This short month with the longest day in the year is unfolding with a packed legislative and policy agenda at all levels of government. From the City of Toronto (where OCASI’s offices are located) to Queen’s Park to Parliament Hill, announcements from our elected leaders have been raining down from on high: Most of it good.
June 24 - 25, 2017 - K-W Multicultural Centre will host the 50th Annual Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Festival. It will be the biggest celebration of multiculturalism in Canada that Waterloo Region has ever seen.
OCASI has produced an infographic summarizing the first phase of the Refugee Settlement Support Project. See results and recommendations regarding the impact of a high number of (Syrian) refugees arriving in Ontario in a short timeframe, and upcoming topics for the project's Best Practices Webinar Series.
Do you want culturally relevant awareness materials on domestic violence? OCASI has developed the #SafeAndLovedAtHome Card Series for the Immigrant and Refugee Communities Neighbours Friends and Families Campaign. Each card showcases a different type of abuse, and opens up to show more information and resources. To order FREE #SafeAndLovedAtHome materials, please click here to fill out the order form.
On May 25th, 2017 OCASI received the David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility, in recognition of it’s Accessibility Initiative. The award, "recognizes Ontarians who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to improving accessibility for people with disabilities."
OCASI is deeply disturbed by the rise in hate crimes in 2015, particularly the rise in Islamophobia and targeting of Muslim and Arab residents, as reported in a recent Statistics Canada report. OCASIcalls on the federal government to act to end hate crimes in Canada.
OCASI is accepting session proposals in English and French for our 2017 Professional Development Conference. The Conference is meant for frontline workers, coordinators, and managers from OCASI member agencies and other immigrant service organizations in Ontario. Submission deadline is June 23rd, 2017.
Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic today launched its new name, logo, and province-wide toll free number to provide a free legal service for low income, non-English speaking Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian residents in Ontario. The re-named Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic (CSALC) can be reached through the toll-free number 1-844-971-9674.
Grants Ontario is accepting applications for the Newcomer Settlement Program (NSP), which supports the settlement and integration of newcomers to Ontario through the provision of targeted services. Applications can be submitted to two funding streams - Settlement and Integration Services, and Newcomer Youth Settlement and Integration Services. Deadline is 4:00 pm on July 18, 2017.
Welcoming Ottawa Week (WOW) 2017 will be held on June 20-30, 2017. WOW is an annual, week-long series of dialogues, cultural and celebratory events, sports activities, documentary screenings, and other fun events designed to convey the genuine welcome and hospitality of Ottawa to newcomers. It provides opportunities for quality interactions among residents, long-term and new.
Ever wonder how far social conservatives will go to restrict the inputs of sector experts and trash immigrants for partisan gain? Read about one person's experience with a parliamentary committee tasked with studying immigration to the Atlantic.
A community based comic book project created by the Kwentong Bayan Collective in close collaboration with caregivers, advocates and community allies, about real life stories of Filipin@ and Filipinx migrant caregivers who work under Canada's Caregiver Program. The comic book is meant to be an accessible resource to highlight the realities caregivers experience.
Women and girls are disproportionately affected by poverty, discrimination, violence, and their work is often undervalued. Ontario Minister of the Status of Women is consulting the public on economic empowerment of women and girls. Read the discussion paper and share your feedback. Complete the online survey.
