NWPB is pleased to announce Richard Entera as the winner of our second Stantec Bursary Grant.
Stantec, a design and engineering company working with local communities across the world, donated a $1,000 bursary to Niagara Workforce Planning Board’s Immigrant Mentorship Program. The purpose of this bursary is to provide a Niagara newcomer with a professional background in technology and engineering with a chance to further their career opportunities through additional training or re-certification. This is the second time they have generously provided us, along with four other Immigrant Employment Council partners across Canada, an opportunity to assist newcomers on their career path.
Richard Entera immigrated to Canada in late 2017 from the Philippines. With an extensive background in Mechanical Engineering, he previously worked in China and the United States. At one point, Entera worked with Amazon designing the components in Alexa. He recently landed a full time job with Davert Tools in Niagara Falls, and is looking for assistance from a mentor to support him in the Professional Engineers of Ontario licensing process, and get engaged in their local chapter.
Like many immigrants, Entera is a highly skilled professional facing barriers to employment in Canada. Immigrants often encounter high costs, additional exams, and extra training in order to gain the professional recognition for their previous education and work experience. This bursary will allow Richard to cover some of the costs associated with his career goals.
Upon learning that he would be receiving the grant, Richard said, “I am very pleased and humbled to learn that I was selected as the recipient of the Stantec Bursary grant. I can’t thank everyone enough, but thank you all so much for your generosity and support. You have reduced my financial burden, which allows me to pursue my Canadian professional goals moving forward. I hope one day, I will also be able to help/support struggling individuals/immigrants to reach their professional/personal goals by assisting them in the same way you are helping me.”
NWPB received many quality applications for the bursary, and choosing a winner was exceedingly difficult. We would like to take the opportunity to thank our panel of community judges for supporting our program and making this tough decision.
Congratulations Richard, and we look to forward to following your continued successes in Canada!
Niagara Workforce Planning Board is Niagara’s trusted community partner, providing data and insight in support of a diverse and talented workforce that contributes to a prosperous community. Our Immigrant Mentorship program is here to ensure that Niagara employers benefit from the untapped potential of immigrants, build an inclusive workforce, and help newcomers understand and integrate into Niagara’s labour market. For more information, visit our Newcomer Professionals portal.