The rallying cry for Labour Day 2019 in Ontario was ‘Unite Against Racism’. The slogan and sentiment meant to acknowledge the troubling rise in white supremacy and xenophobia across the province and the country signaled a coming together of progressive forces to combat this scourge that has a material impact on the lives of Black, Indigenous and people of colour, including racialized (im)migrants and refugees.
The Unemployed Help Centre of Windsor reduces hunger through its Plentiful Harvest Food Rescue Program. The Program rescues fresh, frozen and prepared food for packaging and redistribution to many other food banks in Ontario including in Thunder Bay, Waterloo Region, Sarnia, and Mississauga. Food is donated by farmers, grocery stores, retailers, restaurants and banquet halls.
Work with immigrants and refugees? Register today for the #OCASI 2019 Professional Development Conference - “Building Ontario’s Future Together: Innovation & Solidarity”, Oct 17-18 in Toronto. Connect with 200+ immigrant + refugee service professionals from across Ontario, network, learn, share. Featuring keynote speaker Angela Robertson, activist working with black, women’s, LGBTQ and low-income communities, Executive Director of Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre.
OCASI aimerait partager un calendrier trimestriel de nos cous en ligne afin d’anticiper les ressources francophones disponibles. Nous offrons plusieurs formations en français à partir de notre site web www.learnatwork.ca. Cette plateforme offre aux travailleurs d’établissement accès à maintes ressources qui accroit le développement professionnel tout en favorisant l’apprentissage continu à la convenance de nos participants.
Fondements du travail d’établissement niveau 2 - inscriptions ouvertes
OCASI viens de mettre fin à notre formation en ligne Fondements du travail d’établissement en Ontario NIVEAU 1. Les inscriptions au NIVEAU 2 sont ouvertes ! Veuillez-vous y inscrire ici. Cette formation aide les prestataires de services à comprendre les principaux défis sociaux et interpersonnels auxquels les nouveaux arrivants font face. Sachez qu’il n'est pas nécessaire d'avoir accompli le NIVEAU 1 avant de prendre cette formation.
Need to streamline client information for your agency? Generate reports quickly and easily? Meet last-minute funder changes in reporting? Discover how by watching the OCMS video or sign up for a webinar. OCASI Client Management System was developed by the sector for the sector, and is exclusively user-fee supported. Contact Elena Trapeznikova elena@ocasi.org or (416) 322-4950 ext. 241
Apply for PET Funds
Is your organization funded by IRCC? If yes, you are eligible to receive professional development funds of upto a maximum of $2,500 for group training for your staff through the OCASI Professional Education and Training Program (PET). Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen capacity and improve services. Apply today! Contact: Beverly Lawrence-Dennis Tel: 416-3224950, ext. 238 or email: blawrence@ocasi.org
Learn how to support Women with Precarious Immigration Status
Sign up for our online course on Race, Gendered Violence and the Rights of Women with Precarious Immigration Status. Learn about the unique barriers faced by women with precarious status who are living with abuse, and Access Without Fear policies. Course starts September 16. Bought to you through the OCASI Initiative to End Gender-Based Violence. Contact Sidrah Ahmad-Chan at smahmad@ocasi.org.
SECTOR HAPPENINGS
We All Belong Labour’s Commitment to Refugees
Come out to this discussion focused on the contributions of refugees in Canada and our role in welcoming refugees. 5-9 pm, Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St E, Toronto. Speakers Hassan Yussuf, President Canadian Labour Congress; Debbie Douglas, Executive Director OCASI; Daniele Zanotti, President United Way Greater Toronto; Kara Manso, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change. Community discussion. Food. Please RSVP - space is limited.
Election 2019: How to disarm anti-immigration rhetoric
An excellent and timely piece of interest to the immigrant and refugee-serving sector, by Ricardo Tranjan in the CCPA Monitor, by Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. This short and easy-to-read piece provides economic data on immigrants’ employment, education levels, and income sources.
Webinar: The Housing Situation of Canada's Refugees
On September 24, 2019 Rachel Shan, Senior Analyst - Economics, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will present findings from the 2016 Census and Immigrant Landing File on the housing situation of recent refugees, along with an overview of factors that may correlate with greater housing need among refugees. Evidence shows that housing is a key social determinant of mental health.
Department of Canadian Heritage has launched a Call For Proposals under the Anti-Racism Action Program (ARAP) for capacity building initiatives to address barriers to employment, justice and social participation among Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities and religious minorities. Deadline is December 17, 2019.
Le ministère du Patrimoine canadien lance un appel a proposition de financement pour le nouveau Programme d'action et de lutte contre le racisme, qui financera des projets visant à éliminer les obstacles à l'emploi, à la justice et à la participation sociale parmi les peuples autochtones, les communautés racisées et les minorités religieuses. La date limite est le 17 décembre 2019.
On September 1st federally regulated workers - in jobs like trucking, rail and air transportation, banking, and telecommunications gained 5 days of personal leave, 3 of them paid, as well as fairer scheduling rules and protections against lowering wages and benefits after contract flipping. Equal pay for equal work will be introduced in 2020. Almost 1 million workers will benefit.
Charities Directorate of Canada Revenue Agency has launched a new, online registration platform for charities. The new Charities IT Modernization Project, “CHAMP” replaces paper applications and reports. It is expected to ease the administrative burden for new applicants to register a charity under the Income Tax Act, and for existing charities to file Charity Information Return and update information online.
UK Indicators of Integration framework 2019
The UK government has developed an Indicators of Integration framework with a range of stakeholders, including migrants themselves. The framework is intended to be a resource for integration practitioners at all levels, offering a common language for understanding, planning, monitoring and measuring integration, and supporting better and more tailored integration services.
Sign up for our online course on Race, Gendered Violence and the Rights of Women with Precarious Immigration Status. Learn about the unique barriers faced by women with precarious status who are living with abuse, and Access Without Fear policies. Course starts September 16. Bought to you through the OCASI Initiative to End Gender-Based Violence. Contact Sidrah Ahmad-Chan at 
