A new public relations certificate program offered through Continuing Studies is opening employment doors for recent immigrants, who are “especially suited for the public relations field,” says Shanthi Besso, SFU program coordinator. “They are able to bridge communities, cultures, countries and languages, but are just missing a skills gap in terms of their English language ability,” says Besso, adding that graduates have been getting work almost immediately. The 14-week course couples hands-on instruction from Canadian public relations experts with advanced English training and workplace-skills development. The program is free for qualified applicants under a labour-market agreement between the provincial and federal governments and features a three-week full-time practicum at a Vancouver-based organization. For more information, visit http://at.sfu.ca/GZWysY or phone 778-782-7925.