Searching for Refugees

COVID-19 (November 10, 2021): Provincial and legal aid offices closed to the public. Services still offered by phone. Visit the website for latest service updates.

Provides eligible clients with a certificate that covers the cost of hiring a lawyer to deal with serious types of civil or criminal cases

• helps with separation and child custody, but not divorce
• lawyers may or may not accept Legal Aid certificates

Services

• criminal legal issues
• domestic violence
• family legal issues
• mental health issues
• refugee and immigration legal issues
• legal clinics

Offers support to immigrants, refugees and other newcomers through the following services:

Immigration & Settlement Services

• Orientation to life in Canada
• Information & referrals to local and government services
• Support in obtaining Canadian identity documents
• Support with elementary and secondary school registration and orientation
• Support in resolving vulnerable immigration situations and family reunification
• Support with Canadian citizenship applications
• Free certified language assessment and referrals to language program

Community Connections

• Visits to Canadian cultural & heritage sites
• Social events for newcomers and the broader community
• Social groups for women and youth

Settlement Program -- orientation programs, language and skills training to help facilitate employment, and programs to welcome newcomers to the community

• may provide needs and eligibility assessments, pre- and post-arrival information and referral, job search and employment counselling, assistance to establish social and professional networks to promote community engagement, and assistance to access a range of settlement services

Settlement Program (formerly Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program)

Orientation and Adaptation Services

• Needs assessment and Information and referral to community and social services
• support with finding housing, child care, registering children in school and health care
• community support through volunteer befriending, conversation circles to practice English or French
• help with connecting to language classes

Citizenship Preparation

• courses
• tests and activities to help newcomers prepare for the citizenship test

Employment Counselling and Preparation

• Bridging Services-- connects skilled or internationally trained professional newcomers to employment with job placements, mentorship, volunteering and networking connections in their preferred fields

Job Search Centre

• walk-in job search centre
• access to computers, Internet, fax, photocopier, telephone
• staff assistance available
• resource materials
• job boards
• labour market information

Job Search Preparation and Training

• developing strong job search strategies and workplace communication skills

Employment Counselling

• resume help
• job readiness clinic
• employment counselling
• skills and career development and help in establishing social and professional networks

Other settlement services
Settlement Workers in Schools

• assists newcomer students and their families with settling into schools and the community
• outreach program based in elementary and secondary schools from mid-August to end of June

Provides settlement services and direct assistance to new Canadians living in Peterborough and the surrounding area.

Assistance includes:

• orientation to the community and help accessing local services such as housing resources, credit counselling, schools and adult English classes
• assistance filling out government forms
• income tax return assistance
• individual and group supportive counselling
• employment assistance including help with resume, cover letter writing, job search guidance, networking with local employers
• high-speed internet access for clients

Community Connection Program - offers group activities for newly arrived immigrants and refugees of all ages to help orient them to their new community and establish social and professional networks * trained volunteer mentors assist newcomers with a focus on citizenship and civic engagement or skills and career development

Language Assessment Centre - offers assessment of English language skills for settlement-based language training program or referral to community-based training

Settlement Workers in Schools Program (SWIS) - provides settlement services for children and families through schools

Peterborough Welcome Pass - offers discounted or free admission to local cultural attractions * valid for one year from time of sign up

Web resource designed to welcome, attract and retain newcomers, international students and immigrant entrepreneurs to the Peterborough area. Provides information and news about migrating to and getting settled in Peterborough, including:

• profile of the Peterborough community
• immigrating to Canada and pre-arrival
• local settlement resources and services
• housing, transportation, health, children's services, government, food and shopping, personal finance and seniors services
• labour market, job search resources and entrepreneurship support
• language training, education, foreign credential recognition, apprenticeships and skilled trades

COVID19 - Services are available in person, by phone, email or video conferencing * for settlement services call the Welcome Centre Communication Centre at ­1-877-761-1155


Assists newcomers to Canada

• supports newly arrived immigrants in Canada
• information and referral for immigrants - immigration documentation, economic, social, health, cultural, educational, income supports, housing supports, and recreational services in Durham Region
• assist with government application
• help with information on banking, shopping, everyday tasks
• employment supports, learn job search skills
• non-therapeutic counselling
• services are free, confidential and culturally sensitive

COVID19 - for settlement services call the Welcome Centre Communication Centre at ­1-877-761-1155


Guidance and information about settlement and orientation to immigrants and refugees

Information and referrals regarding:

• immigration, employment, social assistance, transportation, and legal services
• childcare and health care
• language classes
• housing - Landlord-tenant issues
• education - finding and enrolling in schools, other training programs, and credential assessment
• housing search information
• supportive counselling, problem solving

