Celebrating the Employers and Leaders Who Make Newcomer Success Possible
On Thursday, June 25, World Skills Employment Centre proudly hosted its inaugural Employer Appreciation & Networking Event, bringing together employers, volunteers, community leaders, mentors, and partners who have helped shape the success of thousands of newcomers over the past 29 years.
Held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the evening was more than an awards ceremony. It was an opportunity to celebrate the partnerships that make newcomer employment possible, reflect on the collective impact we have achieved together, and reaffirm our shared commitment to building a more inclusive Canadian labour market.
At World Skills, we know that successful newcomer integration is never accomplished by one organization alone. Every employment success story is made possible through employers willing to recognize international talent, professionals who generously share their expertise, mentors who invest their time, and community partners who believe that diversity strengthens our workplaces and our economy.
This special evening was dedicated to recognizing those individuals and organizations whose leadership has helped transform countless careers, and lives.
Recognizing Our Employer Champions
While newcomers bring the talent, resilience, and determination to succeed, employers make opportunity possible. By embracing inclusive hiring, investing in mentorship, and recognizing the value of international experience, these organizations have helped create meaningful career opportunities for internationally trained professionals while strengthening Ottawa’s workforce.
The World Skills Employer Champion Award for Newcomer Integration recognizes organizations whose leadership, partnership, and long-standing commitment have made a lasting difference in the lives of newcomers and in our community.
IBM Canada
For more than five years, IBM Canada has partnered with World Skills to advance newcomer employment through innovation, collaboration, and digital skills development. From career panels and employee engagement to expanding access to industry-recognized certifications, IBM has helped internationally trained professionals strengthen their employability in Canada’s evolving labour market. More recently, IBM’s support of World Skills’ IBM International Foundation grant application has further expanded opportunities for newcomer career development and workforce integration.
Christian Portilla from World Skills accepted the award on behalf of IBM.
Ottawa Safety Council
Since 2020, the Ottawa Safety Council has been a highly engaged employer partner, creating meaningful opportunities for newcomers to gain Canadian work experience. Through participation in eight Targeted Recruitment Events and two annual job fairs, the organization has helped 29 World Skills clients secure employment. Their contributions extend beyond recruitment through active participation in employer advisory initiatives, demonstrating a genuine commitment to workforce development and newcomer success.
Ella Trolly and Justin Byrne from OSC accepted the award.
University of Ottawa
For more than a decade, the University of Ottawa has been a valued partner in advancing newcomer employment and strengthening pathways into Canada’s workforce. Through career information sessions, coaching activities, annual job fairs, and employment-focused events, the University has helped internationally trained professionals gain the knowledge, confidence, and connections needed to succeed. Its commitment to reducing barriers and recognizing international experience has resulted in more than 80 World Skills clients securing academic and administrative positions, demonstrating how inclusive hiring creates opportunities for both newcomers and employers.
Gabrielle Mutchmore from the University of Ottawa accepted the award.
WUSC (World University Service of Canada)
For over a decade, WUSC has demonstrated outstanding leadership in inclusive hiring by recognizing talent beyond the requirement for Canadian work experience. Throughout its partnership with World Skills, WUSC has created meaningful employment opportunities for internationally trained professionals while maintaining a strong commitment to employee retention and long-term success. Beyond hiring, the organization has consistently shared opportunities, provided valuable candidate feedback, and collaborated closely with World Skills to strengthen newcomer employment outcomes.
Catherine Gray from WUSC accepted the award.
Together, these four organizations exemplify what it means to be an employer champion. Their commitment goes beyond hiring—it includes mentorship, knowledge sharing, community engagement, and creating workplaces where internationally trained professionals can succeed and contribute their full potential.
Honouring Leadership Champions
While organizations create opportunities, it is often individual leaders who inspire change.
This year, World Skills also presented its Leadership Champion Award for Newcomer Integration to five remarkable individuals whose generosity, leadership, and long-standing commitment have strengthened our mission and helped countless newcomers build successful careers in Canada.
Allison Janota
Director of Talent Management, Royal Canadian Mint
For more than 15 years, Allison Janota has been a dedicated advocate for newcomer talent and a trusted partner of World Skills. Since 2010, she has generously shared her expertise through presentations, employer panels, and career coaching, helping internationally trained professionals better understand Canadian recruitment practices. Throughout her career in talent acquisition and management, Allison has championed inclusive, skills-based hiring while supporting initiatives such as Empowering Racialized Newcomer Women (ERNW), helping connect qualified newcomers with meaningful career opportunities.
