Dial 2-1-1. Our helpline is answered by real people 24/7 and service is available in 150+ languages.
Toll Free: 1-800-265-7294 ext 4819
Fax: 519-787-8241
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- orientation programs, language and skills training to help facilitate employment, and programs to welcome newcomers to the community
- needs and eligibility assessment and referrals
- consumer and community information
- orientation to local community
- assistance to access a range of settlement services
- finding and completing forms and applications
- advice on banking, shopping, managing a household and other everyday tasks
- interpreters or translators if needed
- non-therapeutic counselling
- initial employment counselling, such as job search skills, resume writing, interview skills and career goal setting and planning
- accessing professional and essential services (such as doctors, lawyers and schools)
- registering for language training
- finding a place to live
- driver training information
Toll Free Phone: 1-800-282-4505
Fax: 519-763-8125
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- settlement counselling and orientation:
- information and referral
- assistance with government benefits application
- assessment of English language skills
- referral to English language instruction
Settlement Workers in Schools Program (SWIS) -- provides settlement support to newcomer families in schools during the school year (Sep-Jun). Settlement workers connect with newcomer students and families. One-on-one and group settings. Provide settlement-related information for successful integration * services are available to all UGDSB and WCDSB schools.
Coordinated Language Assessment and Referral Services (CLARS) -- Eligibility screening, language skills assessment and referral to government-funded English language programs including Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), LINC Home Study, English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, Enhanced Language Training (ELT), Occupation-Specific Language Training (OSLT), and Specialized Language Training (SLT).
Translation and Interpretation Program Services (TIPS) -- services for individuals and organizations
Employment Counselling Services -- assistance with resumés and job search, employment training including Canadian workplace culture, computer skills, and worker health and safety information.
Programs and Groups:
- income tax clinics, income tax information sessions
- Orientation to Ontario Workshop
- English conversation circles
- one-on-one conversation practice
- Women's Group
- Seniors' groups
Commissioner of Oaths
TTY: 1-800-926-9105
Toll Free: 1-800-206-7218
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- Completing forms and documents
- Personal and family settlement process
- Immigration and legal issues
- Employment and education
- Interpretation and translation
- Canadian life and culture
- Information, advisement and support
- Access to programs and services
- Cultural Diversity Program
- Language Interpretation
- English Language Assessment and Referral Services
- Settlement Services
- Employment Resource Centre
- Language Interpretation
- English Language Assessment and Referral Centre
Coordinated Language Assessment and Referral Centre
- Eligibility screening, language skills assessment and referral to government-funded English language programs including Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), LINC Home Study, English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, Enhanced Language Training (ELT), Occupation-Specific Language Training (OSLT), and Specialized Language Training (SLT)
Toll Free Phone: 1-800-265-7294 ext 4819
Fax: 519-787-8241
TTY: 1-800-855-0511
Visit Website
Settlement Program (formerly Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program) -- services to enable immigrants and refugees to integrate into Canadian society including:
- orientation programs, language and skills training to help facilitate employment, and programs to welcome newcomers to the community
- needs and eligibility assessment and referrals
- consumer and community information
- orientation to local community
- assistance to access a range of settlement services
Settlement Services provides assistance with the following:
- finding and completing forms and applications
- advice on banking, shopping, managing a household and other everyday tasks
- interpreters or translators if needed
- non-therapeutic counselling
- initial employment counselling, such as job search skills, resume writing, interview skills and career goal setting and planning
- accessing professional and essential services (such as doctors, lawyers and schools)
- registering for language training
- finding a place to live
- driver training information
- Completing forms and documents
- Personal and family settlement process
- Immigration and legal issues
- Employment and education
- Interpretation and translation
- Canadian life and culture
- Information, advisement and support
- Access to programs and services
TTY: 1-800-926-9105
Toll Free: 1-800-206-7218
Visit Website
- Levant Soccer Club
- Steps Dance Club
- Community Dabke Group
- Refugee Sponsorship
- Levant's Annual Cultural Event
- And more
- Assistance for all stages of the refugee claim process
- Accompaniment and support for meeting settlement needs
- providing assistance with the refugee claim process
- accessing a network of settlement supports
- advocating for a fair and just environment for refugees in Canada
Reception House Waterloo Region is a community-based organization that provides a warm welcome to government-assisted refugees (GARs) through a number of programs and services designed to make their new life in Canada a success. These programs and services assist refugees throughout their settlement and integration process, allowing them to lead healthy and productive lives in their new community. Reception House provides:
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Fax: 519-742-2415
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- Clubs and after-school activities
- Connect to school staff
- Homework and academic supports
- Information and Mothers' groups
- Referrals to important community resources
- Rights and responsibilities
- School registration
- Youth-related issues
- Cultural Diversity Program
- Language Interpretation
- English Language Assessment and Referral Services
- Settlement Services
- Employment Resource Centre
- Language Interpretation
- English Language Assessment and Referral Centre
Coordinated Language Assessment and Referral Centre
- Eligibility screening, language skills assessment and referral to government-funded English language programs including Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), LINC Home Study, English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, Enhanced Language Training (ELT), Occupation-Specific Language Training (OSLT), and Specialized Language Training (SLT)
- International Development
- International Humanitarian Aid
- Emergency Relief Shipments
- Refugee Resettlement
Successful integration is a two way process that requires adjustments for both newcomers and the community; settlement workers work closely with other agencies, businesses and all levels of government to ensure this happens.
