The OLIP Council is committed to leadership.  In only a few years, we have a common vision and priorities, and are up to the task of implementing the Ottawa Immigration Strategy.

Salimatou Diallo
OLIP Council Vice Chair, Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario
Canada has been shaped by people who came from all over the world to build this country. WOW offers a platform for us to celebrate this history and the future it will help…

Alex Munter, Chair of the OLIP Council and President and CEO of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre
In our city’s history, immigrants have always played an important role. They build our economic prosperity, diversify our culture, contribute to our social vitality.

Jim Watson
Mayor of Ottawa
We are very pleased to have done the “Opportunity Cost of Not Investing in Interpretation” report – it is so important to have clarity on these challenges and…

Hindia Mohamoud, Director, OLIP
The work and expertise that OLIP brings to our community is so important as it helps us to build bridges and break down silos.  I look forward to our continued work together. 

Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa
All the WOW events that I went to were great – WOW does give a sense of a community trying to improve its attraction and retention!

Caroline Andrew
Professor, University of Ottawa
The Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre is so happy to have joined the OLIP Health and Wellbeing Sector Table. It is clear that OLIP cares about immigrants and refugees and…

Wendy Tang, Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre
I’m really impressed with the level of energy and commitment around the Health and Wellbeing table and look forward to continuing collaboration between OLIP and OPH.

Marcela Tapia
Ottawa Public Health
OLIP helps to unite and share scarce resources for greater impact by working together in the field of student education.

Walter Piovesan
Associate Director of Education, Ottawa Carleton District School Board
My nomination is an indication that our hard work in building Canada is recognized. All we do is to serve the community in return for embracing us when we needed it.  

Mehdi Mahdavi
Ottawa Immigrant Entrepreneurship Awards Nominee

Gérald Clement

Gerry Clement 200x200Gerry Clement is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg with a BA in Administrative studies.  In 2007, Gerry retired from the Manitoba Department of Labour and Immigration after serving thirty-two years in the federal and provincial public service.  As Assistant Deputy Minister, from 1997 to 2007, Gerry led the Immigration Division of his Department through one of the most vibrant and exciting chapters of its provincial immigration and settlement history.  During his tenure, he negotiated Manitoba’s agreement on the re-alignment of settlement service delivery as well as Canada’s first Provincial Nominee Program.  Prior to these duties, Gerry served as Executive Director in the Departments of Family Services, Employment Services and Economic Security and was Manitoba’s Director of the Immigration and Settlement Branch in the mid to late 1980’s.  Gerry initiated his public service career with the federal Employment and Immigration Commission where he worked in immigration program delivery in Canada and as a visa officer abroad.

In 2007, Gerry launched a private consulting practice (GLC Consulting  & Services) specializing in policy and program evaluation primarily in the immigration and settlement sector.  In the past four years, he has advised numerous public and private organizations including the Welcoming Communities Initiative; la Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes du Canada (FCFA) and the Faculté St. Jean at the University of Alberta. He was retained as special advisor by Probe Research Inc. of Winnipeg on an evaluation project involving the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program and has recently co-authored a case study on the realigned service delivery system in Manitoba 1999-2013.

Gerry served as a Governor on the Metropolis Prairie Centre Board of Governors (2002-2007).  He is currently involved in volunteer agency activity as the President of Abri Marguerite, a housing initiative for francophone refugees and newcomers in Winnipeg; Président of the Centre culturel franco-manitobain; and President of the Verve Taché Condominium Corporation.  Throughout his life, Gerry has been a committed and active member of his community, Saint-Boniface (Winnipeg’s French quarter), where he served on numerous committees and Boards as diverse as l’Association des parents-maîtres de l’École Taché to the Festival du Voyageur.