Searching for Refugees

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

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

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

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

Accreditation Qualifications and Information Services -- information and help for international professionals to develop plans to obtain professional recognition * one-on-one confidential interviews, group information sessions, individualized action plan,
cross-cultural information, referral to interpretation services or document translation

Strategic Consulting Services -- identify service gaps within the community and develop program responses to fill needs

Newcomer Services -- settlement services provided through various Welcome Centre Immigrant Services offices (see separate entries)

Child care and Ontario EarlyON program (see separate entries)

Newcomer and settlement program

• Assessment and referral to government and community resources
• Information and orientation
• Community connections

Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) -- assist newcomer families to integrate into their school and community

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.

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

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

This program extends the Welcome Centre settlement services to newcomer clients living in Simcoe County. Services provided in the Welcome Centre system are mirrored and supplied to outreach locations through mobile delivery.

Assists individuals in gathering information and resources and provides support in a welcoming and culturally sensitive manner.

Clients are encouraged to develop a one-to-one trusting relationship with staff, while accessing all the services they require to help integrate economically and socially into their local communities.

Also supports volunteer led English Conversation Circles, where participants practice English skills and meet other newcomers in their community (at certain locations).

Core immigrant services include:

• settlement services
• employment services
• accreditation and qualification information assistance
• English language skills
• other supports to connect newcomers with local services

Serves clients by individual appointments at various locations and can deliver to other areas in Simcoe County throughout the week based on request.

English language assessment done in partnership with Achēv Language Services.

All services are currently being provided virtually.

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

COVID19 -- in person services have resumed


Information and Orientation Services -- settlement services for newcomers who have been in Canada for less than 4 years, including landed immigrants, Convention refugees and foreign-born Canadian citizens

• orientation, information sessions, supportive counselling
• information and referral including housing, access to community resources
• employment assessment and preparation, job fairs, computer with free Internet access
• advocacy, interpretation
• English conversation classes
• participates in LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) in English, upon assessment by YMCA of Greater Toronto -- see separate entry; care for newcomer children -- childminding for parents attending sessions

Newcomer Settlement Program

• volunteer recruitment and training
• outreach, advocacy
• cultural activities

Violence Against Women

• individual and family counselling for assaulted women and children
• support group for abused women, educational workshops
• assists victims of domestic violence who are at risk of abuse
• domestic violence prevention workshops

Men Make a Difference -- culturally appropriate group sessions to learn techniques for developing healthy relationships, resolve conflict, and cope with anger

Seniors Services

• recreational activities
• support groups for isolated Afghan senior women
• assistance accessing community resources