Toronto-area man lauded for three decades of work to protect immigrants

TORONTO , Jan. 11 /CNW/ - The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants shined its member spotlight on Keith Frank today in recognition of his three exceptional decades of work to protect prospective immigrants to Canada .

"When Keith Frank started in the immigration consulting field it was like the wild west. Prospective immigrants were at the mercy of people that were often more interested in making a quick buck than providing a quality service," said John Ryan , Chair and Acting CEO, CSIC. "It was especially tragic because these people were in a very vulnerable position. Today consumers of immigration consulting services have an assurance of quality service and Mr. Frank played an instrumental role in making that happen."

From the start of his career in the late 1970s Mr. Frank set an example for his peers by providing services with the highest level of professionalism and expertise, but he knew that wasn't enough. Mr. Frank took on numerous leadership positions to promote a culture of strong customer service in the field while encouraging the government to regulate the profession.

In 2004 his hard work paid off when the Federal government introduced the regulation of the immigration consulting profession, and as a result immigrants who use consulting services enjoy extensive protections.

Today Mr. Frank continues to set high standards of professionalism at his firm, Keith Frank Immigration Services, and he continues to push the industry forward as Ontario president of the Canadian Migration Institute.

"I am honoured to be recognized for my work to protect prospective Canadians from the unethical consultants that were all too common just a decade ago," said Frank.

CSIC's member spotlight was created to highlight prominent members of the immigration consulting community, focusing on their achievement and contributions to the immigration consulting profession. The recipient of the member spotlight is nominated by CSIC members.

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Photo of Keith Frank available upon request

The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants is the professional regulatory body for immigration consultants in Canada . Established in 2004 it currently has over 1600 members. CSIC's mandate is to protect consumers of immigration consulting services. Consequently, it is responsible for ensuring the education, competency testing and the discipline of its members. CSIC also requires its members to carry errors and omissions insurance and to contribute to a compensation fund.

For further information: Nancy Tibbo, [phone], Toll free: 1-866-308-CSIC (2252), [email protected], http://www.csic-scci.ca