Phillip Deng

United Nations volunteer from Sudan thinks Alberta has a lot to give

An ideal culture – that’s how Sudanese immigrant Phillip Deng describes Canada. He chose to immigrate here in 2006 through the federal government’s Skilled Workers Program, which is designed for newcomers who have education, work experience, knowledge of the English or French languages, and other abilities that will help them establish themselves as permanent residents of Canada.

“What I find unique about Canada is that the people welcome and appreciate different cultures. This means there is a space for everyone, everyone is welcome and, to me, there is every opportunity to integrate,” explained Phillip, who first came to Canada as a student at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia in 1999. Six years later, he immigrated to Ontario from Kosovo where he was a United Nations volunteer. In 2007, following advice from friends in Alberta, he chose to move out west to Edmonton, Alberta.

Before coming to Edmonton, Phillip attended a job search workshop in Ottawa, where he learned about job search techniques, the Canadian job market, and the importance of networking as part of a strategy for finding a job. He also learned about employment opportunities in Alberta. “I had heard about Alberta’s economic boom and the job opportunities available mostly from newspaper articles I had read. Then I contacted a couple of friends who live in Alberta and they encouraged me to make the move,” he said.

Phillip sought employment counseling with the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers (EMCN) when he arrived in Alberta and he says this helped him to understand what Alberta employers are looking for. “I found a job in no time. In fact, every newcomer I know who has come here, whether immigrating directly from outside Canada or re-locating from another province has found a job, and in an incredibly short amount of time.”

Philip now works as a volunteer services officer with the EMCN, where he coordinates volunteer activities and handles recruitment. Prior to that, his experience was in the field of veterinary medicine and community development work but he chose to make a career change after arriving in Canada.

Originally from Sudan, the largest country in Africa, Phillip says he chose to leave his country because of declining economic and employment opportunities, and the insecurity and instability created by the war in southern Sudan at the time. He joined the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, which was created to establish civilian rule, build and keep peace, and establish self-government institutions in Kosovo following the conflict there in 1999.  From Kosovo, he applied to immigrate to Canada. The process took two years.

The best things about living in Alberta, says Phillip, are the number of job opportunities, the good wages, and the availability of supported training and bridging programs for newcomers. He sees Alberta as a place where people can realize their dreams and goals of immigration to Canada, not just in terms of employment but also training and education opportunities, settlement and integration.

Before arriving in Canada, Phillip advises immigrants to do their research about the Canadian job market, and where opportunities exist most. “One valuable source of information is this website, the Alberta immigration portal,” he added. “It’s an excellent tool for newcomers to learn everything they need to know about coming to Canada.”

Date Updated: Mar 31, 2008
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