CWB steps up support for Ukrainian refugees

The conflict in Ukraine has displaced more than 10 million people, with more than 4.5 million fleeing to nearby countries. Canada continues to work around the clock to set up job banks and provide settlement services to facilitate smooth transition and settlement of Ukrainian refugees and newcomers.

In support of the federal government’s effort, the CWB Group is pleased to announce that the Welding Competency and Credential Assessment (WCCA) portal is now available in Ukrainian. This initiative will help support and provide trained welders who have come to Canada or are in the process of landing, to transition easily into their jurisdiction of choice; ensure that their skills, qualifications, and credentials align with Canadian provincial requirements; and identify what additional requirements need to be satisfied.

The WCCA portal provides free online services and resources, including:

• Mapping the jurisdictional requirement by profession (pathway to certification)
• A competency assessment tool based on the CWB Learning resources and personalized gap analysis of knowledge against Canadian standards
• Links to educational material and training institutions to upgrade knowledge and skills
• Links to pre-and post-arrivals services, including settlement services, immigration support, and financial assistance
• Job search support and links to career websites

As a newcomer, if you are looking to learn more about the qualifications needed in your jurisdiction, the WCCA portal will assist you in understanding the pathway to certification, how your skills compare to Canadian standards through the competency assessment platform, and how to upgrade your skills through access to numerous training programs, settlement services, financial support, and career websites.

“We are delighted to support the federal government’s efforts to facilitate a smooth transition for Ukrainian refugees and newcomers who have been displaced by the current conflict in Ukraine with the launch of our WCCA portal in the Ukrainian language,” said Husam Mansour, director of government relations and public safety at the CWB Group. “Through the competency assessment platform, trained welders will be able to understand the pathways to welding certification better, assess their knowledge and skills against Canadian standards, and be provided with the resources to numerous trainings, settlement services, financial support, and career sites in hopes of supporting their transition into Canada. CWB Group will continue to support national campaigns that promote the skilled trades to youth, women, vulnerable groups, and newcomers to be the first career choice.”

CWB Group will continue to be active in maintaining WCCA and support national campaigns to promote the skilled trades as first choice careers for young people, women, vulnerable groups, and newcomers. Currently, WCCA is available in English, French, and Ukrainian.

For more information about the WCCA please visit http://www.welderassessment.org.

Rhea Gill is communications lead at CWB Group, 8360 Parkhill Drive, Milton, Ont. L9T 5V7, 800-844-6790, rhea.gill@cwbgroup.org, www.cwbgroup.org.

This program is funded through the Foreign Credential Recognition Program (FCRP) which provides funding to provincial and territorial governments, regulatory bodies, national associations, and credential assessment agencies.