Top opportunities for you

Funding and training programs to get you to the next step in your career

Author

Dami Koya
June 01, 2025

Happy New Month, friend! 

We’re so close to the second half of the year, so I think we should hit the ground running with something with a career booster.

Now, whenever I have a chat with friends, we always have that inevitable conversation that turns into a rant about Nigeria, Africa, and the dysfunction so naturally attached to the country and continent. It’s like a spirit that possesses everyone, and soon we all start saying the same thing.

I’m sure you know what that is. Now, for those who have left the country, we can all agree things are so much better, and to quote the words of one of them: “you’re finally out of the chaos and into a working system.”

But even the best systems fail, right? So what happens when your greener pastures don’t exactly maintain that colour? Why do you keep hitting walls trying to get ahead in your 9-5? Even the most seasoned immigrants will sometimes wonder how to keep their careers secure.

The struggle’s real, even on the other side, but it’s not all glib. Canada has solutions you might not even know about yet.

So let’s talk about a few.

🛠️ Career & Work

You want better job security and real career opportunities. Who doesn’t? 

Here’s something big: Canada has millions available right now through special programs to help newcomers, people retraining, or communities dealing with layoffs. You should check them out:

Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy – Training Equipment Funding

The federal government is heavily investing in skilled trades (aiming to support 29,000 new tradespeople over the next five years). 

One new call for applications will fund up to $5 million per project for training providers to buy modern equipment and technology for Red Seal trade programs. With this grant, you get to upgrade your gear, meaning better hands-on training. If you’re considering a skilled trade career, keep an eye on these improvements in your training programs.

Canada Retraining and Opportunities Initiative (CROI)

This program supports communities hit by major layoffs. It funds local projects to help laid-off workers learn new skills and transition into different jobs. Who can apply? Organizations such as non-profits, municipal or Indigenous governments, educational institutions, and even for-profit companies; basically any community group with a plan to help unemployed workers. 

Applications are open now on a continuous basis (no hard deadline – proposals are taken until the funding is all committed). In plain terms, if your town’s main employer shut down and people lost jobs, this initiative can fund things like retraining programs or career counselling.

We found a way for you to get some cash back. 

Did you know? If you pay for courses or exams to upgrade your skills, you could get some of that money back at tax time. The Canada Training Credit’s a refundable tax credit that adds up to $250 per year (up to a lifetime max of $5,000) to offset training fees. It’s automatic if you’re eligible: just file your taxes and claim it, and you might receive a nice refund for investing in your education. Every bit helps with budgeting for courses or certification exams!

Also, a quick safety tip: be wary of anyone offering “guaranteed” grants or asking for a fee to help you apply. Real government grants don’t make you pay to get the money. 

If someone says “Just pay me $100 and I’ll get you a $1,000 grant,” it’s almost certainly a scam. Applications for genuine programs (like the ones we highlight) are free; you usually apply directly through an official website or via an email address from a government department. When in doubt, talk to a settlement service or check the official program page yourself (and never give out banking info to a stranger). Stay safe and protect your wallet!

🛠️ Tools & Resources

  • Job Bank (Newcomers Section): Employers looking specifically for newcomers. Your next job might be a click away. 

  • Benefits Finder: Quickly see what Canadian government support you qualify for. 

GET RE-BRANDED FOR CANADIAN JOB OPPORTUNITIES🔗

Whether you’ve been in Canada for 2 months, 2 years, or a decade, one thing stays the same: GROWTH.


But how do you show off all the work you've put in to become such a badass at your job without strong career branding?

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🧭 The Wrap-Up

That’s it for this week’s edition of The New Local. We hope you found something useful here to boost your career or community journey. If you have a question or a story to share, just hit reply and let us know. 😊 

Your feedback helps make us a better newsletter.

Until next time,

— Dami from New Local