A big boost for immigrants - Recognizing credentials helps newcomers, eases skills shortage

For Palestinian-born Mohamed Hamouda, his training as an electrical engineer is about more than just a job title.

Much more.

"It is my passion. That's my life," said the married Hamilton man and father of five. "I have spent all of my life doing it and I really want to do it again."

But Hamouda, who worked in his trade for 14 years in Dubai before coming here two years ago, can't work in his chosen profession here. He needs more training to do the job in Canada.

So Hamouda, 40, is studying small business and entrepreneurship at Mohawk in hopes of one day running his own grocery store. But he yearns to return to electrical engineering.

He might get the chance yet.