Newcomer Stories

Murad Al-Jafari arrived in Canada from Jordan in August 2008.  He settled in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with great ambitions to soon pursue his career of 15 years as a procurement specialist and maintenance engineer.  Unfortunately, he encountered the same obstacles that many internationally trained professionals face time and time again in Canada – no professional license and no Canadian experience.  Determined to succeed in his new country, Murad embarked on the long road of becoming a licensed Engineer in Training in Ontario while undertaking a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering. 

Murad’s perseverance had him work through a variety of resource and programs.  He was eventually referred to Ryerson University’s Internationally Educated Engineers Qualification Bridging (IEEQB) Program where he fulfilled the licensing requirements of the Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) and received his Engineer in Training license.  This is also where Murad learned about Professions North/Nord (PNN).

Having registered for PNN’s first Speed Networking Event on September 26, 2012 in Toronto, Murad got to learn all about Northern Ontario from its community representatives.  At this networking event, he met and interviewed with representatives of Bombardier Transportation from Thunder Bay.  A month later, Murad was contacted about an opportunity with the company.  This set in motion a series of interviews and tests as well as a visit to Thunder Bay before he received an official job offer.  In December 2012, Murad was proud to announce that he started his new position as an Electrical Manufacturing Manager with Bombardier Transportation.

Relocating to Northern Ontario does not mean having to leave everything behind.  Murad was thrilled to find that he would be able to continue his Master’s studies and his research at Lakehead University.  Murad is settling in well in his new home and enjoying what the North has to offer.  According to him: “Thunder Bay has been very welcoming, and people at Bombardier have been very friendly and helpful.  I found new running trails that I am beginning to fall in love with”.

We wish Murad great success in his new position in Thunder Bay.