In the Field Newsletter Volume 41

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OCASI In the Field
Volume 41
Message from the Executive Director

Debbie DouglasThe Refugees are Coming… Are we ready?

Less than three weeks ago there was a collective exhale by Canadians as election results began to roll in from coast to coast to coast. It felt like a shrugging off of an old, too heavy winter coat as warm spring weather arrived. There was a sense of renewal; of possibilities. Almost a month since that fateful election night and the sense of optimism, of renewal, of change is still in the air.

Read more here

OCASI Member Feature

CLEO's New Online Resource: Steps in a Family Law Case

CLEO - Community Legal Education OntarioThree interactive flowcharts help people understand and work through the family law process:

  • Before you start, takes people through the opening stages, including issues families need to think about and ways to resolve their issues
  • As an Applicant in a family court case
  • As a Respondent in a family court case

Each box links to detailed information on what the law requires at that stage in the process. People are also directed to all the relevant family law rules and forms, as well as practical online guides. A glossary defines difficult legal terms and concepts, such as filing, issuing and serving documents.

Visit www.cleo.on.ca to view Steps in a Family Law Case.


OCASI Happenings

OCASI Priorities For The New Government

OCASI offers assistance as a civil society partner to the new Government of Canada, to address government and sector priorities in immigration and refugee protection, immigrant settlement and refugee resettlement. Read more for OCASI letters to Prime Minister Trudeau and to John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

Read more here


Debbie Douglas interview on CBC

OCASI Executive Director Debbie Douglas was interviewed on 'The Current' on CBC radio on Thursday November 12,2015, about how the immigrant and refugee-serving sector is preparing for the arrival of Syrian refugees.

Click here for the interview


Record Number of Settlement.Org Users Access Information on Voting

Settlement.Org received a record number of visits on Election Day, October 19, 2015. About 32,000 people visited Settlement.Org. Of those visitors, 21,295 ​came to the site to read A Guide to Voting in Canada's Federal Election.​

Read more here


Call For Volunteers: PSI Champions

Positive Spaces Initiative - OCASIOCASI is on a search to identify regional Champions for our Positive Spaces Initiative (PSI)! A Champion is a person who is actively engaged in their community, working for the inclusion and human rights of LGBTQ+ immigrants and refugees.

Read more here


Sector Happenings

Eye See...Eye Learn

Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) program Eye See…Eye Learn® provides comprehensive eye exams, covered by OHIP, to Junior Kindergarten students across Ontario and free eyeglasses to children who need it. The program runs till June 30, 2016. Information is available in 16 languages.

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Brown Canada 2020 Summit

Poster of Brown Canada 2020 SummitHosted by Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA), the summit will focus on the experience of South Asians in Canada and a future plan to address community needs on themes: Health, Economic Justice, Immigration & Settlement, and Education.

December 11, 2015 | 9am - 4pm | York University, Toronto.

Read more here


The Peel Newcomer Profile:

Peel Newcomer Strategy Group has developed a new online tool aimed to strengthen planning and outreach through data.

Read more here


Coalition for Migrant Workers Rights - Canada

The new national Coalition for Migrant Workers Rights - Canada (CMWRC) was launched on October 27. The Coalition launched MoVE, a campaign for Mobility, Voice and Equality for migrant workers, to call for permanent immigration status on arrival.

Read more here


Detention and Deportation: Strategies for Frontline Workers

An informative and interactive Forum by Rights of Non-Status Women Network, to learn about detention and deportation. Thursday November 19th from 2-5pm at the Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work, University of Toronto, @ 246 Bloor St W (Near St. George Subway Station). Non-student cost $5.

Please RSVP here as spaces are limited


National Housing Day - Toronto

Poster of Housing National DayOn June 25th, 2015, the Supreme Court refused to hear a Charter challenge holding governments responsible for the crisis in affordable housing and homelessness. The courts refuse to hear the people, but the people will be heard! Join the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario and the Right to Housing Coalition in Toronto for a march and People's Assembly on Friday November 20th to mark National Housing Day!‎

Read more here