We are pleased to announce that starting March 21, 2022, Achēv and RBC are launching an exciting new partnership that will help bring more services and advice to newcomers in the Mississauga area.

RBC has opened a Meeting Place within our Mississauga-City Centre location. This inviting space will be staffed by expert RBC Newcomer Advisors, who are dedicated to helping people of all cultures with their settlement needs, including banking, engaging their new community, and introductions to community partners who can help them get settled.

RBC has been providing advice and solutions to newcomers for over 150 years and offers phone services in up to 200 languages. Over the last few years, these RBC Newcomer Advisor teams have been bringing the people, resources, products and services of RBC remotely to newcomers to help them thrive as they create a new life here.

Achēv and RBC share common goals aimed at connecting people to opportunities that help them achieve their full potential. Both our organizations have teams of highly skilled and dedicated staff, and we continue to work with partners, businesses and government to help our clients through the pandemic and their settlement journey in Canada. Ultimately, our shared hope is that through partnerships like this, we can help more newcomers receive the support and services they need to succeed.

We look forward to sharing a space with RBC and a long and successful collaboration!

Mississauga, Ontario – February 25, 2022 – In February 2021, Achēv received a $144,400 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to identify digital solutions to enhance its resilience and capacity in serving clients and the community. The project was completed in November 2021 and will support the organization’s digital transformation journey for years to come.

“I am thrilled with the announcement that Achēv, a cornerstone organization of my community, is benefitting from support offered by the OTF's Resilient Communities Fund,” said Natalia Kusendova, Mississauga Centre MPP. “These funds, which have been used to help their organization recover from the impacts of COVID-19 with an increased emphasis on digitizing service provision, will be sure to increase accessibility and efficiency and, in turn, better serve vulnerable communities in both Mississauga and beyond.”

Achēv used this grant to research options and develop digital solutions, such as a client relationship management (CRM) tool, to better engage clients and improve their service experience. “It is critical that we understand the evolving needs of our clients in a timely, centralized way and use technology to connect them with the services they need, when they need it, and in a format that works for them,” said Tonie Chaltas, CEO of Achēv. “The impact of this OTF funded project cannot be underestimated as it has allowed us to develop a customized solution to better support our clients.”

Achēv aims to change people’s lives as they discover their potential and achieve their purpose. It is one of the largest non-profit providers of employment, youth, newcomer and language services in the Greater Toronto Area, serving over 91,000 clients in 2020-21. During the pandemic, the organization quickly adapted tools and processes to provide more online services in record time, providing essential community supports to job seekers, women, newcomers and youth. Further information can be found at www.achev.ca.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. Last year, nearly $112M was invested into 1,384 community projects and partnerships to build healthy and vibrant communities and strengthen the impact of Ontario’s non-profit sector. In 2020/21, OTF supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

Media Contact:

Kristen Neagle
Government Relations & Strategic Partnerships, Achēv
kneagle@achev.ca

Mississauga, Ontario – November 5, 2021 – Achēv, a leading charitable organization that delivers employment, newcomer, language and youth services with locations across the Greater Toronto Area, announced today that it was named the Diamond Winner of the 2021 Mississauga News Readers’ Choice Awards in the Best Non-Profit category. The Diamond Award is the highest ranked category, followed by Platinum and Gold.

The Mississauga News Readers’ Choice Awards are the most respected and reputable consumer awards in Mississauga. This distinction is a reflection of an organization’s commitment to its clients and its achievement throughout the year. Each year, thousands of people from the community are invited to nominate and vote for their favourite organizations in Mississauga. This is the 26th year since the inception of this awards program and more than 275,000 ballots were cast. This year’s Mississauga News Readers’ Choice Awards recognizes businesses that have experienced challenges during the pandemic but have gone above and beyond to provide exceptional services to their clients.

“Being recognized by our clients and the community we serve is the greatest honour Achēv could receive. We are thrilled to be chosen as the Diamond Winner of the 2021 Mississauga News Readers’ Choice Awards in the Best Non-Profit category,” said Tonie Chaltas, CEO of Achēv. “Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the needs of the communities we serve have evolved and the challenges they face are more significant. As a result, we worked quickly to pivot our programs and services online to ensure all of our clients have the support they need. Winning this award is a true testament to our staff and volunteers’ dedication, commitment, compassion and empathy in serving our communities. They make a difference in the lives of our clients every day.”

