City of Ottawa

One Immigrant’s Story

Frederick* worked as a professional engineer in his home country. Together with his wife and children, he immigrated to Canada in 2003 and quickly realized that his engineering degree and work experience would not automatically entitle him to work as a professional engineer in Canada.

With the help of one of Ottawa’s settlement agencies, Frederick looked at the steps to becoming licensed in Canada. He took a few courses at the University of Ottawa and, with the help of the settlement agency, accessed the “hidden job market” to find employment for a one-year period with a small engineering firm.

Frederick received his professional engineer designation one year later. He has since taken on a new position with a larger engineering firm, and moved into his new house in January 2007.

*Name has been changed.