It is late Spring, feeling and looking like summer, a few days after I returned to Ontario after being away for a week on vacation in Jamaica (yes, I voted in the advance poll!). I came home to a province of mixed political and emotional sentiments - A Progressive Conservative majority government which some find concerning, wondering and worrying if the public policies and programs that they’ve worked so hard and long to bring to fruition will be done away with.
KEYS Job Centre has launched a Refugee Women's Mentoring Network in English, French and Arabic to connect refugee women to the community. The new program will support newcomer women to make community connections and develop relationships to combat professional and social isolation. Women have unique opportunities to collaborate with one another and explore gender-specific issues and concerns.
Here are a few ideas for the new Ontario government to get started on ensuring the province gets all the benefits of immigration while making sure refugees, immigrants and migrants can thrive in their new lives in our communities.
Want to showcase your community start-up or business, or showcase your programs as an OCASI member agency? Submit a description of your business or program with the subject line "Vendor call" to edforum2018@ocasi.org.
OCASI souhaite mettre en valeur de nouvelles entreprises et de petites entreprises communautaires ainsi que des programmes de ses organismes membres. Si vous ou votre organisme, vous avez des initiatives qui correspondent à de telles catégories, veuillez soumettre une description de votre entreprise ou de votre programme. Envoyez votre demande à edforum2018@ocasi.org
We are delighted to feature a story from Dawit Beyene, former OCASI staff and prior to that a representative of an OCASI member agency. Read Dawit’s recollections and send us your own.
OCASI presents new peer champions from across Ontario for the Immigrant and Refugee Communities – Neighbours, Friends and Families Campaign. Peer Champions advocate ending violence against women in their communities. You can support their efforts by hosting Peer-Champion organized events in your agency and by promoting events in your community. Together we can end violence against women in Ontario.
Mental health providers in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal are sought to participate in interviews, for a study to develop best mental health practices for forced migrants. They would like to interview mental health providers serving any of the following groups: 1) The LGBTQ+ community; or 2) Forced migrants/refugees; or 3) LGBTQ+ individuals who are also forced migrants/refugees.
View or listen to recording of a powerful panel discussion on Sanctuary City and Human Rights by City of Ajax on May 31, 2018. Featuring panelists Dr. Graham Hudson – Associate Professor & Undergraduate Program Director, Ryerson University, Mercedes Lee – Organizer, No One Is Illegal Toronto and Syed Hussan – Coordinator, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.
FFTW assists newcomers by providing information in English and Arabic online on Canadian agricultural practices, starting a farm and selling food in Ontario, regulations regarding work and food safety, and legal information regarding land transactions and leasing through recorded webinars. The award winning program was developed originally to integrate Syrian refugees settling in Ontario with food and agricultural jobs and entrepreneurship.
World Refugee day is marked every year on June 20 to commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees. Check out Waterloo Region events organized by the Immigration Partnership Waterloo Region, Ottawa events organized by Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership. Contact UNHCR Canada to have your event added to their calendar.