For nearly 30 years, Achēv, formerly the Centre for Education & Training, has dedicated itself to helping newcomers and Canadians achieve their full potential. Today, Achēv is one of the largest providers of employment, newcomer, language and youth services in the Greater Toronto Area. Achēv’s wide range of high-quality and personalized programs and services provide people from diverse backgrounds with the resources and guidance needed to achieve their goals.

Women, newcomers, youth, people with disabilities and people from racialized communities have been most negatively affected by the pandemic. As the economy begins to rebound, Achēv is committed to continuing its work in fostering a more equitable recovery and developing innovative programs that address the evolving needs of the community, especially those who are most vulnerable.

To learn more about Achēv’s programs and services, visit www.achev.ca.

About Achēv

Achēv is a leading charitable organization that delivers employment, newcomer, language and youth services. We offer comprehensive and personalized programs of the highest quality to help people achieve their full potential. Each year, our dedicated team of nearly 400 staff serves over 100,000 clients through virtual services and multiple in-person locations across the Greater Toronto Area. We are committed to making a positive and lasting difference in the diverse communities we serve.

Media Contact

Joy Qiu
Marketing Manager, Achēv
jqiu@achev.ca
416-518-8410

Mississauga, Ontario – October 21, 2021 – Achēv, one of the largest non-profit providers of employment, newcomer and language services in the Peel Region with locations across the GTA, is pleased to announce it has been awarded $804,700 from the Ontario government in partnership with Project Liftoff. This funding will support youth facing barriers in Mississauga, Brampton and Toronto with digital skills training to prepare them for technology sector jobs.

“There has never been greater urgency for programs like Career Pathways for Youth and the work we do at Achēv,” said Ms. Tonie Chaltas, Achēv’s Chief Executive Officer. “Youth in the GTA, particularly racialized youth, continue to face numerous barriers to meaningful employment, and those barriers have been greatly exacerbated by the pandemic. Those barriers include lack of work-related networks, lack of job experience, challenges accessing learning and mental health needs.”

Career Pathways for Youth (CP4Y) is funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development through the Skills Development Fund. The program is in response to a growing need to fill the growing digital skills gap in the Technology Sector, which is expected to grow to 305,000 jobs by 2023.^[1] Employers in the technology sector who are using Salesforce's CRM need entry-level skilled talent, but they are struggling to find job seekers with the right skills. This program responds to that need and provides career opportunities for youth facing barriers in our communities. 

“With nearly 150 projects so far, the Skills Development Fund has been a tremendous success, helping 260,000 workers and job seekers around the province take the next step in their careers,” said Minister Monte McNaughton. “However, we know employers are still having difficulty finding the talented workers they need to stay competitive and grow their businesses. That’s why I’m so pleased to see organizations like Achēv stepping up and breaking down barriers to employment for young people in Mississauga and Brampton.”

Career Pathways for Youth is a collaborative partnership with Project Liftoff to create and implement a seamless job training and placement experience for youth facing barriers to successfully launch careers in the digital economy. Youth will have placement opportunities at multiple employers that use Salesforce’s technology. The program includes digital skills training and certification, hands-on training, job placements, employability skills training and career coaching. 

”As enterprise tech giants like Salesforce, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft continue to bring the worlds of business and technology together, ‘Working in tech’ will soon become, simply – Working”, said Marcus Bernard, Founder of Project Liftoff. “At Project Liftoff it’s our mission to prepare young underserved job seekers for that opportunity by providing the digital skills training and recruitment services needed to launch meaningful business and technology careers in the digital economy.”

As one of the largest providers of employment services, newcomer settlement and language services in the GTA, Achēv makes it easy for clients to get the support they need — all under one roof. Last year, Achēv served over 91,000 clients.  We provided 1-on-1 job assistance to over 3,000 job seekers and helped over 12,000 youth gain employment skills. Over 11,000 newcomers used our services to help them settle into the GTA.

To learn more about the Career Pathways for Youth Program, visit: Career Pathways for Youth – Achēv (achev.ca)

Contact:

Program information: Gwendolyn Fluker, CP4Y@achev.ca

Media inquiries: Kristen Neagle, kneagle@achev.ca

^[1] Canada’s digitally skilled talent demand to reach 305,000 by 2023: ICTC Outlook to 2023 – Information and Communications Technology Council (ictc-ctic.ca)

We are pleased to extend a warm welcome to the newest members of our Board of Directors and Non-Director Committee Members. Each of them brings a wealth of experience and leadership expertise from diverse sectors. Achēv’s CEO Tonie Chaltas, Board Chair Andrew Gall and the senior leadership team, look forward to working together to support the delivery of exceptional youth, employment, newcomer settlement and language assessment services across the GTA.