Assistance and guidance on:

• filling out government forms
• commissioner of oaths for original documents
• affidavits, travel consents, and letters of invitation assistance
• applying for various types of ID such as OHIP, Driver's Licence
• setting appointments, such as for doctors, court, government agencies
• understanding documents and referrals to translation services

COVID19 - for settlement services call the Welcome Centre Communication Centre at ­1-877-761-1155


Information and group programs to introduce newcomers and their children to schools in Ontario

COVID19 - Offering in-person by appointment only * staff are still available to support you by phone, email or video where possible * call the Welcome Centre Communication Centre at 1-877-761-1155 to book or re-book an appointment or for any other information



Welcome Centre for refugees, immigrants and newcomers to Durham Region

Settlement and Orientation Services

• assistance with housing, health care
• assistance with Government applications
• Social Insurance Numbers
• community and government resources
• child care, basic needs

Language Instruction and Assessment

• English classes with computer aided instruction
• childminding and transportation allowance for eligible candidates

Accreditation and Qualifications Information

• accreditation information, assistance and information for internationally trained professionals
• accreditation portfolio assistance and action plans

Employment Related Services

• Job Search Workshops, resume assistance
• return to work action plans, job search resources
• free internet and fax services

Language Supports

• translation and interpretation services

Resource Area

• access to computers with Internet, wifi
• fax machine, photocopiers, scanners, telephones and webcams/headphones

Tax Preparation Assistance

• Income tax clinic during tax season

Self Filing Tax Program

• free coaching and support
• connects you to a volunteer for one-on-one support
• volunteers answer questions and review return before filing
• FREE Turbo Tax software - special version that will not ask you to sign up for
  upgrades
• how-to-videos and guides

Other Services

• Other services determined based on needs (such as legal services, mental health services, culturally-appropriate family counselling, youth services, newcomer women Entrepeneur, digital literacy, volunteer program)

Settlement and Orientation Services

• assistance with housing, health care
• Social Insurance Numbers
• community and government resources
• child care, basic needs

Language Instruction and Assessment

• English classes with computer aided instruction
• childminding and transportation allowance for eligible candidates

Accreditation and Qualifications Information

• accreditation information
• assistance and information for internationally trained professionals
• accreditation portfolio assistance and action plans

Employment Related Services

• job search workshops
• mentoring, networking
• resume assistance
• return to work action plans
• job search resources
• free internet and access to computers

Language Supports

• translation and interpretation services

Resource Area

• access to computers with Internet, wifi
• photocopiers, scanners
• telephones
• webcams/headphones

Tax Preparation Assistance

• income tax clinic during tax season

Other Services

• other services determined based on needs (such as legal services, mental health services, culturally-appropriate family counselling)

Community Connections Mentorship Program -- supervised group activities for newcomer children, youth and young adults to help orient them to their new community and establish social and professional networks

• assistance from peer and professional mentors, with focus on citizenship and civic engagement or skills and career development

Settlement services for newcomers to assist them to integrate and to provide guidance with day to day needs including education, healthcare, housing, immigration and employment

May provide:

• needs assessments and referrals
• post-arrival settlement information
• assistance to establish social and professional networks to promote community engagement
• assistance in filling out government forms
• citizenship test preparation
• assistance with permanent residency renewal, citizenship application and sponsorship applications
• assistance to access a range of settlement services
• individual tax filing assistance (seasonal)

Individual and group settlement assistance including

• case management
• information and referrals
• form filling, interpretation and translation assistance

Community and support services

• information and referrals, and settlement services
• supportive counselling
• employment and job search assistance
• legal information, assistance applying for benefits, and year round tax clinic
• youth tutoring and homework club, student mentoring programs
• senior community involvement programs
• interpretation service for Tamil community, including accompaniment to appointments
• health education, community outreach
• social and recreation events and activities

COVID19

• all services are provided in-person, by phone, and online; walk-ins are welcome
• all workshops offered on-line

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Settlement Services

• needs assessment, information and referral, supportive counselling
• information on employment, citizenship and immigration, education and housing, financial literacy
• support to file forms
• group sessions including English and French conversation groups, citizenship preparation sessions, computer training, career networking, parenting
• walk-in services, free access to computers and Internet, free fax to local numbers

Community Service Program for women including group or one-on-one settlement counselling

• activities to build social networks and break isolation
• short term skills training for employment such as cashier, retail customer service, sewing, or food handling
• workshops series such as chronic pain management, how to manage diabetes, nutrition (healthy eating) programs

