The target beneficiary of the work of OLIP is the whole community. In this short period we have planted together important seeds for Ottawa’s development.
Learning from the Syrian Refugee Resettlement in Ottawa
September 16, 2017OLIP has embarked on a research study of Ottawa’s experience in settling 1,579 Syrian refugees during 2015-2016. The Ottawa Syrian Refugee Research Initiative (OSRRI) was funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
The purpose of this research is to develop a systems level analysis of Syrian refugee resettlement in Ottawa and to better understand the capacities needed to support the successful integration of refugees in the community in the future. The study will include:
An overview of the services provided to Syrian refugees, in several key sectors including settlement and settlement support services; housing, health, employment, and education.
An analysis of the capacity underlying these services, including strengths and gaps in four aspects: information and communication; financial resource and capacity; policies; and partnerships and collaborations leveraged.
Recommendations arising from the analysis
OSRRI’s research team includes:
- Principal Researcher: Dr. Erin Tolley, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto.
- Vivien Runnels, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa.
- Jane Moloney, Canadian Association of Community Health Centres.
- Nathali Rosado, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.
- Lynne Tyler, Catalyst Research and Communications.
At the Ottawa Immigration Forum in late Fall 2017, the OSRRI report will be presented for discussion and feedback from the community. The proposed recommendations in the report will form the basis for discussion about moving forward to strengthen the community’s capacity to welcome refugees in the future.
