The Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP), founded in 2010, recently celebrated the graduation of its 20,000th participant.

The CIIP operates in 25 countries through its offices in China, India, and the Philippines. Funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), it provides future immigrants with training in essential skills that they will need upon arrival in Canada. The program focuses on topics such as credential recognition, the Canadian labour market, and settlement information. Personal counseling sessions are provided to help future residents plan their actions upon arrival in Canada.

“Our Government is committed to helping newcomers succeed,” said Immigration Minister Jason Kenney at a meeting to commemorate the event. “By giving immigrants a better understanding of what to expect before they arrive in Canada, we can help ensure that they can more quickly contribute fully to Canada’s economic growth and long-term prosperity.”

A recent evaluation of the CIIP found that over 90 percent of participants strongly agreed that the program was useful, while 99 percent agreed that the services had improved their knowledge of how to find work in Canada.

“Coming to CIIP was the best decision I have ever made,” said participant Patricia Soyao, a nurse from the Philippines who was the 20,000th graduate of the program. “Though I totally believed in my choice to go to Canada, and knowing what to do was better laid out to me by CIIP.”