Resources
(Updated September 12, 2016)
Here at OCRA, we’ve used the resources below to learn more about refugee resettlement in Ottawa and Canada. Use them to educate yourself and recruit your own networks.
All documents are in the public domain and are provided for information only. (Where documents are starred * an Arabic translation is listed below.)
- Mazigh M. Syria: Land of history, civilizations and war. Can Comm Dis Rep 2016;42-Supp 2:S1-2 English French
- Cultural Orientation Resource Centre – Refugees from Syria
- CTV news Q&A about how Canada’s private refugee sponsorship program works
- Ottawa Citizen refugee primer
- CBC primer on where to donate your resources and time
- Update on accepted and arrived newcomers in the Syrian project
- Refugees Helping Refugees
- Health and Well-being of Syrians 2015 – A report by the United National High Commission on Refugees
- Women and Islam: Myth and Reality – Reading list from a course at the Ottawa School of Theology and Spirituality
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Women refugees – why might they hesitate to leave the house? See an informative website.For more information, download the detailed report.
- From Aura for Refugees, a refugee assistance group sponsored by the Anglican Diocese of Toronto:
- Lifeline Syria – Checklists for arrival and first two weeks.
- Sample household startup list
- My Refugee Computers is volunteer group of Ottawa-based IT professionals who are collecting and refurbishing computers to provide to refugee families free of charge.
- The Ottawa Public Library has 33 branches and nearly 4,000 individual books, movies and tapes available in Arabic. Membership is free with proof of address and includes free wifi, use of computers and printers, video and audio equipment, loans of passes to museums, etc. For a full description of OPL offerings, see OPL overview
- Al-Akhbar, a weekly Arabic newspaper that reports events in Lebanon and the Arab world, as well as news on Middle-Eastern communities in Canada and the United States.
- Guide to exchanging refugee drivers license for Syrian newcomers
- Canada’s Food Guide
- In My Neighbourhood An interactive map showing the location of many community services. It includes schools, libraries, cultural centres, parks, recreational facilities, social services, emergency services hospitals and other.
- Living in Ontario Day to Day – Excellent overview of life in Ontario. Very inclusive. Much is available in *Arabic.
- Banking – CIBC Syrian Refugee banking program. This service is free. Ask your local branch.
- Education – Overview from Settlement.org.
- Food – Ottawa’s Muslim Link newspaper has an online directory with 20 categories including food. Non-halal food at low prices is also sold at Giant Tiger, dollar stores and Food Basics, among others.
- Syrian cooking by Gwinha Alameen. Includes recipes for newcomers and hosts, and comprehensive grocery lists.
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Syrian Grocery List by Gwinha Alameen
- Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization – webpage on education, including document and immunization requirements, age requirements for attending school, links for the four local school boards, a description of public education system, list of adult high schools and English/French language schools and the postsecondary schools in the region.
- School Supply List – grades 1 – 3 and 4 – 8 This is a complete list of requirements of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. Other school boards may have different requirements.
- Lifeline Syria handbook
- How an internationally trained person can get certified in non-health trade or profession – There are live ‘webinars’ noted on this site.
- How skilled newcomers can get their license or certificate in their profession or trade.
Get up to date information on how money works in Canada. Systems in other countries operate differently.
- Canadian Coins
- Exchange Rates
- Newcomer Finances Toolkit provides useful information for sponsors and newcomers.
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The financial section of Welcome to Canada provides both overview and detailed information.
- Hampers for Syrian Families Now accept/supply clothing, kitchen kits, baby hampers and more. Contact Mauretta at 613 323 3361
- Capital Welcomes – Clothing drop box is beside security desk at 350 Sparks; check Facebook page for sorting events on Sundays.
- Furniture Bank of Ottawa – Contact Andrea for an appointment date and time at 613.240.6680.
- Helping with Furniture (HWF) – Volunteer-run charitable organization that delivers gently used furniture and household items to people restarting their lives in Ottawa after fleeing situations of hardship.
- Salvation Army – Offers low-cost furnishings and clothing to all at low prices.
- St. Vincent de Paul – Offers low-cost furnishings and clothing to all at low prices.
- Value Village – A for-profit global thrift retailer. Their prices are often equivalent to non-profit prices.
- City of Ottawa page that explains the city’s services to immigrants: http://ottawa.ca/en/immigration/living/government-services
- Community Sponsorship Information Booklet
- Filing Income Tax Returns The Canada Revenue Agency’s website has full information.
- Welcome to Canada – What You Should Know
- Glossary of federal government terms
- Refugee Tracking Statistics
- Check application processing times
- Private Sponsorship of Refugees background Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
- Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees
- Private Sponsorship Application Guide
- In Canada Processing (IP3) Part One – General Processing of Refugees
- In Canada Processing (IP3) Part Two – Refugee Assistance Program
- Government resources on the Blended-Visa Office Referred (BVOR) program *
- How to sponsor a refugee – video
- Free Dental Screening clinics, by Ottawa Public Health.
