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
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
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
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 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
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
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 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

Learn to Camp @ Ontario Parks 2013 Season Now Open

July 8, 2013

Learn to Camp @ Ontario Parks is a successful initiative that has been run by Ontario Parks for the past 3 years. The overall intent of the program is to introduce new visitors to the provincial parks of Ontario, help new visitors gain skills and confidence for safe and enjoyable camping, and moreover inspire them to become life-long campers.

The initiative has proven to be particularly popular among New Canadians. For many newcomers camping is a new type of recreational activity, and a great way to connect with their newly adopted homeland, exploring the beautiful landscapes of Ontario’s Parks and protected areas in a safe, comfortable and fun environment.

The organizers of the initiative have developed a range of resources and hands-on –training opportunities to help address the various camping support needs of the new campers.

A comprehensive camping resource package is available on the program website http://www.ontarioparks.com/learntocamp/ for those interested in planning their camping trip on their own. Furthermore, free community sessions are provided in collaboration with the Ottawa libraries, to provide an introduction to camping and a hands-on equipment demonstration. The Schedule of the free community sessions can be accessed here http://www.ontarioparks.com/learntocamp/community_sessions.html

For those interested in supervised overnight camping, 1 and 2 night program options are available. There is a small fee for the overnight camping, which includes: a camp-side of up to six participants; use of camping equipment during the stay; training by Ontario Parks staff; use of park facilities throughout the stay; and parking for one vehicle at the camp-side.  See what past particpants have said about the program by visiting: http://www.ontarioparks.com/learntocamp/graduates.html

Learn to Camp Program Coordinator Jeff Brown states that the interest in the Learn to Camp program in 2013 has been amazing. “About 4,000 people will  join us on their very first overnight camping experience in one of Ontario’s beautiful provincial parks this summer!”

During the past years the overnight camping experience introduced camping to approximately 3,000 individuals, around ¾ of them being Canadian newcomers. 99% of participants reported they were likely to go camping again and 60% of the graduates from a previous year reported to be back to the campground for the next year.

The 2013 camping season will be open until the end of August. Ottawa visitors can find Learn to Camp programs at the near-by Murphys Point Provincal Park near Perth. Eight other  provincial parks across the province are also included in this year’s program .

Registrations to the Learn to Camp program are accepted online at: http://www.ontarioparks.com/learntocamp/ or over the phone at 705-755-7275.

Participation in the Learn to Camp is a great way of learning of our provincial parks, making new friends, escaping the summer heat in the breeze of nature. Pass on the word through your networks to enable more Ottawans benefit from this excellent initiative.

For more information visit http://www.ontarioparks.com/learntocamp/