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
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
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
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
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
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.  

Dick Stewart
OLIP Council
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
The City of Ottawa will continue to play a lead role in the implementation of the Ottawa Immigration Strategy, just as we did in the founding of OLIP.

Steve Desroches
City Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Ottawa
I was happy to see integration to Algonquin territory and indigenous culture related programming in 2014 WOW. Please continue to involve local Aboriginal organisations and…

Linda Manning
WOW 2014 participant, Senior Fellow, University of Ottawa
The WOW seminar on immigrant women’s nutrition and health was a step in the right direction towards closing the gap between academic researchers and service providers.

Josephine Etowa
Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa

Agenda

November 17, 2019

5th Biennial Ottawa Immigration Forum
Monday, November 25th, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Jean Pigott Place, City Hall

7:30 AM BREAKFAST & NETWORKING
8:45 AM Forum Opening

Ethel Côté, Forum MC/Facilitator

Opening Ceremony by Monique Manatch, Traditional Knowledge Keeper
Forum Opening Remarks by Yasir Naqvi, CEO, Institute for Canadian Citizenship
9:00 AM
                                                                                       		 Keynote Speech: Learning from Germany’s Experience
Her Excellency Sabine Sparwasser, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Canada; followed by a discussion with Forum Audience, Moderated by Yasir Naqvi

Update from IRCC: What Can We Expect in the Years Ahead?
Fraser Valentine, Assistant Deputy Minister, Settlement & Integration Sector,  Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
10:00 AM HEALTH BREAK

10:15 AM

 

 

 

10:35 AM

 

 

 OLIP Progress Report: Are We on the Right Track?
Carl Nicholson, Executive Director, Catholic Centre for Immigrants  & OLIP Executive Committee, & Elaine Medline, Co-chair, OLIP Health & Wellbeing Sector Table – Representing the OLIP Partnership

Optimizing Ottawa’s Immigration & Talent Strategies, Moderated by Sandra Saric, Managing Partner, Inclusive Path & Co-chair of the OLIP Economic Integration Sector Table | Panelists:
Matt de Vlieger, Director General, Immigration Branch, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada  Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist, Conference Board of Canada Natalie MacArthur, Director, Talent Strategy, Invest Ottawa

Moderated Discussion with Forum Participants
12:00 PM LUNCH
1:10 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS 

A1: Breaking Down Barriers, Moderated by Adrian Harewood, Co-host of CBC News Ottawa | Panelists: Ottawa City Councillor Rawlson King; Warren Clarke, Carleton University; Naini Cloutier, Somerset West Community Health Centre

A2: Addressing the Unique Barriers Facing Francophone Immigrants, Moderated by Élise Edimo, Agente de liaison Communauté Francophone Accueillante, Hawkesbury | Panelists: Saint-Phard Désir, Economic and Social Council of Ottawa-Carleton; Charles Tshimanga, Economic and Social Council of Ottawa-Carleton

A3: Empowering Immigrant Entrepreneurs, Moderated by Mark Sutcliffe, Broadcaster & Publisher, Ottawa Business Journal | Panelists: Ayaa Mohamad, Scadding Court Community Centre, Toronto; Mengistab Tsegaye, World Skills Employment Centre; Sueling Ching, Ottawa Board of Trade

A4: Levelling the Playing Field, Moderated by Heather Sheehy, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Employment and Social Development Canada | Panelists: George Brown, Integral North; Stéphane Giguère, Ottawa Community Housing; Jane Duchscher, Ottawa Community Loan Fund

A5: Good Practices & Promising Pathways to Employment, Moderated by Corinne Prince, Director General, Integration Policy, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada | Panelists: Magdalene Cooman, World Skills Employment Centre; Laurie Beckstead, YMCA-YWCA National Capital Region; Michelle James, Catholic Centre for Immigrants; Ingrid Argyle, Ottawa Employment Hub-Local Employment Planning Council
2:30 PM HEALTH BREAK
2:40 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Measuring Newcomers’ Economic Integration, Moderated by Umit Kiziltan, Director General, Research and Evaluation, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada | Panelists:

David Kurfurst, Director of Evaluation & Performance Measurement, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Kareem El-Assal, Director, Policy & Digital Strategy, Canada Visa

Bolanle Alake-Apata, Economist, Labour Market Information Council

Andrew Griffith, Author & Commentator

Moderated Discussion with Forum Participants

Reflection on the Day, Facilitated by Ethel Côté
3:50 PM Closing Remarks by Hindia Mohamoud, Director, OLIP & Ingrid Argyle, Managing Director, Ottawa Employment Hub-Local Employment Planning Council
3:55 PM Closing Ceremony by Monique Manatch, Traditional Knowledge Keeper