The new Board Members are:

Ana Nunes, ICD.D, CFA, FCIA, FSA
Board Member, Vice-Chair of the Strategic & Risk Management Committee

Ana Nunes brings more than 20 years’ experience as a senior executive in the retirement savings industry. She held various leadership roles during her 10+ years at OMERS, including Senior Vice President of Plan Risk, Senior Vice President of Pension Services, and President of OMERS Investment Management. During her consulting career at Mercer, she advised clients on the full spectrum of pension plan issues.

Ana is a strategic thinker who is known for deep analytical skills and an ability to clearly communicate key issues. She has led multiple strategic initiatives that grew assets under management by over $2 billion. She brings extensive experience supporting Boards with the oversight of risk management, pension funding, large-scale administration operations and cybersecurity.

Ana is currently Chair of the Board of Trustees of the MoveUp/ICBC Pension Plan. She has been a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for the Benefits and Pensions Monitor and has volunteered her time to various charitable causes through the years.

In addition to being a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and Society of Actuaries, Ana is a CFA charterholder and holds the ICD.D designation.

Lawrence Eta, eMBA, MM, BSc
Board Member, Vice-Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee

Lawrence Eta is the Chief Technology Officer for the City of Toronto. As a transformative leader and business partner, he provides vision, strategy and execution to modernize and deliver innovative technology solutions to enhance the customer service experience.

Over the span of his 20+ career Lawrence has been involved in a wide range of technology industries, holding various senior leadership positions including, Global Director of Customer Success within the Internet of Things (IOT) sector, Vice President of Technical Architecture and Director of Business Technology Solutions for an international business process outsourcing organization and Director of Information Services for one of Canada's top 60 pension and benefits plans. Lawrence holds an Executive MBA from Lansbridge University, Master of Management from American Sentinel University, and Bachelor of Science in Technology Management from Staffordshire University

Lawrence is a TEDX speaker and member of Coalition of Innovation Leaders against Racism (CILAR). He is a passionate advocate of diversity and inclusion and creating equity and prosperity for communities. He has served on not for profit committees and boards including Canadian Cancer Society (BC and Yukon Division), Langley Hospice and Arizona Children's Association.

Megan MacRae, M.I.R.
Board Member, Vice-Chair of the Human Resources & Compensation Committee

Megan MacRae is the Executive Director of Human Resources at the TTC. As a member of the TTC Executive Team she oversees the provision of all Human Resources services throughout the Organization.

Megan began her labour relations career in the Canadian airline industry and moved towards public transit first at GO Transit before joining the TTC in 2008. In her time at the TTC, Megan has held a variety of positions, including Employee Relations Consultant, Director of Compensation Services and Director of Employee Relations, and has led multiple rounds of collective bargaining.

Megan has been a Board member on the TTC Pension Plan since 2013 where she serves on the Governance Committee as well as the Investment Committee. Megan has contributed as a Board member previously with the Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association as well as Big Brothers and Sisters of Ajax Pickering.

Megan has her undergraduate degree in Industrial Relations from McGill University and her Masters in Industrial Relations and Human Resources Management from Queens University and holds an advanced certificate in trust management.

Melissa Qi, LLM, MFAc
Board Member, Member of Governance & Nominating Committee

Melissa Qi is an experienced professional specializing in risk, governance, policy, strategy and project management. With close to a decade of experience in the public sector, she has worked for the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, City of Markham, Region of York, Ontario Energy Board, and currently the City of Brampton. Melissa has advised elected officials and senior leaders on dozens of Boards and Committees.

Melissa is a member of York Regional Police's Community Liaison Committee, and has served on York University's Graduate Students Council and the Community Safety Council.

Kim Warburton
Board Member, Member of the Strategic & Risk Management Committee

Kim Warburton is a strategic communications and public affairs executive with extensive, broad experience building corporate reputation and brand, stakeholder relationships, and employee engagement. She has held senior global and national positions in the multinational, financial, telecommunications and advertising sectors, including roles with TD Bank Group, GE and Bell Canada. She has worked in the Ontario government focusing on workforce skills and economic development. Kim is a respected leader and trusted advisor known for managing complexity, coaching to unlock potential, and creating initiatives that inspire and motivate. She is currently an independent strategic communications advisor.

Kim is an inclusive, community builder. She is passionate about “joining the dots” to build perspective and create meaningful outcomes. Her interests include navigating the changing nature of work, economic participation and opportunity, and life-long learning. She recently served as Chair and Director of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and is a Director of Actua a national organization engaging youth in STEM to build employability skills and confidence. She has also served as advisor on Mississauga’s Economic Development Advisory Board, and as Chair and Director of the Trillium Health Partners Hospital Foundation.

Andrea Swinton
Non-Director Committee Member of Strategic and Risk Management Committee

Andrea Swinton is a not-for-profit CEO known for leading at the national and provincial levels, bringing a business focus to charities and building platforms that have doubled revenue in three years.

She serves on the board of directors for Hazel Burns Hospice and Endeavour Consulting for Non-Profits and is the Chair of their respective Governance and Fundraising Committees. She’s also been a panelist at a global health symposium held in Vienna, Austria, workshop moderator, conference speaker, and acted as a spokesperson in the national media.
Prior to transitioning to the not-for-profit sector, she worked in brand marketing for Canada’s leading loyalty program, and in direct marketing for a national home and auto insurance firm.
A graduate of Queen’s University, Andrea holds a B.A. in Sociology and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).

Marlon Blake, MBA, CPA, FCCA
Non-Director Member of Finance and Audit Committee

Marlon Blake has over 15 years of experience working in senior level leadership roles in not-for-profit, consulting, and financial services industries. He is currently the Director, Finance at ICES, responsible for providing financial and operational leadership, accounting expertise and guidance to the organization. Before ICES, Marlon was the Director of Finance at ACT, where he provided strategic leadership and vision for the financial functions of the organization. He also worked in senior roles at Optimal Growth Consulting, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan, and the Government of Bermuda. He has strong leadership experience in financial reporting, strategic planning, analytics, project management, process automation, governance, risk, IT, mentoring and coaching people.

Marlon holds a Master of Business Administration from Oxford Brookes University, CPA, CGA designation from CPA Ontario, and he is a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant. 

Ruth Woods
Non-Director Committee Member of Human Resources and Compensation Committee

Ruth Woods has more than 35 years executive experience in professional services management, investment banking and consulting. She is the Chief Operating Officer of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, where she is responsible for Finance, IT, HR, Facilities and Administration. Prior to Osler she was a founding partner of Hugessen Consulting Inc, Senior Vice President; Global Head of Human Resources at Scotia Capital; and a Founding Director of Women in Capital Markets. Ruth is currently on the board of Scarborough Health Network and has served on the Bishop Strachan School and Royal St. George’s College Boards of Governors as Vice-Chair and Chair respectively, and on the board of Kinross Gold Corp.

Ruth graduated from the University of Toronto with a Masters of Business Administration, and from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Mathematics.

To view all of Achēv’s Board Member profiles, visit our Meet The Board page.

Achēv is pleased to release our 2020/2021 Impact Report. The Report highlights our impact during the COVID-19 pandemic, an incredibly challenging time for everyone in our community. 

Since the start of the pandemic, we have worked hard to meet the rapidly changing needs of our clients and employers, with a focus on employment readiness, job skills and connecting people to employment.

Last year, Achēv’s dedicated team of nearly 400 staff supported over 91,000 people and worked with 3,600 employers. More than 3,000 job seekers received 1-on-1 job assistance and more than 12,000 youth gained employment skills.

Achēv conducted over 7,000 language assessments to connect clients to language training and enhance career opportunities. As the trusted first stop for newcomers in the GTA, more than 11,000 people used our services to help them settle into Canada.

Achēv brings together leading youth services, employment services, newcomer settlement and language assessment under one roof to make it easy for our clients to get the support they need. We are one of the largest non-profit providers of these services in the Greater Toronto Area.

We thank our clients, staff, funders and community partners for placing their confidence in us and look forward to continuing to build on our strong track record. 

To read Achēv’s 2020/2021 Impact Report, please click here: Achēv 2020/2021 Impact Report

We are excited to share that Achēv has been featured on the September 25th edition of the Toronto Star as part of the “Supporting Canada's Newcomers” campaign in partnership with Mediaplanet. As a trusted provider of employment, newcomer, language and youth services, we shared how our free services can help immigrants and refugees smoothly transition to their new lives and achieve their full potential in Canada. Additionally, we shared our tips for newcomers to reach their settlement and employment goals.

This campaign also features Aladdin star, Mena Massoud, who shared his newcomer journey in Canada as an Egyptian immigrant. As an actor, Mena opened up about his career path into acting, discussed the importance of representation in the entertainment industry, and shared his inspirational message to newcomers in Canada.

Below is our full Toronto Star article!