In celebration of their 66th anniversary, Stantec, a design and engineering company working with local communities across the world, donated a $1,000 bursary to Niagara Workforce Planning Board’s Immigrant Mentorship Program, as well as four other Immigrant Employment Councils across Canada. The purpose of this bursary is to provide a Niagara newcomer with a professional background in a STEM field with a chance to further their career opportunities through additional training or re-certification.

Hadeel Nadim is an internationally trained dentist with 10 years’ experience working in Khartoum, Sudan. She arrived in Canada in 2018 as a refugee of persecution and war. Prior to coming to Canada, she provided services in government hospitals to those who could not afford dental care. She is excited to be part of NWPB’s mentorship program, matched with a fellow dentist who has been through the integration process and can now help guide her.

Like many immigrants, Nadim is a highly skilled professional facing many barriers to meaningful employment. Immigrants often encounter high costs, additional exams, and extra training in order to re-enter the workforce. She applied for the bursary to pay for the National Dental Board of Canada (NDEB) examinations, which will allow her to work as a dentist in Canada. The bursary will cover part of the application and the first exam fee.

She stated, “This will help me tremendously in view of my current unemployment. I have been volunteering as a dental assistant at the Quest Community Health Center, in order to continue working, even unpaid, in the field that I love. My lifelong passion is making dental care available to people facing multiple barriers, including low income, senior status, and homelessness. This bursary will help me achieve my dream of becoming a dentist in Canada, and allow me to make a difference in my community.”

With over 25 applicants, choosing a winner was exceedingly difficult. A successful mentee in our program was chosen with the help of a panel of judges drawn from our community partners. They chose Nadim based on her driving desire to help others here in Niagara.

Congratulations Hadeel, and we look to forward to being part of your journey to becoming a dentist in Canada!

 

Niagara Workforce Planning Board
3550 Schmon Parkway, Unit 1B, 2^nd Floor, Thorold ON L2V 4Y6

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