Upgrading.. how does it work?

I think in this instance "upgrading" refers to attending classes and clinicals in a Canadian undergraduate program. In Alberta, the substantively-equivalent competencies assessment identifies areas of a person's education and/or experience where upgrading is needed and provides assistance in obtaining it. You're correct that you wouldn't be admitted to the specialty programs at BCIT or anywhere else without active registration as an RN. That's one of the requirements for applicants. And for you to be eligible for registration you will need to be registered in the country where you were educated, pass the CRNE, get your 250 hours of supervised practice with a Canadian employer and then be registered with CRNBC. No short cuts.

Someone in your position has limited options, I'm afraid. Interim permits are given to applicants who satisfy all the requirements for licensure but have not yet writen the CRNE. The permit allows one to work in the capacity of a graduate nurse. With an interim permit you might be able to obtain a job with a hospital in their new graduate initiative, if there is such a thing. That would give you the hands-on practical experience you need, satisfy the supervised work criterion and get your foot in the door. How easy that will be is hard to say. I suspect it will be rather difficult, since the local nursing education programs are all graduating this year's class right about now and they will have first refusal of any available positions. Look at the regional authority website careers sections and look specifically for "new graduates" in the postings then apply to any or all of them that attract your interest. It will probably take many weeks for anything to come out of your efforts, so be prepared for that. Wish I had more encouraging information...

RGN1, I know the CARNA application is confusing. The expectation for registered nurses is that they have worked a minimum of 1125 hours over the preceeding 5 years ( I work more than that EVERY year, but there are many who don't) as a measure of continuing competency. But if you read their website about initial registration they say they'll accept new grads from other countries without experience:

"Practice Requirements

• You must have completed within the past five years (not including the current year)
  • 1,125 hours of registered nursing practice
    or
    
  • a nursing degree or a nursing program that is approved by the CARNA Registrar"

And your interpretation of that first qualifier is the same as mine... NOT including the current year. As you say, they accepted things the way you submitted them so it's all good!

Here in Alberta the collective agreement signed by both the United Nurses of Alberta and the Health Services Bargaining Commission contains a section on a Transitional Graduate Nurse Recruitment Program that everyone heralded as a great tool that would be advantageous to all parties. Each health region is to create a specified number of positions for new graduates each year (Calgary has 340 and Capital Health 350) with no fewer than 75% full time positions and no position less than 70% FTE. Funding for the program comes directly fromthe Alberta government. These positions are to be supernumary, meaning the person filling the position is not counted in the staffing numbers and therefore is there to learn and develop their skills, working under supervison and being paid for their time. At the end of their year, they would be required to apply for vacant positions of no less than 50% FTE. Great plan, right?

In practice, very few hospitals or units have availed themselves of this opportunity. Instead they hire new grads directly into positions where they don't get the support and nurturing they need to really get their feet under them, and then they leave. My unit is really bad for this. We're SO short-staffed that they hire anyone who interviews well, give them a poorly-organized orientation then throw them to the sharks. Because we have to have every body on the schedule working an assignment. Because we have no flex in our system. The only ones who stay are the ones who catch on quickly to new concepts and skills, who take responsibility for their learning and are stubborn. The rest leave within a year or two. Three more of last year's new crop are leaving in the next few weeks. It's such a waste of talent, time and money.