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
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 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
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
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 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
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 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 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

2018 Welcoming Ottawa Ambassador Awards – Call for Nominations

The call for Welcoming Ottawa Ambassador nominations has closed on May 1, 2018. The award recipients will be announced at the WOW launch on June 18, 2018.

The Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership (OLIP) invites you to nominate an individual who made a difference in your journey to a new life in Ottawa.

Think back to when you first arrived here as a newcomer to Ottawa, whether it was 20 years or 20 days ago. Was there someone who did something – big or small – to help you feel at home in our city?

Maybe a colleague who explained the ins and outs of the Canadian workplace, a teacher who inspired you to succeed, or a neighbour who was friendly and supportive.

It could have been someone who came from your country of origin and spoke your language, or someone who reached out to you from another generation or culture.

Tell us how this individual helped you.  How did they go the extra mile to support your adjustment to life in Ottawa?  Tell us the difference they made in your experience as you made Ottawa your new home.

Qualities Welcoming Ottawa Ambassadors have exemplified

Welcoming Ottawa Ambassadors flyer

Welcoming Ottawa Ambassadors flyer (Arabic)

Welcoming Ottawa Ambassadors Selection Process and Criteria

Here’s how it works

  1. Think about someone you feel deserves recognition for helping you feel at home in Ottawa.
  2. Fill out this simple form. It asks you for your name, the name of the person you are nominating, contact information for both of you and a short description (a minimum of 200 words) of how he or she made you feel welcome in Ottawa.
  3. Note: To be eligible, the nominator must be an immigrant or a refugee, however the person being nominated (nominee) can be anybody. There is also no restriction on how long you have been in Ottawa.
  4. Submit the form online no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, 2018.
  5. The Welcoming Ottawa Week Organizing Committee will choose several recipients of the 2018 Welcoming Ottawa Ambassadors Awards. These award recipients will be announced at a special event at the beginning of Welcoming Ottawa Week (June 18 – 30, 2018).
  6. If you and your nominee are selected, you may be called to participate in a photo shoot and to share your story. We will inform you of the exact date, time and location when we contact you about the selection.