Services at other locations -- itinerant settlement counselling services, Library Settlement Program at several locations in Scarborough

All offices are open; services are offered in person by appointment and remotely over the phone and by Zoom

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Settlement Services

• assessments and referrals
• supportive counselling for youth, families and women
• wellbeing and crisis counselling; employment counselling
• sessions on topics such as housing, education, health care, social assistance, legal assistance, citizenship, professional licensing and job search

Participates in LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) in English, upon assessment by YMCA of Greater Toronto -- see separate entry

• classes from Literacy to Level CLB 7
• full-time and part-time classes available
• blended hybrid service delivery
• childminding for toddler and preschool child while parents attend full-time classes

Youth Programs

• after school programs for newcomer youth including Homework Club, arts and crafts and Youth Engagement Group
• summer camp

Seniors Service (NHSP and SCSP)

• increases social participation and inclusion of seniors in their communities
• activities led by seniors' leadership groups brought together from the local community
• activities include physical and mental wellness sessions such as yoga, Zumba, arts and gardening basic computer skillls workshops and information sessions on topics including government benefits and filing taxes

Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP)

• free seasonal income tax clinic for newcomers with low incomes

COVID19 -- Travel considerations affecting immigration and refugees:
www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19.html

Information, application forms and assistance on citizenship and immigration programs, including Permanent Resident Card

Administers Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) -- ensures health services for refugees, protected persons and refugee claimants not yet covered by provincial health care

• information for clients, information for health care providers can be found here: www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre

Medical service providers that already accept IFHP:
ifhp-pfsi.medavie.bluecross.ca/en/search-ifhp-providers

Report suspected citizenship fraud -- call the Client Support Centre and follow the options, or email IRCC.CitizenshipFraudTips-Fraudedecitoyennete.IRCC@cic.gc.ca

Report suspicious immigration activity -- call the Canada Border Services Agency Border Watch Toll-free Line at 1-888-502-9060

Human trafficking hotline -- 1-833-900-1010

Refugee claims -- forms available on website and may be submitted online

For any application, appointments may be offered at

• 325 Milner Ave, Suite 200, Scarborough
• 3085 Glen Erin Drive, Mississauga
• 5343 Dundas St W, Ste 105, Etobicoke

COVID19 -- Services available online and in-person; no appointment required for in-person services


Services to help and support immigrants begin their new lives in Canada

Settlement Information and Referral

• information on topics such as essential government documents and benefits, immigration and citizenship, employment and job search, access to trades and professions, foreign credential assessment, education and training, language classes, health and housing, community, recreation and consumer resources, human rights, legal and social services, child, youth and family resources, food, shelter, and clothing
• settlement information sessions in various locations
• monthly webinars
• guest speaker series
• Newcomer Network
• access to computers, fax, photocopiers, and phone; computer area
• settlement resource library
• English conversation circle

Newcomer Youth Services -- youth-focused settlement information and referral

• Newcomer Youth Leadership Development -- youth learn about their community, gain volunteer hours, build leadership, language, communication and social skills
• workshops and activities for parents and youth

Refugees can connect with health care providers who deliver transitional health care and services, including primary care, specialist care and mental health supports. Transitional care includes initial assessments, care and referrals to other health services.

Service is not for emergencies.

Health care providers can participate in offering services by calling the service.

Settlement services for immigrants and refugees

• individual, family and youth counselling
• information and referral, housing search assistance
• assistance with government forms, translation and intrepretation
• refugee settlement information and assistance
• youth outreach, volunteer opportunities
• employment consulting, assistance with resumes and interview skills, employment mentoring, employment workshops

COVID19

• all services provided by phone, online, or in-person
• LINC classes offered hybrid and in-person

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Provides settlement services to newcomers

Participates in LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) in English, upon assessment by YMCA of Greater Toronto -- see separate entry; transportation and child minding available

Family Literacy Program -- language and age-appropriate family reading resources through a lending library

• activities to encourage and reinforce family language learning

Newcomer orientation and welcoming supports to assist with settlement process, including workshops, mentorship and volunteer opportunities, mental health education and support, homework help and educational supports, and recreation and sports activities and outings

Orientation Communities
Includes information on mental health services, and social skills training for youth and their families

Welcoming Communities
Includes support, skills and training

• youth leadership and mentoring training
• homework help and educational supports to develop employment skills
• information and integration support
• workshops on topics such as communication and social skills, cross-cultural and diversity skills, and public transit navigation

Training available to service providers, youth in schools, and community agencies on various mental health and settlement topics