Newcomer Information and Support Organizations
Ottawa, Ontario
prepared by David McNicoll, English Conversation Group - March 2024
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Organizations Notes
Organizations Notes
The major official entry site
Apply to travel, study, work or immigrate to Canada, apply for citizenship, a permanent resident card or refugee protection, check the status of your application or find a form.
Find information about Canada's foreign policy, trade agreements, development work and more.
Global Affairs Canada manages Canada’s diplomatic relations, provides consular services to Canadians, promotes the country’s international trade, and leads Canada’s international development and humanitarian assistance.
Services to help integrate newcomers and refugees, supports not-for-profit community organizations and promotes greater social inclusion, community engagement and recognition among all Ontarians.
Find a settlement agency in your community, get help sponsoring refugees and find an interpreter for domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking victims.
Referral settlement services: including ESL, LINC, Refugees (English, French), Helpline (referrals to Ontario’s community, social, health-related and government services)
Referral services (including settlement): Immigration & Citizenship, Health, Employment, Education, daily life in Ottawa
and area
Various services for immigrants arriving in the Outaouais region (includes Gatineau across the river from Ottawa)
Immigrating to Ottawa
Visitors to Ottawa: Events and attractions (e.g. Arts, heritage and culture; Recreation and parks; “Spotlight” is a Guide to what events are happening in Ottawa
Settlement and integration services, volunteer and employment opportunities (newsletter)
Settlement support: Services to support newcomers from various cultural, ethnic and linguistic backgrounds who are now making their home in the Ottawa area.
Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO) exists to provide immigrant and racialized women and their families in the City of Ottawa and the surrounding area with the supports and tools to achieve their full potential as members of Canadian society and participate in the elimination of all forms of abuse against women and children.
A non-profit, non-partisan, charitable organization committed to the full social and economic integration and participation of newcomers, immigrants, refugees, and people of Chinese descent in the City of Ottawa.
Programs and services: temporary accommodations, education, employment, health, immigration documents, and improve your English
Many services are offered to Newcomers to Ottawa, including English Conversation sessions at various branches. Get a free library card with an Ottawa address (or get a smart card through an Ottawa University); also check out 'browse' and 'programs and events' for matters of interest. A large site (eg. Active reading, PressReader and 'Mango' Languages)
The Family Reception Centre welcomes families new to Canada... We advocate for each student so that their diverse educational and academic needs can be met. In addition, our multicultural liaison officer(s) provide relevant settlement information
Home tutoring for Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) eligible adult immigrants who cannot attend regular English programs
Music, theatre, dance etc. - some products may be free
General adult literacy and essential skills programs (one-on-one)
Helping refugees to build new lives in Ottawa. Settlement information even on your phone. (includes an Arabic-language WhatsApp group)
Employment and Newcomer services. A first stop with free information and referral services
A site to find legal services in the Ottawa region. (Immigration and Refugees Law, Human Rights). Improving access to justice for linguistic minorities
Newcomers: Providing holistic services that promote the health and social well-being of refugees and immigrants. The centre encompasses three different programs; the Ottawa Newcomer Clinic, Multicultural Health Navigator and Ottawa Language Access. Download A Guide to Health and Social Services
Webservice to help find health and social, community services in the general Ottawa area (including walk-in clinics)
Services include; Emotional support and encouragement, Crisis management and intervention, Suicide risk assessment and prevention, and Community resource/referral information We are your local connection to mental health support and resources, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
A general overview of the National Capital Region (Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Québec - Canada)
PAND Settlement Services is a registered charity organization providing linguistically appropriate pre-arrival and post-arrival mentorship, settlement, training, and support services and programs to bridge the gap between Immigration and Employment for newcomers to the Ottawa Region.
A francophone organization offering a range of services to improve the quality of life for citizens of Ottawa-Vanier and its surroundings, including family, legal and employment services.
The Family Welcome Centre helps newcomer families register their children for school in Grades 1 to 12 and settle into the Ottawa Catholic school community. We can help you whether you’re a permanent resident, refugee, Canadian citizen, diplomat or in Canada on a study or work permit
To help you find a group with similar interests to yours. A social platform with dozens of groups
Newcomers’ economic integration. Help immigrants incorporate into the workforce through employment competency building, job search training and support, cultural competency building and language training
The LearningHUB is a free, online Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) program for English-speaking adults living in Ontario
Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre is an innovative, community-based, multi-service centre. Services include health, social and economic services
General community services towards the settlement and integration of newcomers selecting Ottawa as their residential
Voice of Business in Ottawa, includes networking, a newsletter, but $ to join
Volunteer Ottawa offers a listing of organizations that look for volunteers. Thus a site for Newcomers to Ottawa to look to volunteer with an organization they are interested in as they improve their English
Duolingo offers an online way to learn a language (eg. English). Free but with ads.
If you are a permanent resident or a protected person, you can take language classes funded by the government of Canada.
Ottawa Toastmasters Club offers “a mutually supportive and encouraging environment to develop and hone public speaking, presentation, evaluation and leadership skills.” Membership based but one can attend three meetings for free.
ELLLO is a free English as a Second Language site. Easy to use.
Algonquin College: “Skills For Success” (get hired quickly with free office administration training) Free course for women. Must have strong communication skills in English, both verbal and written. Apply twice a year.
English Conversation Group (Please check the List of Conversation Circles page)
A place where newcomers to the Ottawa - Gatineau region who wish to improve their English conversation skills chat with local volunteers to improve their conversational English
Online conversations, each Wednesday at 7:00 pm and again at 7:45 pm. For Zoom information contact Heidi Roukema at <heidi.roukema (at) gmail.com>
In-person conversations, every Monday evening from 7:00 pm til 8:30 pm at Saint Paul University, 223 Main Street, Guigues Hall, Room G1139 (on the ground floor). Enter from Main Street, go down one floor, then straight ahead to Room G1139. For information on the status of in-person conversations Ashwin Shingadia <ashwin (at) ashidor.ca>
Note that you must replace (at) with @ for the address to work (bot mitigation)
The Somali Centre for Family Services has been serving the Somali community in the Ottawa area since 1991. We provide assistance to refugees, and to immigrants in need of settlement support and integration services. In addition, our friendly and professional staff is here to answer any questions you may have about our services.
Everyone deserves a safe home and haven. In more than 70 countries, LGBTQI+ communities are criminalized. Alongside state or police actions against LGBTQI+ people, sexual and gender minorities often face unimaginable human rights violations perpetrated by families, institutions and communities.
Capital Rainbow Refuge is a registered non-profit organization founded in 2010 to support and sponsor LGBTQI+ refugees. Through volunteer-led sponsor groups, advocacy, community building and outreach, we help LGBTQI+ refugees and newcomers arrive and thrive in Eastern Ontario.
Matthew House Ottawa proudly offers two essential programs: our in-demand Furniture Bank and wraparound Refugee Services.
Carty House
As the only house dedicated to refugee women in Ottawa, Carty House provides a first home and a helping hand to refugee women in need in the Ottawa area. We assist them in pursuing their claims and adjusting to their new life in Canada. Carty House not only provides them housing, but also the various supports and resources that each woman needs to rebuild her life in her new home country.
The Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership (OLIP) is a multi-sectoral partnership involving 80 local organizations working on a shared vision and common priorities designed to build local capacity to attract, settle, and integrate immigrants in five sectors:
Education;
Economic Integration;
Health and Wellbeing;
Language; and
Socio-Civic Integration.
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