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
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
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
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 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
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
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 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
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

Shailja Verma

February 25, 2013

Shailja Verma immigrated to Canada at the age of 16 from New Delhi India.

She has been involved with ESL for more than 35 years in many capacities. She is currently the Manager of the Continuing and Community Education Department for the Ottawa Catholic School Board

From 1993 until 1996 Shailja Co-Chaired the National Working Group on the Development of the Canadian Language Benchmarks.  Shailja sits as an expert advisor for the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks.  Was an active member of the Ontario LINC Advisory Committee for Citizenship and Immigration Canada (Ontario Region) for 12 years.  Involved with TESL provincially and nationally, held various offices on the Boards culminating as President of TESL Ontario and TESL Canada. Currently represents the Ottawa Catholic School Board  on the governing council of the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership Board and is a member of the Language and Education sector tables.

Shailja has been a trainer and given workshops to mainstream organizations such as the Ottawa and National Police Forces and Children’s Aid Society as well as to many area elementary and secondary schools on cultural diversity and anti-racism.

In recognition of her work she has received many awards some of which are the Ottawa Citizen Literacy Award, the YM-YWCA Woman of Distinction and the Ontario Newcomer Champion Award.