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
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
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
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
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 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
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 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

Yvonne Ferrer, Director, Refugee Resettlement Program, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration

November 14, 2017

Yvonne is the Director of Refugee Settlement Programs at the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI) and is also responsible for providing direction to the design, development and implementation of a broad range of programs and services, including refugee resettlement programs, newcomer settlement and integration services, and programs that help to build the capacity of the voluntary and not-for-profit sectors.

Between 2014 and 2016, Yvonne was the Acting Director of Immigration Programs at MCI and led the delivery of settlement, language training and labour market integration programs.  She joined the Ontario Public Service in 2006 and has held managerial positions at the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and the Ministry of the Attorney General.

Before joining the OPS, Yvonne spent ten years working at the Ontario Trillium Foundation leading the delivery of funding programs that supported arts and culture programs, social services and environmental initiatives. Yvonne has also worked in a variety of roles in the not-for-profit and international development sectors.  Yvonne has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Toronto and a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University.