George Brown College’s School of ESL and Immigrant Education has partnered with our School of Early Childhood and WoodGreen Community Services to create an exciting new Early Childhood Education (ECE) Diploma pathway for newcomers to Canada.
This innovative pathway addresses two critical needs: it supports a workforce shortage in the early years sector, and it provides newcomers to Canada with an in-demand skillset, hands-on experience, and the opportunity to find meaningful employment.
“This program is a great example of how advocacy, determination and collaboration can best support students, the community and the sector to achieve their respective goals,” said Bernice Cipparone-McLeod, Interim Director of George Brown’s School of Early Childhood.
To date, this program, which launched in September 2023, has helped 25 newcomers develop in-demand, sector-specific skills — at no cost to the student. Not only have participants developed a proficiency in English, but these students are also well on their way to earning a Diploma in Early Childhood Education — a credential that comes with several comprehensive field placement experiences. It also allows the student to register with the College of Early Childhood Educators as Early Childhood Educators, which is a requirement to work in a licensed childcare facility in Ontario.
“It was inspiring to see the resilience of the students who continuously supported each other in successfully achieving their common goal,” said Sonya Waite, School of ESL Faculty member, who was instrumental in developing the program. “Such strength and motivation highlight the positive impact they will impress upon the youth in their communities.”
WoodGreen Community Services provides program participants with high-quality wraparound settlement services, helping them adapt to their new life in Canada.
The positive impact of this program for refugees and newcomers to Canada cannot be overstated. Sally Sarieddine, Settlement Services Specialist at WoodGreen, said the impact is “life-changing,” and that she is “deeply impressed by the college’s effort to understand and address the unique challenges of these students, fostering a culture of accountability and empowerment.”
This program was made possible through the generous support of the City of Toronto, the Region of Durham, the Region of Peel, the Province of Ontario, and the Government of Canada under the new Canada-Ontario Early Childhood Workforce Agreement.
To find out more about the Pathway to ECE Diploma for Newcomers, please contact Alison Burns at aburns@georgebrown.ca.
