086: Windmill Microlending and stimulation of Canadian Economy‪?‬ Canadian Immigration Podcast

What this episode is about?
Nobody comes to Canada with expectation of not being successful. Immigration to a new country, however, often puts newcomers into unfortunate circumstances. Too many immigrants are unable to fulfill their potential because their professional certification is not valid in Canada. Getting certified in Canada is challenging to the absolute majority of newcomers, as it requires significant financial resources. Financial challenges are aggravated by the fact that newcomers often have low credit scores in Canada and thus are subject to terrible interest rates for their loans. 
Well, there is a solution to this "no money - no certification, no certification - no money" loop!
Windmill provides microloans of up to $15,000 to skilled immigrants and refugees so they can succeed in their careers. They support clients to obtain the Canadian licensing or training required to work in their field, or to secure a position which matches their level of education, skills, and experience. Their loans can pay for exams, training, assessments, books and materials, living allowance, relocation costs, professional association fees, and other expenses related to advancing their career.
Thanks to these loans newcomers are included in the labor market in Canada and can compete for high wage jobs fully applying their foreign experience and knowledge. Higher wages mean higher taxes. As a result newcomers pay higher taxes and spend their hard-earned money in Canada thus stimulating economy. 
About today’s guest of the Canadian Immigration Podcast
Paula Calderon
National Director, Client Success
Originally from Colombia, Paula has spent her career leading workforce development projects that support the economic integration of newcomers to Canada. In the past, she pioneered ESL programs, worked on paid internship programs and oversaw various employment services and bridging programs supporting internationally trained professionals. She has also worked as a professor in the Career Development Practitioner program at George Brown College, has served as a mentor to newcomers and is the former President of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Colombian Professional Association. In 2018, Paula completed the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunity program and became an Aspen Institute Economic Opportunity Fellow.
You can reach out to Paula via:
LinkedIn: Windmill Microlending Twitter: @windmillcanada Facebook: Windmill Microlending Contact Windmill Microlending: 1-855-423-2262, windmillmicrolending.org
 
About the host of the Canadian Immigration Podcast Mark Holthe is a Canadian Immigration Lawyer based in Lethbridge, Alberta. He has started his legal career with a large national law firm in Calgary where he initiated the business immigration practice at the firm. Since those early days, he has had the opportunity to work in a wide variety of law firm configurations before finally realizing that the best place for him was within the confines of an immigration boutique firm of his own making.
As a Canadian immigration lawyer, Mark has particular experience in assisting clients with all aspects of Canadian immigration law. He assists large national and multinational companies in navigating the complex world of Canadian immigration and provides strategic immigration advice to international and domestic companies seeking to recruit and retain foreign skilled and semi-skilled personnel.
Mark also assists temporary foreign workers with their transition to permanent resident status in Canada and over the past few years, he has taken great satisfaction in helping individuals and families with their various immigration related needs. Mark finds no greater satisfaction than helping to facilitate the reunification of families.
While attending law school, Mark worked as an Immigration officer for Citizenship and Immigration Canada on the Alberta/Montana border. While completing his final year of law school, he worked as a