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 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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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

Gilles Bourgeois

WOW_2016-5Nominee: Gilles Bourgeois, Teacher.

Nominator: Anny Marie Djan-Eby, Nursing student, receptionist and community volunteer. From Ivory Coast. Arrived in 2012.

Gilles and Anny met when her children enrolled at École élémentaire catholique Montfort. Gilles consistently impressed Anny by going beyond classroom duties to help her son and daughter feel at home.

“During a visit to the school, I saw Mr. Bourgeois under the burning sun teaching Kevin how to ride a bike,” says Anny. “He encouraged and congratulated Kevin for his fine progress. I had tears in my eyes. He knows my children so well, their weaknesses and their strengths, and he found a way to help them to trust and give the best of themselves. I want him to know that everything he does is so important, and I encourage him to continue on this path.”

“Receiving this recognition, I realize that the little things we do to help people have greater impact than we understand,” says Gilles. “These actions also have a domino effect. Helping a child helps a whole family.”