的最大問題是與社會脫節，本身的薪資結構低，無法與企業界競爭好人才，有些人雖有理想性，但是缺乏完整企業界的工作經驗，無法根據新移民的個人狀況提供完整的建議，這就是為什麼需要實際從業者做為新移民的顧問，才能切合實際。

我這樣批評最大的原因是新移民需要專業發展的顧問，新移民只要能進入自己的專業，自然有時間與資源改善其他方面，這才是能幫助他們立足加拿大的最終協助。而且，加拿大政府從國外引進技術移民，著眼點不就是需要他們的專業能力與經驗嗎？

關於新移民找工作

以下是中午休息時間在公司回應土撥鼠有關在多倫多找工作的經驗，因為字數超過，我以引用文章的方式回應如下，主要是在說沒有加拿大經驗新移民找工作有困難，加上大部分的工作機會都不會刊登在公開的媒體，因此需要用人際交往的方式取得，若能讓更多的人知道自己找工作的方向，甚至以直接聯繫的方式拜訪一些公司，認識些從業者，請他們引介出現的工作機會，比較有效。

最重要的觀念是，需要儘快認清現實，以自己最可能有機會的工作為對象，才更有效。

 

From what you have written, I understand that you are getting there. At least, you now know the real situation. Getting a job in Canada for immigrants is de facto difficult. The best way is to get focused and act as quickly as possible. You should decide what kind of jobs in Canada you have the best chance in landing one. With this in mind, and then go on do job searching. Be reminded, it is not the job you would like to have but the job you have the best chance to have.

Now you know that, without Canadian experience, chances are slim. And, most job openings don't even come to the market. This is why people helping immigrants in finding employment suggest concentrating on networking. Through whatever chances, you should go on meeting people. Let them know who you are and what kind of jobs you are finding.

Cold calling is a great idea. You can get the first hand experience with the companies you are interested. You can meet with people over there and might get a person willing to help you and inform you about any opening.

Meet with recruitment agencies is anther great ideas. Not like Taiwan, Canada has a lot of this kind of companies helping the employer finding out suitable candidates.

There are too much to talk about. You are on the right tract of getting training. They will help you understand more of the above-mentioned tactics. Good luck.

Ha

好了!
我有發表了... ha ha
海瑋

三年來的一些生活影片

這裡列出了我們在加拿大生活三年的一些影片，是我們自己用攝影機拍了之後用電腦剪輯而成，我的攝影技術很多學自DV World 的一些前輩，感謝DV World 讓我有地方發表。若你有興趣欣賞，按照下列連結過去，影片上有一個影片下載按鈕，按下後，選擇儲存檔案，(註：若你有寬頻再嘗試，用撥接上網千萬不要，太慢了)，下載後，電腦若有Windows Media Player 就可以打開檔案播放，希望不會讓你睡著。

移民紀錄:加拿大東部旅遊紀錄。

http://www.dvworld.com.tw/forum/dvforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29415&highlight=%B5U%A4l

第一年的生活: 我們全家在2002年的夏天移民到加拿大，落腳在多倫多，為了讓親朋好友瞭解我們的狀況，同時也?子孫留下紀錄，所以就把平時拍攝的DV影片剪輯成這個短片，介紹這個新家的點滴，我們全家共同參與整個剪輯，配樂，與旁白的製作都很快樂，很幸運能參加DV的園地，讓我們有了共同的嗜好，在此呈現給DV World 的朋友觀看，技術上有需改進的地方還請指教，非常感謝。

http://www.dvworld.com.tw/forum/dvforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29017&highlight=%B5U%A4l

第二年的生活: 這影片總結我們移民加拿大的第二年，在多倫多生活旅遊的點滴，觀眾可以了解移民生活的片段，並且欣賞加拿大的風光。

http://www.dvworld.com.tw/forum/dvforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31309&highlight=%B5U%A4l

第三年暑假旅遊:這是2004年夏天我們到加拿大安大略省的Fathon Five National Park旅遊的說明，希望讓你了解這裡的美麗景色

http://www.dvworld.com.tw/forum/dvforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35676&highlight=%B5U%A4l

多倫多幫助新移民的新措施

I found the following message in Toronto City government web site. It seems valuable to the new comers. Please have a look. (http://www.toronto.ca/employment/life_tps/diversity.htm)

專業導師指導新移民找工作，讓加拿大的專業者指導具備同樣專業的新移民，像台灣的學長制一樣，協助尋找工作，發展專業

Mentoring Immigrant Program: Profession to Profession
In response to employment barriers faced by internationally trained professionals, the City, in partnership with various community agencies, conducts a program that matches experienced professionals of the Toronto Public Service (mentors) with internationally educated immigrant professionals (mentees). Mentors provide advice and guidance to assist the mentees in finding employment in their fields of expertise. The pilot program met its objective, with over 60 percent of the mentees finding suitable employment. Over 91 percent of the mentees said the mentoring relationship was a positive experience for them, and 90 percent of the mentors said they would participate again in the program.

Based on the success of the pilot project, the program has been implemented on a wider scale in 2005 to include additional occupational professions including human resources, financial analysts, purchasing, facilities and real estate. For more information, visit the City’s Mentoring site.

For 2005, forty City staff have been matched with skilled immigrants seeking employment in the same occupation. Meetings take place at the mentor's office during work hours. The goal of the program is to provide the skilled immigrant with practical advice and an opportunity to build the networks that are critical to a successful job search. City mentors benefit from an opportunity to develop their leadership and communication skills and gain an understanding of the experiences of skilled immigrants living in their community. The result for the City of Toronto is a workforce that is more experienced in cross-cultural understanding, and ultimately, creates a more inclusive work environment.

市政府成立工程師合作案，參與的35名新移民最後都找到工作

Co-Op Engineering
The Co-Op Engineering program, a partnership between the City's Technical Services Division and the Toronto District School Board's adult education program provided 50 foreign-trained professional engineers with the opportunity to gain Canadian employment experience. The City in turn was provided with a skilled labor pool with which to complete a major data warehousing project related to upgrading the City's water management system. Productivity improved, and 35 new immigrants eventually obtained permanent employment within or close to the city.

事業接軌計畫，市政府参與接受在國外訓練的專業人員的實習計畫，讓新移民得到實際加拿大工作經驗，然後再找到合適的工作。

Career Bridge
Career Bridge is a paid internship program designed to overcome workplace barriers faced by professionally educated immigrants seeking to build careers in Canada. Career Bridge interns are internationally trained university graduates and professionals who are seeking employment in their fields of expertise in Canada. They represent a variety of professional groups including accountants, MBA's, biochemists, economists, technology specialists, human resources specialists, financial analysts and engineers, and have an average of eight years work experience. Internships usually last from four to six months

The City participated in the pilot program for Career Bridge in early 2004 and hired 2 interns. In 2005, the City committed to hiring 10 interns and exceeded this goal by hiring 11 interns. Managers reported that they were extremely impressed with the experience, skills and professionalism of the interns. Managers also commented that they and the other staff in their work units benefited professionally and personally from the experience. The City plans to participate in this program in 2006 and beyond.

For more information visit the Career Bridge website at www.careerbridge.ca

新年過了，上班嘍！

新年過了，開始正常上班，同事都陸續回來，見面總是問候過節好嗎？不少人剛才下飛機，都是從溫暖的地方回來，露著曬黑的皮膚，興奮又驕傲，多倫多人冬天的流行度假方式：到溫暖的南方，或是到高山滑雪，前者被稱為雪鳥（Snow Bird），後者不知道該不該稱作雪人？我真羨慕他們可以常常度假。

 

記得以前在台灣春節後第一天上班總是非常輕鬆，同事三三兩兩聚著聊天，雖然在多倫多的這家公司的氣氛也如此，但是忙碌多了，因為這裡的人工作態度比較緊張，工作時全力以赴，但是下班就早點回家。雖然今天特殊，下午六點剩下小貓兩三隻，但是平常日子也相差不遠。

 

我蠻喜歡這裏的工作氣氛，沒有台灣老闆那種指使的嘴臉，也少有同事鉤心鬥角的心機，從事類似的工作，薪水卻比台灣高很多，雖然加拿大的稅率較高，但是住宅環境與基本教育比較好，整體而言，若能從事本行的工作，台灣移民的生活水準可以提高很多。

 

台灣移民受限於管理與溝通的能力無法與本地人抗衡，升遷管道狹隘，對不介意一生從事技術工作的人也無妨，若不甘於所謂”玻璃天花”的限制，就需要另求出路，除了需要不斷改善自己的缺陷，尋找自立門戶的機會也很重要。

 

希望這新的一年能更好，能有突破。

第二次嘗試越野滑雪

今天跑去 Horseshoe Valley (馬蹄谷) 玩越野滑雪，這是來加拿大之後第二次的嘗試，發現比滑降滑雪簡單多了，而且運動量大，更容易避開人群，享受森林的寧靜。

上次嘗試越野滑雪已經超過一年，因為當時沒有完全學會，今天上課才重新上手，這是一項需要手腳並用的運動，每次滑出一步，都需要用腳蹬，用手撐，身體還要上下擺動，協調出韻律，實在不簡單，加上地形變化的時候，例如面對大下坡，還需要運用滑降滑雪的轉彎技巧，因此要成為專家比較困難，我們純休閒健身，就隨便多了。

像我們這種初學者，最適合這種平緩的森林步道，道路蜿蜒在樹林中，到處都是雪，轉個彎，前後都沒有人，四周靜悄悄的，有時只有小鳥的叫聲，非常寧靜，很享受。

這張照片看不出來，一路筆直，帶著微緩的坡，我站著不動，用滑雪桿一撐，整個人就緩緩往前滑，可以一路滑到三公里外，好過癮。

路旁的樹木都被雪覆蓋，近看就像這樣。

要回家的時候，往滑降滑雪場望去，已經點上照明燈，山坡上還有人在滑，這裡的人瘋滑雪到這種程度，我還沒法體會。