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
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
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
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
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 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 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

Learning from the Syrian Refugee Resettlement in Ottawa

September 16, 2017

OLIP has embarked on a research study of Ottawa’s experience in settling 1,579 Syrian refugees during 2015-2016. The Ottawa Syrian Refugee Research Initiative (OSRRI) was funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

The purpose of this research is to develop a systems level analysis of Syrian refugee resettlement in Ottawa and to better understand the capacities needed to support the successful integration of refugees in the community in the future. The study will include:

An overview of the services provided to Syrian refugees, in several key sectors including settlement and settlement support services; housing, health, employment, and education.

An analysis of the capacity underlying these services, including strengths and gaps in four aspects: information and communication; financial resource and capacity; policies; and partnerships and collaborations leveraged.

Recommendations arising from the analysis

OSRRI’s research team includes:

  • Principal Researcher:  Dr. Erin Tolley, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto.
  • Vivien Runnels, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa.
  • Jane Moloney, Canadian Association of Community Health Centres.
  • Nathali Rosado, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.
  • Lynne Tyler, Catalyst Research and Communications.

At the Ottawa Immigration Forum in late Fall 2017, the OSRRI report will be presented for discussion and feedback from the community. The proposed recommendations in the report will form the basis for discussion about moving forward to strengthen the community’s capacity to welcome refugees in the future.