Sector Table: Socio-civic Integration
The Socio-civic Integration Sector Table’s current initiatives stem from the combined priorities of settlement and integration capacity development strategies outlined in the Ottawa Immigration Strategy. Specific initiatives focus on organizational learning to build service providers’ capacity to serve immigrants and foster immigrant –friendly policies and practices, empowering immigrants for civic and political engagement, specifically youth, and capitalizing on media’s role to promote welcoming communities, inclusion and integration of minorities.Underlying to this work is knowledge generation, leadership and information infrastructure development, and public education to promote two-way integration and connectivity between newcomers and the host Canadian population.
Priority #1: To create bridging opportunities and multiple pathways for new immigrants and established residents to connect socially, culturally, and intellectually.
Priority #2: To expand the capacity and appetite within mainstream organizations for equity and inclusion of immigrants.
Priority #3: To strengthen the ability of immigrants and racialized communities to participate in civil society and institutions (voting, strengthened and common voice on concerns).
Priority #4: To promote and strengthen partnerships between settlement service provider organizations (SPOs) and institutions in all sectors addressed by OLIP.
Priority #5: To expand the capacities of settlement counsellors to provide information, referral, and orientation to newcomers on multiple domains.
OLIP Partners Present at The Social and Civic Integration Sector Table
Name |
Organizational Affiliation |
St. Phard Desir | Executive Director, Economic and Social Council of Ottawa Carleton, Co-Chair, OLIP Sector Table Capacity Building for Settlement and Integration |
Myriam Mekni | Executive Director, Catholic Immigration Centre of Ottawa |
Fred Awada | Executive Director, Lebanese Arab Social Services Agency of Ottawa |
Andrea Gardener | Executive Director, Jewish Family Services |
Abdirizak Karod | Executive Director, Somali Centre for Family Services |
Tanya Mendes-Gagnon | Senior Director, Newcomer Services, YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region |
Aloyz Siraba Henda | Conseil Économique et Social d’Ottawa-Carleton |
Nancy Burgoyne | Cultural Development Manager, Cultural Initiatives and Development, City of Ottawa |
Natali Zuniga | Cultural and Heritage Services, Cultural Initiatives and Development, City of Ottawa |
Suzanne Doerge | Director, City for All Women Initiative (CAWI) |
Sharon Kan | Executive Director, Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre |
Debbie Hoffman | Aid Society of Ottawa |
Jane Fjeld | Associate Director, Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa |
Simone Thibault | Executive Director, Centretown Community Health Centre |
Ken Mackenzie | Program Manager, Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre |
Dawn Lyons | Interim Community Health Program Director, Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre |
Jackie Ndatuje | Rwandan Seniors Group |
Azhar Ali Khan | Muslim Coordinating Council |
Asso Faraj | Secretary, Making Ottawa Safe Together (MOST) |
Brian Gilligan | Executive Director, Community Development, Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) |
Detective Neil Roy | Ottawa Police Service |
Medin Admasu | Program Manager, Regional, Ontario Trillium Foundation |
Cindy Hanks | Program Advisor, Modernization and Coordination, Citizenship and Immigration Canada |
Mohamed Dalmar | Citizen, Retired Manager, Settlement Services, Catholic Immigration Centre |
Brigitte Duguay Langlais | Coordinator, Le Réseau de soutien à l’immigration Francophone de l’est de l’Ontario |
Maria Teresa Garcia | Manager of Multicultural Liaison Officers, OCISO |
Yemane Abede | Manager of Settlement, OCISO |