Humber has been recognized for its ongoing commitment to an innovative mentoring program that matches newcomer mentees with mentors to help them find meaningful employment.

The Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) manages the TRIEC Mentoring Partnership program that uses settlement and employment agencies to refer newcomer clients to mentoring. Employer partners, of which Humber is one, recruit staff to serve as mentors.

Humber was invited to TRIEC’s Recognition Gala in April that was celebrating the 20th anniversary of the program. Humber was honoured for the invaluable contributions it’s made to the mentoring partnership.

Azieb Musa-Habtu managed the TRIEC Mentoring Partnership program at Humber for more than a decade and attended the gala in Toronto. Musa-Habtu lauded the dedication of the team at Humber for working together to ensure the success of the program that’s benefitting both mentors and mentees.

“It really feels great to be recognized for the work that the team is doing because it motivates you that much more when your efforts are acknowledged,” said Musa-Habtu.

Musa-Habtu noted their success was a collaborative effort but also wanted to mention the tremendous work of Humber’s mentoring coach Maggie Alongi-Maxwell on the program.

Musa-Habtu managed the program and served as a mentor, so she can speak firsthand about its benefits. She was new to Canada as well earlier in her career and wished there was a similar program to help ease her transition and the search for employment.

“I was a newcomer myself at one time and there weren’t any programs such as this,” she said. “I managed to find a career in my field, but it wasn’t always easy. A mentoring program like this would have been a big help.”

While newcomers often have the skills, education and work experience to find a career, they may need a little help navigating the local labour market. Mentees are connected with mentors in the industry they’re looking to enter who can offer guidance and support while also strengthening their mentee’s professional network.  

Musa-Habtu said she decided to get involved to share her experiences with others and encourage them not to lose hope. Trying to find a career in a new country can be challenging but, with the right information and support, it’s possible.

Humber, as a corporate partner to the program, finds and recruits Humber employees as mentors. Of the more than 1,000 newcomers matched with professional mentors from various industries through the Mentoring Partnership Program, Humber employees have mentored more than 100 newcomers over the years.  

“It’s such an important program because the mentees often come back so happy and motivated and say ‘thank you so much, I found a job’ or that they have hope because they understand what they need to do to find one.”

While there are many benefits for the mentees, the mentors also benefit. They’re building their leadership and coaching skills along with cross-cultural communication skills. They’re supporting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and receive ongoing professional development from TRIEC.

To find out more about the program, visit the TRIEC website or the Humber mentoring partnership webpage.