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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

Update on Afghan Refugees

September 2, 2021
The Catholic Centre for Immigrants (CCI) has started welcoming Afghan refugees who are choosing to make Ottawa their new home. 43 people have already arrived in the city, and more are expected in the coming days. CCI has dispatched a team that is working tirelessly to ensure these new Ottawa residents have all they need to start a new life. It is not…

Updates from African Canadian Association of Ottawa (ACAO)

September 2, 2021
By Hector Addison The African Canadian Association of Ottawa’s mission is to unite people of African descent and promote the welfare of their community while encouraging greater participation in civic matters. Below are updates on key initiatives currently underway. Mental Health Initiatives: Mental health in the Black community continues to be an…

Preparing for the Canadian Citizenship Test with OCCSC

September 2, 2021
The Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre (OCCSC) offers preparation sessions to take the Canadian Citizenship Test. They are held throughout the year at various days/times to best meet the needs of the clients. The course is directed at understanding the new online Citizenship Test, its format, content and how to study based on the official guide,…

Teaming with the Riches: OLIP’s Data Action Table

August 6, 2021
By Natalie Serois For people who have taken a deeper interest in matters of equity in organizations and in social justice more broadly, the collection, analysis and use of sociodemographic data quickly becomes a fundamental requirement for effective practice. However, the idea of asking people about gender, race, origins, or other such markers in order…

The Value of Faith Based Organizations

August 6, 2021
Churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith-based organizations play a critical role in strengthening communities, and the COVID-19 pandemic have further demonstrated the value that they bring to communities. Yet little research exists on the role of faith-based organizations in community development. Many faith-based organizations provide some form…

Le Point d’accueil francophone (le PAF)

August 6, 2021
By Julienne Kotto The Point d’accueil francophone (PAF) is a one-stop shop for referral and orientation whose main goal is to facilitate French-speaking immigrant settlement, by gathering all the services offered by 10 Francophone service-providers working in pre-arrival services, settlement, employability, education, training, entrepreneurship and…

Building Welcoming Communities

August 6, 2021
According to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Ottawa welcomed 11,000 new permanent residents in 2019, despite a decrease of international travel to Canada of over 95%, due to border restrictions generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As travel restrictions are slowly being lifted, a larger number of newcomers will be expected to arrive…

COVID-19 Vaccination Update

August 6, 2021
By OPH Community Operations Team With the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada has embarked on its largest vaccination campaign to date. Vaccination rates in Ottawa have increased steadily for many months and now more than 70% of eligible Ottawa residents are fully vaccinated.  Vaccination rates are now beginning to slow down, and with new variants of concern…