Toronto Opens Filipino-Led Practice Hub for Internationally Educated Nurses
A new hub in Toronto, jointly opened by the Filipino IENs Society of Canada and CRD College, offers internationally educated nurses a permanent space to refresh clinical skills and access mentorship. Its next workshop, IEN Nursing Skills Essentials, is set for October 17.
A new practice hub for internationally educated nurses (IENs) has opened in Toronto, giving Filipino and other internationally trained nurses a permanent place to refresh their skills and connect with mentors. The Hub Space for IENs, located at 3678 Bathurst St., Unit 310, near Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue in North York, is a joint project of the Filipino IENs Society of Canada and CRD College of Health Care.
"The importance of this hub space for IENs is this is a safe space and a supportive space for all IENs," said Mark Gravoso, founder of the Filipino IENs Society of Canada. He said the hub serves nurses preparing for the Canadian workforce, those sharpening their skills, and those seeking extra certifications, especially IENs who have been out of practice and want to rebuild their confidence.
Grace Lanceta, director of CRD College, said the space is intended for micro-trainings, including for personal support workers (PSWs) who want to advance, as well as skills training for nurses. She noted that Canadian nurses who were once IENs themselves now mentor newcomers trying to enter the health-care workforce, and that many IENs contribute through volunteer work.
Gravoso, who arrived in Canada in 2017 and navigated the registration process himself, said the lack of Canadian work experience remains one of the biggest challenges for IENs, alongside credential recognition and financial responsibilities. The hub, open on weekdays except Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., hosts workshops and training sessions led by mentors and IEN facilitators, with its IEN Nursing Skills Essentials workshop scheduled for October 17.
Key facts
- The Hub Space for IENs, a joint project of the Filipino IENs Society of Canada and CRD College of Health Care, is located at 3678 Bathurst St., Unit 310, in the Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue area of North York, Toronto.
- The hub provides clinical skills practice, mentorship from Canadian nurses who were themselves IENs, and learning resources for nurses returning to practice after years away.
- The hub is open on weekdays except Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with its next workshop, IEN Nursing Skills Essentials, scheduled for October 17.
- Founder Mark Gravoso, who arrived in Canada in 2017, said IENs often struggle with credential recognition, unfamiliar registration requirements, financial responsibilities, and a lack of Canadian work experience.
Official sources
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