Important info about Criminal Background Check in Canada

Here is a message I sent to our partners and independent reps about a potential major roadblock for Canadian applicants who want to teach in Korea due to some changes to the criminal background check issuing rules:

Hello,

I just wanted to let you know that this morning I received an email from a company we work with in Canada that provides background checks.  They let me know that as of November 25th, local police agencies are no longer supposed to issue background checks and that basically all background checks should be processed through the RCMP with fingerprints.  The RCMP check is said to take about 120-180 days (4-6 months).  Obviously, that has a major impact on any applicants in Canada.

He advised me that the agencies involved are trying to fight the change to allow local agencies and private companies access to doing the checks.  This is a major source of revenue for local police services as noted in this article:

http://www.communitypress.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2211978

Anyhow, at this point, technically, a local police department can still easily type in a name and DOB into the CPIC database, get the results, and print out a background check locally. It seems as though it is taking some time for this rule to trickle down to all local police departments, so it may be a window of opportunity for teachers to get the CBC done quickly.  But, if this does result in a change across the country, then we may see it take 4-6 months to get a background check which may really cut down on the number of viable Canadian applicants as how many people will actually wait that long and then not change their mind? 

We are of course hoping that this will not remain for long, but if you have a look at the RCMP site about processing times, it makes me embarrassed to be a Canadian:

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/time-temp-eng.htm

They say that they've noticed a massive increase in the number of requests over the last 7 years! Yup, years, not months...you'd think that someone would say, "hey, it's been 7 years now, maybe we should make some adjustments." Then they go on to say that they are working on a project to increase the processing time but that it will take "another few years."  Wow!  How can we possibly be so inefficient? 

So, if this does change, we are going to have a bit of a mess on our hands for Canadians. 

Just wanted to give you the heads-up on this. If you are Canadian, get your background check done asap!

Jason

Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Veggies, and Pumpkin Pie and more. Very Limited Space

Need we say more? If you missed out on getting some home-style turkey for Thanksgiving, don't let this opportunity pass you by. We are currently getting ready for our Annual Christmas Party. This year, we are starting off right at Chef Meili's in Itaewon. We have reserved the entire restaurant.

For those who don't know, Chef Meili is an Austrian Chef with is own restaurant and deli in Itaewon, just behind Gecko's. They serve amazing food and the atmosphere makes it feel like you are back home enjoying Christmas dinner with your family and friends at someone's house.

Chef Meili is booking the place for us on Saturday, December 19th and preparing a special turkey dinner with all of the fixings for us. Since we are taking the whole place, we'll be doing it earlier in the day, just like Christmas Dinner usually gets started back home. We will meet there at 4:30pm, get settled, and have a relaxing dining experience till about 6pm. After that, we are going to head the 20 steps down the street to the Wolfhound Pub. Wayne and our friends there are preparing a little special for us and he'll be letting us know what it is soon.

So, there are only about 40 spots available for the turkey dinner and it is first paid/first in. I would assume that we will be full before the next couple of days are up, so if you want turkey, get you and your crew together quickly and send off payment. 

Treat yourself this Christmas as this will be one of your only chances to get your hands on homes-style cooking with a great group of friends. A meal like this at a hotel around Seoul would be around the 70,000 won range, but Chef Meili is putting it on for us for 35,000 won again this year. (for anyone who wasn't there, Chef Meili catered for us last year and I think everyone fell in love) 

OK...enough blabbing, here is what to do to reserve your spot: 

Since spots are really, really limited, we are taking reservations on a first-paid, first in basis. 

Step 1

Send 35,000 won to this account via bank teller and be sure that your name goes through as well:

KB Bank (Kookmin Bank)
Brant Kim
921601-01-099-701

Step 2

Send an email confirmation to jason@asknow.ca with your name, date of payment, and amount of payment. If you are more than one person in your group, please all pay together and send all names that are in your group in one email. We will confirm payment and confirm your seat. Subject: Christmas Party Payment

Refunds? Sorry...please be sure you can make it. If something comes up and you can't, you can send someone in your place, but once payment is made, we can't refund.

That's about it! If you are only able to make it to the Wolfhound, then we will be arriving there between 6-6:30pm. 

Gather your group, get the payment sent off, and send me the confirmation email as soon as you can. It's going to be a great start to a fun night!

Jason and the ASK Now-ETO Team