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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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

Five Concurrent Afternoon Sessions (Select One): 1:10 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

November 17, 2019
A1: Breaking Down Barriers
Location:  Jean Pigott PlaceInstitutional biases and capacity gaps pose barriers to not only how we leverage the talent of immigrants, including second generation Canadians, but also how institutions plan and respond to evolving needs and challenges. Prominent speakers will share their experiences in countering such bias and their vision and plans for progress.Moderator: Adrian Harewood, Co-host of CBC News Ottawa
Topics & Speakers:

  • Addressing Barriers & Tracking Progress
    Rawlson King, Ottawa City Councillor, Rideau-Rockcliffe Ward
  • Diversity Audits, Employment Equity & Other Equity Measures at Community Health & Resource Centres
    Naini Cloutier, Executive Director, Somerset West Community Health Centre
  • Black & Afro-Caribbean Youths’ Access to Employment Support Programs
    Warren Clarke, Sociologist, Carleton University
 
A2: Addressing the Unique Barriers Facing Francophone Immigrants
Location: Richmond RoomThe intersectionality of challenges—competing in an English language-dominated labour market and being racialized—places Francophone immigrants in a uniquely disadvantaged economic position. Even when they master the English language, access to economic opportunities is limited due to challenges including delayed credentials recognition, discrimination, and gaps in social connections.  Session speakers will share their long-standing experience in facilitating access to employment for Francophone immigrant professionals.Moderator: Élise Edimo, Agente de liaison Communauté Francophone Accueillante (CFA) Hawkesbury
Topics & Speakers:
 
A3: Empowering Entrepreneurs
Location: Honeywell RoomImmigration is inherently entrepreneurial and many newcomers go on to start their own business in Canada. However, just like immigration, entrepreneurship can be challenging, and especially so if you are a newcomer. Speakers will share their efforts on how they support the success of newcomer entrepreneurs in Ottawa and explore what else can be done on this front.Moderator: Mark Sutcliffe, Broadcaster & Publisher, Ottawa Business Journal
Topics & Speakers:
 
A4: Levelling the Playing Field
Location: Festival RoomProactive strategies are being pursued to compensate for labour market failures and to counter structural barriers to accessing good jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities. Speakers will discuss innovative and practical strategies to level the playing field for immigrants as they work to land jobs that are commensurate to their credentials.Moderator: Heather Sheehy, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Employment and Social Development Canada
Topics & Speakers:
 
A5: Good Practices & Successful Pathways to Employment
Location: Councillors’ LoungeOttawa’s robust settlement sector plays a major role in facilitating newcomer settlement and integration and is often tasked with finding ways to address newcomer challenges creatively. Building on the work of Settlement Sector partners, this session will bring attention to strategies that target opportunities in specific sectors; and the discussion will help lift up strategic insights for wider application.Moderator: Corinne Prince, Director General, Integration Policy, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Topics & Speakers: