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 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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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

Potpourri of multicultural events for WOW 2014

June 19, 2014

Summer is a wonderful time to be in the nation’s capital – and it is not just the warm weather and tulips that beckon everyone outdoors. There are several festivals that cater to just about every community, and of course, Canada Day celebrations on the Hill draw thousands of Canucks to celebrate the bonds that are unique to us from coast to coast.

There is a newer activity added to the summer extravaganza in Ottawa and it is called “Welcoming Ottawa Week” (WOW). WOW was launched in 2013 by the Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership (OLIP) in order to shine a spot light on the diversity that is a hallmark of Ottawa. The week-long activities are an attempt to bring together all residents of Ottawa, both new and old-timers, so that personal and social connections are forged, which would then, it is hoped, produce a more vibrant, cosmopolitan city.

WOW 2014 brings under its canopy 31 diverse events happening at different parts of Ottawa – a four-fold increase from the inaugural year, which points to the commitment from various communities, ranging from multicultural and immigrant serving organizations to higher secondary institutions and business and economic development agencies.

WOW 2014 activities are so varied that there is something for just about everyone. If you are into multicultural arts and music, you should come out to listen to Suren Barry play classical Armenian piano pieces along with well-known classical composers, or be entertained by an interactive musical workshop by World Folk Music,  or you could dance to the moves of Persian dance organized by Saba Persian Dance.

If you dig ethnic food, you could sample some delicacies from Ottawa’s Chinatown, and if you are a movie lover, you could watch the screening of “Twelve” and “Cricket and the Meaning of Life”. You cannot help but be moved by the paintings and quilt produced by immigrant and refugee women which depict stories of their immigration and integration journey.

For those who seek brainy discussions on immigration and settlement can join Metropolis at Carleton University, for a  Professional Development program on migration and integration or  chat with Yumi Kotani  on the history of Ottawa’s progress on equity through a local case study called, “Equity and Inclusion Lens.” The University of Ottawa is also organizing a learning event to study the eating habits of perinatal immigrant women. The findings are expected to help develop tools for health care providers, researchers and community members to discuss healthy eating habits.

WOW 2014 presents plenty of opportunities to learn about the different cultures that are represented in Ottawa. An indigenous walking tour will lead participants through native social, political, cultural and artistic spaces in Ottawa, while the Réseau de soutien à l’immigration francophone de l’Est de l’Ontario will present an evening of discussion and networking.  Newcomer Information Centre’s multicultural celebration will present activities like henna painting, calligraphy, tea ceremony, arts and crafts, music, dance performances by a Middle Eastern Troupe and a parade of national dresses.

With the FIFA World Cup in full swing, WOW 2014 will capture some of that fever with a soccer match as its finale, featuring several multicultural teams competing for the Community Cup on June 28th.

The WOW 2014 launch will take place on June 23rd at the Ottawa City Hall, hosted by Louisa Taylor and Sarah Onyango. The highlight of the launch will be the unveiling of the WOW Ambassadors’ photos/stories exhibit. OLIP had invited immigrants to submit their stories of friendship that have helped them settle in the nation’s capital. Numerous stories of generosity and acts of kindness have poured into the OLIP office. The WOW 2014 team selected a few outstanding ones to be “ambassadors” and they were invited for a photo shoot. These pictures along with the submitted stories will be part of an exhibit at the launch of WOW2014.

These are just a few sampling from the large menu that WOW 2014  is presenting to the City of Ottawa. So, join us from June 23 to 28th at one of the numerous locations from Orleans to Nepean and take part in these fun activities. All events are free, but some of them require prior registration, so be quick and register. Be sure to share your fun via social media by tweeting us your picture at https://twitter.com/OLIP_PLIO.

See you there!