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 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 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
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
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
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
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
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 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

The Power of Mentoring a Newcomer

Rudi Aksim receives his Welcoming Ottawa Ambassador award from Mayor Jim Watson

Rudi Aksim receives his Welcoming Ottawa Ambassador award from Mayor Jim Watson

Rudi Aksim, a retired Algonquin College professor, first met Jiehan Zhou in 2013 when he taught him a course on navigating the IT workplace at the Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre.

After completing the 10-week course, Rudi began became Jiehan’s mentor on a volunteer basis. The two would often meet at a McDonald’s locations all over the city. Over coffee, Rudi helped the Chinese newcomer with his English pronunciation and his job search in the IT sector.  He even helped him prepare and fine tune a speech.

“I believe in strategic networking, which involves talking to people working in a particular field, as the best way to find employment,” said Rudi. “Coming to Canada is a huge, monumental change in the lives of newcomers and my role as a mentor is to cast light on the path and help them see how it works in our country. It’s not just about sending out resumes.”

Rudi connected Jiehan to some potential employers and now Jiehan works as a part-time researcher at Carleton University in addition to a job at a university in Finland. He commutes regularly between Canada and Finland. “Rudi helped me to get my first Canadian work experience for which I am really grateful,” remarked Jiehan. “He opened my mind and broadened my view.”

“I also enjoy meeting newcomers and learning about different cultures and languages,” adds Rudi. “Jiehan is a very interesting, likeable guy and it’s a pleasure to help someone who has big ideas.”

“Rudi made my family feel like Ottawa was home,” explained Jiehan. “He is a really kind man with a great heart. Rudi has given so much of his time to assist so many newcomers like myself and by doing so has helped build a stronger community.”

Beyond their mentoring relationship, the two men have formed a genuine friendship. They visit each other when their busy schedules permit and their families celebrated Chinese New Year’s together.