- Refugee Health Toolkit (2015-2016)_v1
- Information on the Interim Federal Health Program, including application forms and information for health care providers.
- Various health service partners who have set up primary care hubs in Ottawa to serve the large influx of Syrian refugees. These hubs will serve as primary care locations for PSRs, as well as GARs, where initial medical assessments and screenings will take place. To obtain an appointment at one of the hubs, call Ottawa Newcomer Health Centre at 613-691-0192. The following information will be requested in order to schedule appointments:
- – Name and date of birth of all PSRs
- – Permanent address and phone number of PSRs (if available)
- – Language(s) of the PSRs
- – List of any health concerns
- – Whether or not an on-going primary health care provider has been arranged
The PCHs will be responsible for initial assessments and screenings and starting the immunization process for all clients. Some PCHs will be able to accept PSRs as on-going clients of their centre. However, if hubs have reached capacity and cannot accept more new clients, refugees will need to arrange for on-going primary care provider elsewhere in the community. ONHC will support clients, sponsors, and service providers find on-going primary care providers for refugees. PCHs will maintain medical records and will arrange for file transfer, if and when appropriate.
- Need someone to talk to? The “Walk-In Counselling Clinic” offers services in Arabic Thursdays from 11:00 – 5:00, at OCISO, 959 Wellington Street West. The walk-in sessions are free to all members of the community, with no restrictions based on age or location/address and no need for an appointment. For a description of services go tohttp://walkincounselling.com/
- OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) Health care options for Syrian Refugees
- Overview by Settlement.org.
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) provides a Newcomer’s Guide to Housing. See here for both English and Arabic.
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Tenants’ Rights Renters are protected under Ontario’s Human Rights Codes. Useful for Resource people regarding guarantors, credit and background checks, damage deposits, etc.
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Coop Housing – low rent, lots of community participation, some large units, long waiting list.
- Basic expressions in Syrian and English
- Directory of Language Programs in Ottawa
- English Conversation on Tuesday’s 5-7pm at Sunnyside Library.
- In My Language – Provides multilingual information for newcomer(s) in Ontario, including information about immigration, housing, work, health, education, legal matters and daily life in 11 different languages. Arabic* is one of the languages used.
- ELTOC provides ESL tutoring services to newcomers (permanent residents and refugees) who are unable to attend regular ESL classes offered in the community. Click www.eltoc.ca/ for more information
- Learning English – Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC). This ESL program provides basic English language instruction to eligible adult newcomers (immigrants and those to whom Canada intends to grant permanent resident status) to facilitate their social, cultural and economic integration into society. Language classes are also available in French.
- Refugee 613 Interpretation and Translation services
The Refugee Sponsorship Support Program trains lawyers to assist groups seeking to privately sponsor refugees.
- Catholic Centre for Immigrants – CCI Ottawa has provided reception and settlement services since 1954.
- Jewish Immigrant Aid Services – JIAS is the oldest chartered not-for-profit settlement organization in Canada.
- Jewish Family Services – JFS is a full service, non-sectarian agency serving residents of the greater Ottawa area.
- Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization – OCISO has been providing comprehensive settlement and integration services to the Ottawa community since 1978.
- Employment services for immigrants – This service helps teachers find work.
- Lifeline Syria (Toronto) – Lifeline Syria recruits, trains and assists sponsor groups.
- YMCA/YWCA – This organization helps with job, language and newcomer services.
- Refugee Sponsorship Training Program overview – This program addresses the initial information needs of sponsored refugees.
- RTSP Handbook for Sponsoring Groups
- RSTP tip sheet – For filling out application forms for community sponsors
- CRR settlement plan – A resource to share with other groups
- LS Sponsor Handbook February 2016 – Contains comprehensive information on a variety of topics, including education, training, employment, health, rental agreements, etc.*
- Settlement.Org: Information newcomers can trust* – This Ontario guide provides useful information for newcomers and their sponsors. Select information is available in Arabic. Published by Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants.
- Guide to exchanging refugee drivers license
- OC Transpo is the region-wide public transportation system. Routes, maps and fares are found on their website.
- Ottawa-Gatineau cycling maps
- How much does it cost to drive a car? The Canadian Automobile Association has a calculator to help figure that out.
- How to change an out-of-country driver’s license for an Ontario license. Overview – Newcomers and Ontario Driver’s Licenses
- Drivers License information-> “Out of country” license conversion
- G1 (Beginner’s) License (with language options):
- Canada’s Food Guide – Arabic language
- *ﻟﻣﺳﺎﻋدة ﻓﻲ Blended visa-office referral information sheet – (Arabic)
- Lifeline Syria sponsorship handbook – (Select Arabic in the drop-down menu on the right)
- Settlement.Org: Information newcomers can trust – Arabic
- Living in Ontario Day to Day – Arabic
- In My Language – Arabic
- Banking
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) provides a Newcomer’s Guide to Housing. See here for both English and Arabic.