2024 arrived amid the echoes of war for land and the richness it holds, in the various diasporas here in Ontario and across the country. From Palestine (Gaza) to Sudan; and Congo to Ukraine many of our communities here in our cities and towns are engaged in some discussion, debate, protest, anguish and fear for their loved ones caught in the violent power play of capital and its unrelenting greed.
Newcomers’ Health and Well-Being Program - Walk-in Service
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) branch for York Region and South Simcoe has launched two new walk-in clinics to support new Canadians. The program offers free mental health and primary care services, including immediate in-person support, for newcomers 12 years of age or older in York Region and South Simcoe who have physical and mental health concerns.
OCASI is proud to celebrate Debbie Douglas, OCASI Executive Director’s appointment to the Order of Canada, “For advancing principles of equity and inclusion in the Canadian immigration system as a leading policy expert and community activist.”
SBLROs Resource Hub for your IRCC CFP 2024 Application
Check out the SBLROs list of workshop recordings, templates and tools addressing Proposal Writing, Community-based Programming, Financial Management, HR & Volunteer Management and Governance for your IRCC CFP 2024 Application and your agency’s organizational capacity building.
Submit an Expression of Interest! Adapting and Implementing an Anti-Racism Anti-Oppression Policy
OCASI invites eligible member agencies to submit an Expression of Interest to adapt and implement an Anti-Racism Anti-Oppression Policy at their organization using OCASI's recently released ARAO Policy Toolkit. We will provide strategic support to two IRCC funded service provider organizations to undertake the ARAO adaptation between March - September 2024. For more information, please visit OCASI's GBA Plus webpage.
La notion de dignité pour les personnes immigrantes au Canada
Initiative Espaces Positifs (IEP) de l’OCASI vous invite à un webinar jeudi le 15 février 2024 de 12h à 13h avec Mamane Samri pour échanger et discuter de la notion de dignité pour les personnes immigrantes au Canada.
Espaces positifs pour les nouveaux arrivants LGBTQIA+ Niveau 2 Hiver 2024
Initiative Espaces Positifs (IEP) de l’OCASI est heureuse d’ouvrir les inscriptions pour la session d’hiver 2024 pour le cours IEP niveau 2. Il s'agit d'un cours en ligne gratuit et autodirigé qui se déroulera entre le 15 janvier et le 11 février 2024. Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant : bit.ly/3sTwLGR.
OCASI Anti-Racism Anti-Oppression Policy
OCASI has launched a new Anti-Racism Anti-Oppression (ARAO) Policy together with an implementation guide and glossary of terms. You can download the kit from our website. We invite you to add your ARAO policy to our online resource library on our website. Contact policyevents@ocasi.org.
OCASI’s Professional Development Conference on October 26-27, 2023 was a tremendous success. Featuring keynotes by Kimahli Powell and Gabriel Allahdua, conversation with Minister Marc Miller, and lively panel discussions. View recordings on OCASI’s YouTube channel, playlist: 2023 OCASI Professional Development Conference / Colloque de perfectionnement.
OCASI Client Management System (OCMS)
Are you looking for a client management system that works well for your agency? Try OCMS! Please watch the OCMS video. We are proud of our work and our clients. To join our growing list of clients contact us at ocmssupport@ocasi.org.
SECTOR HAPPENINGS
iHEAL: A New App Helping Women cope with Partner Violence
The free, private and secure iHEAL app helps women who have experienced abuse from a current or past partner to find personalized ways to stay safe and be well. Service providers can introduce the iHEAL app to women as a resource to use on their own or walk through the app (or parts of it) with women.
A new educational resource created by and with survivors to increase awareness and understanding of conversion practices and the new Canadian law that bans them. Canada has made progress towards protecting rights for queer, trans, and Two-Spirit people. But systemic, organized, and sustained efforts remain, that change, deny, or suppress 2SLGBTQ+ people’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation is committed to building a national framework for the fight against racism through knowledge sharing and community supports in the pursuit of equity, fairness, social justice and systemic change. Apply to be a board member online via the Governor in Council Appointments website until January 16, 2024.
2026 Census of Population Dissemination Consultation
Statistics Canada is conducting a public consultation on the 2026 Census of Population Dissemination starting January 9, 2024, to March 31, 2024. We encourage you to participate in this online consultation and invite you to forward information about it to other census data users.
Consultation sur la diffusion des données du Recensement de la population de 2026
Statistique Canada mène une consultation publique sur la diffusion des données du Recensement de la population de 2026 à compter du 9 janvier 2024 au 31 mars 2024. Nous vous encourageons à participer à cette consultation en ligne et à transmettre les renseignements sur la consultation à d’autres utilisateurs des données du recensement.
Canadian Women’s Foundation Community Needs Grants
This grant provides short-term support for organizations doing gender justice work, with a focus on smaller grassroots organizations, to meet a range of immediate needs. Applicants can apply for funds to cover existing program costs, pilot new projects, advocacy initiatives, organizational capacity-building, professional development, build networks or cover core operational and administrative costs. Deadline Thursday, February 16, 2024, 4:00 pm ET.
WESP aims to promote women’s economic security by increasing income and labour force participation for low-income women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals who identify as women in Ontario through training delivery. Training is based on community-identified needs and address labour market gaps in sectors where women have historically been underrepresented. Deadline January 26, 2024 at 5pm Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Send a message to your elected officials to request they take immediate action on addressing the affordable housing crisis in Ontario, particularly in partnership with the non-profit housing sector. They can adopt the 7 recommendations contained in this action plan, developed by United Ways across Ontario, developed in collaboration with non-profit sector partners and consultations with non-profit housing leaders.
Provincial Nominee Program: Recent trends and provincial differences in earnings outcomes
This paper released by Statistics Canada in December 2023 updates national-level research on the earnings patterns of provincial nominees and, for the first time, provides provincial comparisons.