Assists clients with issues they are encountering in adapting to their new home and ensuring that agency services are accessible to them regardless of how long they have been in Canada. Offers settlement services in-house and throughout the community.
Many of the Settlement Counsellors work out of branches of both the Waterloo and Kitchener Public Libraries to better reach the community.
Provides students and their families new to Canada, with guidance and support as they become familiar with the Region of Halton, and their new school environment
Services offered include:
- Math and language assessments for students
- Access to community services and resources for parents
- Access to the Youth Settlement Program
- Interpretation Services
Locations:
- Halton North (Milton), 2800 High Point Dr, Suite 212, 905-693-0623
- Halton South (Oakville), 255 Morden Road, 905-847-5113
This listing gives an overview of services to assist newcomers to Canada, and is an index to related listings in this directory
- for comprehensive information, please see the Halton Newcomer InfoPod here
DRIVER'S LICENCE:
A newcomer to Ontario can use a valid licence from another province, state or country for 60 days
- after 60 days, a newcomer must switch to an Ontario driver's licence
- for more information on driver's licences for newcomers, see Ministry of Transportation website here
- to apply for an Ontario driver's licence, go to a Drivetest Centre (for locations, see full listings here)
HEALTH INSURANCE:
Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) provides publicly-funded health care for residents of Ontario
- for more information, see separate listing here
- to apply for OHIP, go to a ServiceOntario Service Counter (for locations, see full listings here)
Interim Federal Health Program provides limited, temporary coverage of health-care benefits for specific groups of people in Canada who do not have provincial, territorial, or private health-care coverage
- for more information, see Government of Canada website here
IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP:
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada facilitates the arrival of immigrants, provides protection to refugees, and offers programming to help newcomers settle in Canada
- also grants citizenship and issues travel documents (such as passports) to Canadians
- for more information, see Government of Canada website here
Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship test is used by newcomers to study for the citizenship test
- the publication is available here to read online, listen to, or download
- a free print copy can be ordered online or by calling 1-888-567-7183
- also available to borrow at some library locations
INFORMATION AND REFERRAL FOR NEWCOMERS
For Community Information Centres throughout Halton that maintain information about the full range of human services and which function as the primary source of information about and linkage to human service providers in the community, see here
- for help in languages other than English, dial 2-1-1 to reach 211 Ontario, which uses data from the Halton Community Services Directory and has live translation services in more than 150 languages
Settlement.org website
INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION:
For a list of organizations that may provide this service, see here
- may be a fee for document translation
LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION - ESL, FSL AND LINC:
Programs that offer opportunities to learn listening, speaking, reading and writing skills with an emphasis on developing the level of communication competence that is essential for adults who are living in a setting in which English or French is the primary language
- for more information, see separate listing here
NEWCOMER SETTLEMENT SERVICES:
Free services for newcomers to Canada are funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to provide advice and help on:
- looking for a job
- getting a language assessment
- registering for language classes
- finding a place to live
- signing children up for school
- learning about community services
Available in Burlington, Halton Hills, Oakville, Milton and surrounding areas
The program offers assistance in accessing a wide range of settlement services including:
- orientation programs, language and skills training to help facilitate employment and programs to welcome newcomers to the community
- needs assessments along with information and referral to community services
- short term adjustment counselling
- assistance with education, health care, housing
- assistance with citizenship applications and citizenship test preparation
- job search and employment counselling as well as assistance to establish social and professional networks to promote community engagement
- interpretation and translation
- cultural competency training available for local agencies to ensure they have the tools and training to work with a variety of cultures