A More Prosperous, Vibrant, and Inclusive Ottawa
A multi-sectoral partnership involving over 80 local organizations. We are working together to build capacity to attract, settle, and integrate immigrants.
The OLIP Partners Include:
- City of Ottawa departments
- Local Agencies Serving Immigrants (LASI)
- School boards
- Universities and colleges
- Community health centers, hospitals, and other healthcare providers
- Business associations and economic development agencies
- Housing agencies
- Social service agencies
- Researchers and academics
- Civic groups and grassroots associations
- Representatives from all levels of government
Vision & Mission
The OLIP partners envision a more prosperous, vibrant, and inclusive Ottawa through the integration of immigrants. To reach this vision, OLIP partners have set shared priorities in the Ottawa Immigration Strategy.
These priorities focus on five main goals:
Shared knowledge: Increase understanding among partners about the challenges and opportunities in immigrant integration
Inclusive and equitable: Strengthen organizations to improve governance, HR management, service planning, and community engagement, leading to better outcomes for immigrants and racialized groups
Improved access: Enhance economic opportunities and promote justice for immigrants
Connected services: Create a seamless system of settlement, language, health, social services, and education that meets immigrants’ needs
Welcoming Ottawa Week (WOW): Build a city where immigrants can participate in civic leadership, reach their full potential, and contribute to Ottawa’s economic, cultural, and intellectual growths
A Shift in How Ottawa Settles and Integrates Immigrants
By design, Local Immigration partnerships represent a change in how communities facilitate the settlement and integration of immigrants.
Approach Prior to the Local Immigration Partnerships
The focus was on short-term settlement goals, providing services mainly in the first few years after newcomers arrived.
The focus was on enabling the newcomer with language proficiencies, soft skills, community connections and orientation to services, etc.
Top-down approach: The federal government is responsible for recruiting international newcomers and their settlement planning.
Siloed planning: Each organization
and sector deals with immigrant integration separately, reacting to problems as they arise.
Approach Following the Creation of Local Immigration Partnerships
Recognition that immigrant integration is a long-term process involving community institutions across sectors and jurisdictions.
Attention to the host community and its institutional capabilities to integrate immigrants.
Place-based, bottom-up approach: Local institutions lead collaboratively with municipalities playing a unique role in immigrant-conscious planning.
Collaborative, community-based planning: Multiple sectors work together, focusing on smooth transitions and creating a continuous support system for immigrants.
Progress Reports
The OLIP Secretariat produces reports every six months. The reports advise what the OLIP Secretariat has achieved together and their progress towards common goals. These reports are shared with OLIP partners and stakeholders at the biennial Ottawa Immigration Forum. Click the links below to see what OLIP has accomplished in recent years.
2011-2015
2022-2023
Governance
A structure designed to leverage the experience and leadership of each sector, bringing together different perspectives to plan and act on shared priorities.
Milestones
Significant moments that reflect OLIP’s growth, innovation, and ongoing efforts.
Partners
More than 80 organizations dedicated to helping immigrants settle and integrate in Ottawa.