Mike DesLauriers
Global People, Culture & Community Programs Manager, Assent
For more than a decade, Mike DesLauriers has been a passionate advocate for internationally trained professionals and a valued partner of World Skills. Throughout his career, he has generously shared his expertise, participated in job fairs, coaching sessions, and hiring events, while connecting newcomer candidates directly with hiring managers. His commitment extends beyond recruitment, supporting newcomers as they establish successful careers and thrive in their workplaces. Mike’s hands-on leadership has helped bridge opportunity gaps and create lasting pathways to meaningful employment.
Mark Carmosino
Executive Sponsor and Managing Director, Accenture
As Executive Sponsor of the World Skills–Accenture Mentorship Program, Mark Carmosino has championed newcomer workforce integration both within Accenture and across the broader talent ecosystem. His leadership has strengthened mentorship, encouraged skills-based hiring, and mobilized Accenture’s recruitment teams to engage more intentionally with newcomer talent. Mark has also supported transformative pro bono initiatives, including the development of a job board, process automation, and enhanced reporting systems, that have strengthened World Skills’ capacity to connect internationally trained professionals with meaningful employment opportunities.
Hannah Dinovitzer from Accenture accepted the award on behalf of Mark Carmosino.
Sari Cantor
Partner, Recruiting in Motion
For nearly 20 years, Sari Cantor has been an exceptional advocate for newcomer employment and a passionate supporter of World Skills. Since the launch of the Empowering Racialized Newcomer Women (ERNW) program in 2018, she has coached hundreds of participants, delivered recruitment workshops, prepared clients for interviews, and helped create employment opportunities that have changed lives. Her encouragement, expertise, and unwavering belief in people’s potential have empowered newcomer women to pursue their career goals with confidence and determination.
Mayank Sharma
Delivery Practice Lead, Global Technology & Solutions, TD Bank Group
As a former newcomer himself, Mayank Sharma has transformed his own experience into opportunities for others. Through his leadership at TD Bank Group and the TD Multicultural Network, he established the World Skills mentorship partnership, which has grown into a highly successful 13-year initiative supporting newcomer career development. His leadership has contributed to 121 newcomer hires, while fostering a culture of inclusion, belonging, and professional growth. Mayank’s vision continues to demonstrate how mentorship can create lasting pathways to opportunity.
Collectively, these leaders embody the values of generosity, inclusion, and community leadership that are at the heart of World Skills’ mission.
An Evening of Inspiration and Reflection
The evening began with warm welcome remarks from Andy Rapoch, former Employer Engagement Coordinator, alongside Gemma Follini, Manager of Employer Engagement & Corporate Mentorships, who reflected on the remarkable journey of employer engagement at World Skills and the partnerships that continue to strengthen newcomer employment across Ottawa.
Guests were then inspired by reflections from Magdalene Cooman, Executive Director of the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership, who spoke about the importance of collaboration between employers, community organizations, and public institutions in creating an inclusive and prosperous community for everyone.
Throughout the evening, attendees participated in interactive networking activities, watched a powerful impact video showcasing the stories behind World Skills’ partnerships, celebrated this year’s award recipients, and reconnected with colleagues and community leaders who share a common vision for newcomer success.
Looking Forward Together
In his closing remarks, Executive Director Mengistab Tsegaye reminded guests that newcomer integration is ultimately about people.
Behind every successful newcomer is an employer willing to take a chance, a mentor willing to share their experience, a volunteer willing to open their network, and a community willing to believe that talent has no borders.
He also looked ahead to the future of World Skills, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to advancing newcomer workforce integration through innovative programming, mentorship, communication and language initiatives, employer engagement, and strategic partnerships that continue creating pathways to meaningful employment.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Sylvia McDonald, Workforce Development Coordinator at the Eastern Ontario Training Board (EOTB), for her outstanding partnership and support in making this event such a memorable success. As one of our event sponsors, Sylvia and EOTB contributed far beyond sponsorship by providing prizes, table centrepieces, name badges, and countless details that helped create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for our guests. Sylvia’s enthusiasm, generosity, and unwavering commitment to workforce development and newcomer employment exemplify the spirit of collaboration that makes initiatives like this possible. We are sincerely grateful to Sylvia and the Eastern Ontario Training Board for standing alongside World Skills in celebrating the employers and leaders who are strengthening our community through newcomer integration.
Thank You
To our award recipients, our employers, volunteers, mentors, partners, funders, and supporters:
Thank you for believing in newcomer talent. Thank you for opening doors. Thank you for creating opportunities.
Thank you for helping internationally trained professionals not only find employment, but also build careers, contribute their expertise, and enrich our workplaces and communities.
Your leadership demonstrates that when organizations and individuals work together with a shared purpose, we create more than jobs—we create belonging, strengthen our economy, and build a more inclusive Canada.
Together, we are creating pathways to opportunity and helping newcomers build successful futures in Canada.
